Patek Philippe

Robert1965
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Please suggest Patek companion piece to the ALS L1MP

Greetings to a very knowledgeable crew!  I've been reading the Patek forum for years and admire the insight and intelligence of the advice on this forum.  Here's my situation: I'm well aware that Patek and Lange are the big two.  There used to be a big three but it seems that most serious watch collectors acknowledge that the Patek and Lange manufacturers and #1 and #2 with a sizeable gap separating the remainder of the list.  I want two watches in my life and two watches only.  I want to actually wear them and love them and look at them every morning when I decide which one to wear.   

My first watch is the A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Moonphase in RG with dark brown strap and RG deployant clasp.  The watch is relatively thin (it's height is at 10mm) and it serves as a relatively sober dress watch under my dress shirt sleeve.  Although not terribly important - from a wardrobe perspective the L1 compliments brown leathers and yellow gold buckles.

Now I'm looking to acquire an annual calendar from Patek.  Four references are on my list: 5146, 5396, 5726, and 5205.  I'd like to go with a white metal case (PLT, WG or SS) and black strap w/ deployant buckle.  Yes, that would mean my only two watches are both moon phases but is okay.  By the way, while the L1 is a manual wind, I'd keep the AC on a winder so I don't lose the time, date, moonphase, etc.  In theory I'd stay with these 2 watches long term so I want a AC design that will always look like a Patek and not "what were they thinking when they designed this one?!" 

The 5146P and 5146G (black dial) look strikingly similar.  Surprisingly, on the Collectors Market they're closer than I thought they'd be.  The 5146 strikes me a quintessential but also a playfully full dial, with the subdial pointers not being the cleanest way to articulate the day of the week and month - but pulling it off in a balanced form.  Even the platinum could be worn with a nice pair of dark jeans it seems.

The 5396G is a high end Calatrava with its clean, formal, white dial - packing in a lot of tech in a thin package.  This watch gives the impression (in photographs and videos) to be dressier and less likely to be well paired with casual attire.  The design of this watch is the most conservative of the four IMHO.

The 5726/A1 would appear to be the tank of the four, but the most tastefully engineered tank ever created.  The moonphase pops off the white dial more so than the dark blue dial, but both dials are wonderful.  WIth the blue dial one can choose the black strap - however the white dial is perhaps more rare/unique as it's more difficult to find and commands a more dear ransom.

The 5205 (in either dial) wins the dramatic Oscar and is the most visually stunning.  This watch demands attention and pulls the eye toward it when you're looking at a case full of Pateks.  It's a relative new comer and so beautifully executed that it seems poised for stardom in Patek's AC ranks.

The bottom line is IF you could only represent the marking and enjoyment of time with two time pieces - and one of them were already chosen for you (L1 MP in RG), what would be your 2nd watch?  Many thanks.

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