Patek Philippe

Baron - Mr Red
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Patek's "Mona Lisa Smile"

Leonardo da Vinci’s  “Mona Lisa” is probably the most famous painting in the world. Most experts would say that, technically, it is not Leonardo’s finest work. Indeed, most experts would suggest that other artists have produced many works of a finer quality. Yet, if ever the Mona Lisa was put up for sale, it would almost certainly blast through prevailing world records. Further, if you asked art experts what they felt to be the world’s most famous painting, then almost certainly the Mona Lisa would feature prominently. And what has this got to do with horology?

Well, I would argue it is all about enigma. Mona Lisa’s smile. Scientists have attempted to understand why this specific painting has so captured the world’s imagination. And the answer is to do with that smile (dial). One minute Mona appears radiant and warm, the next minute she appears serious and sardonic. Scientists now claim to understand why her smile is so enigmatic. Her mood changes according to which signals our eyes receive first. The scientists believe Mona Lisa's smile depends on how the cells in our retinas receive the image and, crucially, what particular channel the image gets transmitted through to the brain.

“Sometimes one channel wins over the other, and you see the smile, sometimes others take over and you do not see the smile,” said Dr Luis Martinez Otero, a neuroscientist at Institute of Neuroscience in Alicante, Spain, who conducted the study. There almost seems to be a random element in how any specific individual interprets the painting. What science tells us is that different cells in the eye pick up different colours, backgrounds and foregrounds and contrasts. Certain types of image lend themselves more readily to varying interpretation. In other words, the enigmatic part of the Mona Lisa is a reflection of the fact that her “mood” appears transient.

Just like the dial on the 5070P!!

(Ok, Art…circuitous I know…..but the fact that Mona Lisa’s “smile” also rhymes with 5070P’s dial made it irresistible)

There have been a few posts on the 5070P in recent weeks and I certainly responded with a scan of my version. And I remarked to myself how badly I had captured the watch. In reality, most owners of the 5070P will know how impossible it is to capture the true enigmatic nature of the dial. I now know why. In reality, the dial is never one thing. Sometimes it catches this very dark, almost matt black persona. Other times it has this cheery and happy almost glossy blue appearance. Sometimes its numerals just leap out in a most distinct manner, and other times they are almost camouflaged. It is so hard to capture the personality well.

Well, with the sun out (and with my son home to help), I thought I would have a go at capturing some of the 5070P’s enigmatic personality. Apologies in advance for the fact that my watch case has more than a few scratches and blemishes. It gets a lot of time on…Also, I won’t use photoshop at all to alter the images.

Let's start with some customary wristshots.....