benlee338
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Please explain to me about Patek Chronographs
I started collecting watches about 4 years ago back in early 2013 where I bought my first serious watch is an Omega Planet Ocean ( before that was Tissots and Casio ). Then I caught the Rolex bug, bought and flipped a few and subsequently the AP bug. I am more into sports watch and buy watches based more on their external appeal more than anything which may explain why my collection is dominated by AP ( I have 6 of them out of 9 ). I do have a Patek which is my 5205R that I love. My latest haute horology timepiece acquisition is the Duometre Chronograph in WG that has a ( to me ) fascinating movement.
I now have this dream of collecting a Patek super-timepiece, something of much more prestige and substance, or put it this way, horological significance. I have in mind the Split Second 5370P or the Perpetual Calendar Rattrapante 5204P. Probably going to take few years of savings due to immense price barrier and not even sure if Patek will sell me one.
But here's the question, because I want to know what I am getting into
1) Why are manual chronographs much more well regarded and revered ( and cost more ) by the WIS community than automatic chronographs? Sure the movement is nicer to look at but are they much more difficult to make? And is it not the the former is just the latter without the rotor?
2) Why are split-second chronographs costing 2 to 3 times more than normal manual chronographs? Sure a split second is very cool but are they much more difficult to make? Or the pricing is more a reflection about it's exclusivity?
3) Is there a reason why most manual chronographs can only time until 30 mins? Tradition? Or a technical limitation?
Thanks in advance.
Rgds
Ben
Here's a picture of the 5204P I saw when I visited the Patek Salon Geneva back in 2014
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Please explain to me about Patek Chronographs
I started collecting watches about 4 years ago back in early 2013 where I bought my first serious watch is an Omega Planet Ocean ( before that was Tissots and Casio ). Then I caught the Rolex bug, bought and flipped a few and subsequently the AP bug. I am...
Thanks for the questions...
As someone who's fairly new to this hobby, I have often asked myself these exact questions. So count me as someone who is also extremely interested in these answers. Cheers Ben!
Great questions, ben!
I look forward to reading the answers. And I think that a manual winding Chrono & Perpetual Patek is the epitome of high watchmaking. Best! Marcelo
Let me attempt to answer some...
1. The general idea of a manual being more revered for WIS is due to not having the rotor obstruct the view of the movement. With an automatic, you'd typically have a fullsize rotor that coveres up half the view most of the time - and rotors themselves ar...
Very good post, as always
From my understanding "Grand Complication " is a marketing concept and not watchmakers lingo.
Thank you so much
for your very detailed reply. Chronographs are indeed fascinating and I learned so much from your write-up. Really appreciate it. Now I can appreciate what makes Patek chronographs, and indeed split-second chronographs so special. Thanks again. BTW, is th...
Thanks benlee,
I'll shamelessly link a chronograph article I've written awhile back, click here . Regards, skyeriding
education, education and once more education
To answer the questions fully in depth would need a perpetual calendar to measure the time for it. Therefore some quick answers: - a manual chrono is traditional as it started as a manual pocket watches long, long time ago, 1816. - an auto chrono was very...
Great question. For me it is because.
In my mind I love simple Chronographs as well as complications. So for me a chronograph should just be that. A simple Chrono function and nothing more. With Automatic movements being a relatively new creation manual wind watches are the traditional Patek ...
These are questions many have
I'll just add a few remarks to what was previously said. There is much more complexity than we think in mechanical watches. Putting more complications in smaller volumes is an achievement, the more you include parts, the more they have to work together an...
Dear Mark,
Thanks for your response. Yours and the other replies in this thread let me appreciate the inner workings of the chronographs and why they are such master piece. I do have one more question though. How do you compare the inner workings of the Patek Lemani...
I think they both have their appeal
It is another question people like to debate quite much as well. I made a sort of comparison between the 5070 and the 5170, there is a little part on the two calibers: www.watchprosite.com In fact, my opinion would be there is no 1st and 2nd as th...
Thank you Ben and to those who provided their perspectives...
Extremely informative and a very enjoyable read. It has me rushing out to become even more educated on the subject. Obrigado!! Tavio
5204p
I\'m curious. The 5204p you saw at the Geneva Salon, was it for sale? As you mentioned in your post that you aren\'t sure if Patek would even sell it to you?
It's just a specimen piece
In Patek Geneva Salon, one can preview all timepiece in the current Patek catalog. That's how I got to try the 5204P. That visit was an unforgettable experience.