It's not any one thing....

Feb 23, 2010,10:45 AM
 

I can tell you some things that it's not.  It's not what they or the company represents.  And I don't really care much about history or where they have been or who else has worn them.  And it's not about technology or their place in horology or reputation.

What it is about to me is the watch itself.  I have owned many watches from many companies... too many, in fact.  But there is intangible presence to me in my two Pateks.  It's about how the design is realized and thought out.  It's about how all the details are seemingly fully considered.  It's about how it feels on my wrist.  It's about the fact that they are legible and functional and beautiful all at once and seemingly by design.  It's about how they specifically don't try to impress onlookers.  It's about what wearing one says to me ... not about me.  It's about classic values over trends.  It's about the quiet joy of using a impeccably designed and realized accessory that does its job superbly. It's about how every single piece of it comes together to make a whole.  It's about what they are... the wristwatch fully realized.  That's what I love about Patek.

Glenn

      

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Do you know why you love Patek Philippe watches?

 
 By: Dje : February 20th, 2010-10:06
Once again Basel time is coming. Once again I'm clear with myself about which current Patek Philippe watch could be my watch. Once again I know there's a risk (what a risk) of a new model replacing my current dream! As I'm starting to think about what may...  

Such a hard question, you have no idea...

 
 By: lkzn55 : February 20th, 2010-11:13
... i've tried so many times to figure it out. Especially, that in the 1st place, i found ALL patek meaningless. How did they grow on me, i have absolutly no idea. I think there is 2 kind of beauties in this world. 1st, the WOW effect, that often tend to ...  

I regards Patek as the epitome of traditional classic watch.....

 
 By: CL : February 20th, 2010-11:21
with a long history. So if I want a understated classic watch, I go to Patek and will only look at their most understated and classic design. To name a few, ref.2526, 3970, 5050, 5970, 2499, 5959, 5078, 3939, 5101......... They all share a similar kind of... 

2nd that. nt

 
 By: Rob : February 20th, 2010-22:26
nt

I must really love PP

 
 By: amanico : February 20th, 2010-11:40
To not have given up the Brand... You want a Minute Repeater, a Chrono, a Tourbillon, a Celestial? You're a pure lover, I mean an authentic and sincere one, it won't be enough to get these pieces you dream about. It is somewhat frustrating, but some of th... 

Why do I love Pateks?

 
 By: whit : February 20th, 2010-12:09
I don't just love Pateks, I love a lot of other brands as well. Patek has many that I do love quite a bit however, I try to find the strength of a manufacturer and pursue the items that, in my opinion, they do better than anyone else. So for me, conservat... 

Exactly my thoughts...

 
 By: Expat : February 20th, 2010-17:01
I am a complete PP fan. But like Whit wrote: "conservative dress watches and the like are Patek, sport watches are Rolex" is also true for me...

Do you know why you love your wifeÉ

 
 By: LarryFRCGP : February 20th, 2010-12:25
Elegant, charming, unique, head-turner, trustworthy, thrill you with you, getting more beautiful everyday, last a life time, would trade your life for it, treasure for later generations. Finally, you will confess to your wife (Patek) after you had a fling... 

In fact, I love and hate Patek watches at the same time.

 
 By: ling5hk : February 20th, 2010-17:37
I love them because they are indeed relatively more beautiful and elegent (I didn't say better finished) watches. I did chase for them and still own some and now stop buying. I hate them because they have been constantly and covertly or otherwise used as ... 

+1

 
 By: patrick_y : February 21st, 2010-19:58
I have to agree, I'm starting to dislike Patek Philippe because some speculators who buy Patek Philippe are using them as "trading tools" are becoming increasingly annoying and more prevalent on this website. Sometimes when I see a fake Patek Philippe pic... 

I'll tell you why...

 
 By: timewaster : February 20th, 2010-18:32
Because instead of screaming f u like a Rolex they whisper it... Kidding, fantastic review, at least I can pass that much on to mon fils! ;-)

I am still trying to figure it out... maybe becasue it's just

 
 By: Aussie : February 20th, 2010-18:57
Magical This message has been edited by Realm on 2010-02-20 19:03:36...  

that is stunning - wow

 
 By: ChristianDK : February 21st, 2010-05:00

Matter of fact....

 
 By: Quan : February 20th, 2010-19:48
I don't like Patek because as Ling said been "play" by flippers (in Asia AD also do too much mark up) but I L o v e Patek, its design and finishing just hypnotize, WYCWIG unlike other brand when you look at the picture so nice but when you see it in flesh... 

Of all the watches I own/owned I kept telling myself and others,

 
 By: Mech : February 20th, 2010-21:13
which one I'd still be wearing comfortably and fitting in my golden years when my wrist turned frail and wrinkled? Patek! As much as what i felt might not be a relevant answer to your question, it's how I feel of my 3940, even before I reached my 'golden ... 

For me.....

