Final conclusion :
When it comes to Patek Philippe we all are used to see classical evolutions instead of revolutions crying for attention, at least most of the time.
I am aware that some details shown might be somehow controversial for some, but at the end it is a matter of taste and lifestyle. Honestly, I also don´t like everything shown but that is fine for me. Patek Philippe is producing 55.000 watches a year (33.000 automatic, 12.000 manual winding and 10.000 Quartz) at the moment and the demand is still higher than what they can deliver. I guess it is almost impossible to produce that much different reference´s and to please everybody - all the time.
Me, I am happy and disappointed at the same time from what I saw in Basel. The new style of the new booth is marvelous and it was a pleasure to spend quite some time in- and outside. My favorite new Reference (and probably the only real novelty so far) is the Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph, if we don´t speak about dream watches - only. Nonetheless I really like or shall I say desire some of the new versions of well-known references and we all know that working in the details is quite often the most difficult part. Regarding the latter, the people at Patek Philippe did a great job. Once more: Bravo!
Disappointed, because I hoped to see a new simple basic caliber (manual winding preferred) and maybe one “entry-level” novelty below € 20k. Looking at the novelties pricelist shows that there is almost a 50% gap to the most affordable one and the average price is above € 200k. Yes, there is still the Aquanaut and the Twenty-4 which is below, but those are not for “everybody” who would love to call a classical Patek Philippe his own. Yes, there is also the “vintage” market which has some very nice offers and each watch still can be repaired by the factory – no matter how old it is, but that is another story. But there is more than just to please the matured connoisseur or the happy few with seriously deep, deep pockets when we talk about new offerings, isn´t it?
Now I am already looking forward to
October 2014 and dream (at least) about the Nautilus
Travel Time Chronograph in between
Cordially,
Oliver