Patek Philippe

Well! I've recently finally got around to trying on a 5711 and a 5712 and, well, it was pretty much love at first sight. Mrs Esharp has a Royal Oak chronograph and I've always admired that design - but couldn't fall in love with it, not even the new 15202. There's something about the way every RO sits on my wrist that just isn't right. But the Nautilus - phwoar! Even my better half, who is ideologically wedded to the design purity of the RO, conceded that the Nautilus just seemed right on me.

Could this be that holy grail, the One and Only Watch? Honestly, probably not - I would want a robust 'beater' and a dress watch - but in my mind's eye I think I could get it down to just the one, especially if a 5712 has enough horological interest going on with the cal. 240 and its mini-rotor.

Nonetheless, I'm somewhat leaning towards the purity of the 5711. But...but...two things bug me. Patek, are you listening?

1. The cal. 324 is a fine movement as far as I can tell, but I've been hearing a lot about the date-change problem. Can you fix this? Or how about something more interesting...say...that rather lovely cal. 31-260 in a new arrangement for three centre hands and a date window?

2. I love the blue dial, but it's not quite perfect. Please, pretty please Mr Stern, if you do just one thing, add the little frame for the date window as found on the white-face model and on the platinum-cased model, to the blue-dialled model. And, while we're at it, why not take a cue from the 15202 book and add a white-on-blue date wheel? (Actually, do this and the little frame may not be necessary!)

Of course all that would simply make the choice between 5711 and 5712 even more difficult...sigh....

More posts: 57115712nautilusRoyal OakRoyal Oak Chronograph

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