Patek Philippe

Some recent discussions about the difficult choice of a Patek Philippe wrist watch minute repeater have led me to take the time to show you some pictures I have of such marvels.

There are different levels of complication and we're not all attracted by the same complications.

In fact once you've got to the level of a repeater, I wonder what attraction an additional complication can really have?

Patek Philippe 5078P

Certainly the « simple » 5078 pictured above is already a fascinating watch. The white enamel dial version is my favourite but I can understand the appeal of the black dial one.

In fact if I had not heard a cathedral gong other option I would be certainly focussed on the 5078. Case style, size, (relative) thinness, dials, all is perfect.

Patek Philippe 5033P

In the increasing order of complication the 5033 is coming just next. It doesn't seem that this watch got a great success. The annual calendar is a complication I love for an everyday watch, but for a minute repeater I admit I don't understand! Furthermore the form case IMO remains less appealing than the beautiful 5078.

Patek Philippe 5074P

The perpetual calendar 5074 is another story. The perpetual calendar added feature is obviously a plus if you don't regret the purest style of the 5078, but that's not the thing of this watch.

Patek Philippe 5074R

The 5074 strongest point is its cathedral gong. In fact the 5074 may be the best sounding Patek Philippe modern wrist repeater. Actually sounding is an important aspect of a repeater, that's why the 5074P with black dial is probably my favourite Patek Philippe repeater.

Patek Philippe 5074P

In fact as I've long loved (and still do) the 3939, I'm dreaming of a minute repeater tourbillon with cathedral gongs, hidden below a 3939 dial, into a 5074 case. I just wonder if I would not find the dial a bit too empty in such size?

Patek Philippe 5104P

The 5104 is another option that never appealed me. It is obviously a fantastic watch, a skeletonized perpetual calendar minute repeater, but I don't like it even if after the years I'm less annoyed by its look. I wonder if there are fans or owners here?

Patek Philippe 5104P's back

The new minute repeater for 2010 is the 5339 that is supposed to somewhat replace the 3939. The new watch is quite nice but the design is so different I doubt it will ever replace the 3939 and its perfectly simple look.

Patek Philippe 5339R

The 5339 has a hobnail bezel on top and below. The size is quite nice, better than the 3939 in fact.

The newest slider

That watch may well be the most classic wrist minute repeater made by Patek Philippe. I mean classic in the sense of a dressed watch. This is indeed the cocktail minute repeater by excellence IMO.

A new 36.4mm case

I have not pictured the 5013, a watch I love, but I have here the 5016, combining the (retrograde) perpetual calendar with the tourbillon. This watch was the first Patek Philippe repeater I heard more than ten years ago and I can still remember that special moment. This watch is great and should be a grail for any Patek Philippe minute repeater collector.

Patek Philippe 5016

The last two pieces go even a step further in the complication process.

Patek Philippe 5207

The 5207 adds an instantaneous works to the perpetual calendar. Furthermore the calendar indication is aligned like on several annual calendars. This in itself is a complication to realize and maybe should be regarded as so.

The instantaneous perpetual calendar

The last watch adds some additional poetry to all the range. The Sky Moon Tourbillon has a very specific back that is not shown here.

The one

On top of the 5016 complications the Sky Moon Tourbillon adds a map of the sky and the cathedral gongs. With this watch it's getting hard to know why you love it as there as so many good reasons.

Sky Moon Tourbillon

Certainly the only aspect of the crown of the range that some dislike is the case style. I must say I like it. IMO such jewel deserves a crowning case.

A vault

We don't have to all agree on which Patek Philippe wrist minute repeater is the best as they are all so different. I guess we all know which one we love!

Cheers

Dje