 
 By: sjc : February 20th, 2010-23:08
It is their timeless beauty. Just one opinion.......  

because you just cant take your eyes off them [nt]

 
 By: IAD : February 20th, 2010-23:26
No message body This message has been edited by Ishan on 2010-02-20 23:33:15...  

before anything else it was the beauty

 
 By: brokenwrist : February 21st, 2010-19:27
15 years ago when i was about 18, I was thumbing through a magazine, maybe GQ or ESQUIRE etc. They had the obligatory article on watches that are so common in mens magazines. Mind you at this time I had no knowledge of watches at all really. I knew the na... 

Daer JSC

 
 By: tempus : February 21st, 2010-03:38
This is one of the most beautiful PPs ever. Two hands down, gorgeous! But my 5970P is giving me a quantum of solace!

Of course I mean dear sjc :-)

 
 By: tempus : February 21st, 2010-03:41
One more time : 3974 is stunning!

Beautiful watch...

 
 By: patrick_y : February 21st, 2010-20:00
I love classic Pateks; especially the model you have pictured. I also realized that I love the 5039 the whole time without knowing it. Beautiful watch and thank you for sharing!

Great question Jerome

 
 By: watch-guy.com : February 21st, 2010-15:11
If I have to be totally honest with myself I think there is alittle bit of a "snob" factor. PP is upper end watch collecting but there is also a history there. Not as long as VC or a few other brands but I like the idea of a fmily owned business. I do und... 

oops left out the pics

 
 By: watch-guy.com : February 21st, 2010-23:28
My favourite 2526 Marilyn Hour glass Manta Whats not to love??????...  

Love is difficult to describe.

 
 By: patrick_y : February 21st, 2010-19:51
How does one describe an emotion without using another emotion in the description. In other words, emotions are not something that is tangible, quantifiable, nor even describable (without using another emotion). My first "love" with wristwatches started w... 

Patek Philippe captures how I feel about time...

 
 By: =RWK= : February 21st, 2010-23:17
Silver and blue, strong and orderly, yet with a delicate multifaceted character all it's own. -- Richard....  

impossible to answer.....

 
 By: Baron - Mr Red : February 22nd, 2010-07:40
I just dont think i can define it so easily. For a start, i don't love Patek per se, but i do love some of the watches that Patek make. Some watches simply chime louder to me than other watches. It just so happens that if i was to list my favourite 5 watc... 

LOL! I had a friend who once did...

 
 By: ThomasM : February 23rd, 2010-17:00
EXACTLY THAT!

great pic,and not too unwise

 
 By: lutz : February 24th, 2010-11:11
funny too of course

It's not any one thing....

 
 By: Duke2Earl : February 23rd, 2010-10:45
I can tell you some things that it's not. It's not what they or the company represents. And I don't really care much about history or where they have been or who else has worn them. And it's not about technology or their place in horology or reputation. W... 

I feel Good!

 
 By: rolex20001 : February 23rd, 2010-18:17
Sure I own a couple of Rolex's and so does everyone else that's made a couple of bucks. But I am a watch collector and feel that after working hard all my life I want to wear the very best. When I wear my PP even though no one else can see it I know I am ... 

What a spendid thread...................

 
 By: Topcat30093 : February 23rd, 2010-18:58
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading everyones input and stories. That there are too many to single out. For myself, I was a Rolex diehard to me watch making stopped at Rolex nothing beat them. If you had one on your wrist you had made it! That was until one... 

PP and I are still courting...

 
 By: dxboon : February 23rd, 2010-22:58
...and I'm not quite ready to say those three little words. It's not yet "love" for me, but a deep appreciation of the brand's history, commitment to following its own understated vision, and impeccable class and finishing. Cheers, Daos

Timeless

 
 By: Zeitgeist : February 24th, 2010-06:09
For me it is the history and aura of the brand in the background but equally fascinating the timeless design and elegant understatement. It is a nice feeling to wear an example of the best watch brand in the world with most people not knowing. The perfect... 

because my father started this collection and....

 
 By: chronoman19 : February 24th, 2010-08:52
every time I have the opportunity to buy a new one it seems to me to make him alive again ...... I love Patek because I feel wearing them to be in my family tradition ! Technical and estetical points are for me secondary . regards to all of you Purists !

hard to get tired of them,

 
 By: lutz : February 24th, 2010-11:17
honest craftmanship,mostly sober and elegant design although several pieces are not to my taste,one of the last family owned companies.Personal adress in the magazines is a nice gesture and an excellent idea to keep contact to customers.Some of their curr... 

Balance, perfection

 
 By: cisco : February 28th, 2010-02:09
I do not like all Pateks, I prefer some Lange finish, some Dubuis dials, some Vacheron design... But when Patek succeeds in a model, most of the time no other exists any more. No comparison are possible. Because the balance is perfect, and makes it all. T... 

Have you considered a Breguet

 
 By: blaze84389 : March 5th, 2010-19:27
Breguet watches have a storied history and like Patek they are hand made. All three watch brands are the top of the watch world. Joseph