Why we do love Patek Philippe watches, chapter three, beauty!

It's time to come back to our little subject. Why do we love Patek Philippe watches?

It's seemingly not because of their rarity, nor even just the tradition they perpetuate till today and tomorrow. Of course some or many of you appreciate these qualities, but they are not The reason. As we may not make this game last forever, I thought you may like to discuss a potentially more serious reason (but perhaps not yet the most serious one).

So let me ask you if some here consider the beauty of their Patek Philippe watch as the main reason they bought it!

Stupid question may you think! You may consider it dumb but is it The reason?

Beauty is a relative opinion as you know. How is that that Patek Philippe watches would be so largely recognized as beautiful watches while we have so different tastes, histories, cultural backgrounds?

Could we think that Patek Philippe has achieved a level of design that succeeds in incarnating a kind of universal beauty?

Beauty has many facets. Beauty can be obviously classical, it can remember us centuries of slowly achieved perfection. This Patek Philippe 5159 above may be a classical beauty.

Beauty can also be freshly renewing the charm of the object. Looking like no other, a Patek Philippe 5960 is bringing us a surprisingly new beauty. And so new it was, the beauty was not so obvious when it appeared as many doubted and took time to appreciate it. But now who doubts, a few years later?

Beauty is somewhat the result of many decisions. Equilibrium, purity, readability, capacity to catch the light, colours, elegance, grace, tension, harmony…..

Did you buy your Patek Philippe watch because you found it to be beautiful?

Was the beauty of your watch the primary and major reason why you bought it?

What in your opinion makes the beauty of your Patek Philippe watch?

Do you find it as beautiful today as you think it was when you bought it?

What is the most beautiful Patek Philippe watch for your taste and why?

Let us know!

Dje

This message has been edited by Dje on 2011-09-20 13:43:28 This message has been edited by Dje on 2011-09-26 13:37:42

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There is no more important reason for me.

By: amanico : September 20th, 2011-14:27

In fact, this is the only reason why I can consider buying a Patek... I don't like many of them, but those I love, I love them deeply. Does that makes sense? Best, Nicolas.

When I fist saw the 5159

By: ArthurSG : September 20th, 2011-19:10

I was "Wow! Gotta have that!" and seriously considered the 5159 after my Dato... but.. for some reason, the looks tires fast.. for me. For me, an example of an enduring Patek beauty which I still think is as fantastic today as teh first day I chanced upon...

The aesthetics of a Patek Philippe truly speaks to me...

By: patrick_y : September 20th, 2011-21:58

I think that Patek Philippe's head designer and I share very similar thoughts on design. Out of all the major haute de gamme Swiss watch brands, I feel that Patek Philippe currently has the most beautiful designs. Their designs are strikingly beautiful, w...

Hi Patrick, 6000 G is amongst your favourite PP

By: dreamer8 : September 21st, 2011-18:26

It happens the original black dial 6000-01 ugly duckling to most Patek fans is still a favourite of mine ,radial flip or not LOL. I find this " ugly duckling " attractive in the same way as a avantgarde contemporary artwork. I recall exchanging PM's with ...

All this time and little has changed...

By: patrick_y : September 21st, 2011-18:46

Little indeed has changed, I've liked the 6000G since its inception almost a decade ago (at least it seems that long). Good to hear from you! Truly!

Due, I think you,ve head the nai on the head. Beauty- which I understand

By: watch-guy.com : September 21st, 2011-00:42

Is in the eye of the beholder). Is what it is all about for me. Someone once wrote here that they collect watches like a numismatist collects coins and I think I fall into this category. Don't get me wrong I wear my watches but I also like to look at them...

Beauty, only beauty.

By: COUNT DE MONET : September 21st, 2011-03:56

Hi Dje, to me the look and consequently the mood that is created is the most important factor in buying a Patek. AND: you do not have to break the bank to get this feeling! I will explain further at the end this point. The day I bought my Golden Ellipse I...

I understand you SO WELL!

By: dr.kol : September 25th, 2011-02:33

In my eyes Golden Ellipse is one of the most beautiful watches ever made. Next weekend I'll pick up one with YG bracelet for my wife. And I continue dreaming about the platinum one for myself. The only thing I can't understand is that why this is the leas...

True love is rewarded by time!

By: COUNT DE MONET : September 27th, 2011-05:20

Hi Kari, there are two reasons why the Golden Ellipse might not be so popular: 1.: it is a very feminine watch. But this was so planed from the first day on: a unisex watch from the 60ies, when sexual revolution started. 2.: it is a quite "costly" watch! ...

Do you feel that the pt. model is feminine?

By: dr.kol : September 27th, 2011-06:08

I don't but the standard model is also in my opinion "unisex". I would really love to get the pt. model but the price starts to be far for sensible for a watch with standard movement and no complications. Still, i am thinking about this watch basically on...

Sense and sensibility ... the old dilemma

By: COUNT DE MONET : September 27th, 2011-12:37

Caliber 240 is not a standard movement. Why this is not a standard movement one can see with the Ellipse: with a crown nearly as big as a pinhead it is still feasible to wind the watch! Also with only 21.600 beats it keeps time very, very well. It is a mo...

Thank you for your comments, Count

By: dr.kol : September 27th, 2011-13:39

I have been watching the smaller Golden Ellipse models but my wrist is nearly 8 inches and those watches look too small. In normal cases I really dislike big watches and think that those suit well to small men who want to look a bit bigger... For me the p...

Beauty comes first

By: Zhege : September 21st, 2011-08:15

It is hard to explain the beauty of this simple Calatrava. In pictures it looks very nice, but on the wrist it is simply mesmerizing. Why does this watch grab and hold my attention so completely? I don't know. At the time I was looking for a watch and no ...

I agree with you, Rob.

By: marcelo : September 23rd, 2011-09:45

Technical prowess, heritage, workmanship, reputation. All are attributes that we, watch enthusiasts, value and share, but beauty, at least for me, always come first. Marcelo

this is reason nr 1!

By: Bruno.M1 : September 21st, 2011-09:07

By far the most important reason (but not the only one) Again I need to talk about the 5070 but that is for me the most beautifull watch I know I love love a simple rolex sub 16610 or a simple panerai or the very beautifull journe CS. Breguet, Zenith, GP,...

There has to be an attractive design for a watch

By: docsnov : September 21st, 2011-13:50

to be popular i.e. desired by consumers. Can you imagine the most technically innovative, interesting, beautifully designed movement placed in an ugly case? Almost all Patek watches are eye catching, and they come with in house calibers and the history of...

That's the most important aspect

By: Hororgasm : September 21st, 2011-14:44

And it's not just sheer beauty, but a evergreen component to it, with a intangible sense of lasting beauty. Sure there are some crap design from Patek, but their hits outlast and outnumber their shits. Best, Horo

i think "lasting beauty" hits the nail on the head

By: playtime : September 22nd, 2011-11:04

timeless beauty may well be another way to phrase it. the calatrava is the example par excellence.... J

Yes...timeless beauty is spot on

By: Hororgasm : September 22nd, 2011-11:21

Best, Horo

Patek 5960R

By: Card1 : September 22nd, 2011-14:10

This watch is art at its greatest ! The watch is timeless and will always be a piece appreciated and chased after.

designs that withstand the test of time

By: johnswatch1 : September 23rd, 2011-10:46

I appreciate these threads are there to counter the recent negative bashing the brand has received but all said I'm an intersting case study in Patekmania. I fell for all the Geneva Seal and 'pinnacle of watchmaking' gibberish and then had a horrendous af...

Personally, I don't know if "beauty" would be the

By: whit : September 26th, 2011-09:57

proper term, maybe that term relates more to women than to men and it would be very interesting to hear the views of the female members of the forum. To those unfamiliar with Patek, I might expect a different view. Terms like conservative, "old man's watc...

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