Hi Dear fellow Patek Philippe owners and fans,
I am Akitaishi from Singapore. As many of you have notice my rather active participation in this forum over the last 3 weeks ~ a month.
Probably many are wondering who this person is who just came and join this forum and began initiating so many discussion, asking questions here and there.
In actual fact, I have been a fan of this prestigious brand since the early 2002. My humble beginnings have only allowed me to collect plastic watches during my late school years. I had my first swatch in 1995 and probably some of you were already owning 2 ~ 3 Pateks during that time. Even during that period, the mechanical movement captivated me. One of the swatch which I bought was a model called "Body and Soul". It was a metallic automatic produced by Swatch (it still exist today). I bought it at about S$165 using about a full 2 months of savings. I eventually sold it in ebay a couple of years later for 300 USD !
Then I turned to digital watch collection. Amassing the holy grail digital watches which the digital vintage watch community had so much of a liking for. I bought the Seiko TV watch and many other exquisite interesting digital watches. My collection reached it's pinnacle in 2009 when I acquired the Citizen Scientific Calculator Watch (CSCW). (I bet some of you might not know that Citizen used to produce digital watches and yet the most fantastic calculator watch was made by them in 1978).
Even during my younger years of collecting, the Patek Philippe brand was no stranger to me. As much as their watches appealed to me, I never had the fortune of a father who could buy one for me, or hand me down one. I could also not afford one in the early 2000s. That was a time when money went to the textbooks, meals, transport. Also after graduation, money was channeled into mortgage, cars, wedding and holidays. There was no spare cash to indulge in a luxury watch that I like.
Fast forward to 2013 July, I decided it was time to pick a Patek. I look around for a watch that I really like, could afford and would not leave me cash strapped. The Calatrava was a first pick. This year being 2013, is the year Patek released their 39 mm officer case Calatrava 5227. To my horror when I found out about the price, it was about $37,500 for a WG from and AD. Undeterred, I search for more places, forums, ablogtowatch, watch magazine, watch dealers and finally set my eyes on one watch. One that is speaks to me.
I eventually got my hand on this time piece. My desire to share the pictures is there and it simply grew stronger every time I see a new forum thread with a photo of a Patek attached. I wanted to do a debut and do it properly. Just didnt have the time and occasion to do it until this morning.
Thus, I present to you my Patek Philippe Ref 5055G !
Right from the very beginning, my bottom line criteria for a first Patek was that :
1) It has to be a Dress watch which can be worn for an office, dining or even casual occasion.
2) It has to be an automatic movement.
3) It needs to do more than just tell time. A day calendar would be good. (That was why I set my standards on a Calatrava 5227. But alas, even that I was outpriced !
4) It has to be a maximum of 39 mm case.
5) It has to be fitted with a leather. I dislike bracelet and I have a rather small Asian wrist. I hate watches that runs around my wrist loose.
6) It has to have a transparent back so that I could see the movement.
7) I would like to have a moon phase indicator if price permits.
Narrowing down the options based on the above criteria, I quickly reduced my list to a few models. The Ref 5015, 5054 and 5055. But as soon as my excitement brewed, it was smouldered. I read that this watch was discontinued at about 2004~2005, just the year I graduated from University. Needless to say, I would not be able to buy it from an Authorized dealer. Ebay would be risky for such a big $$ commitment and that leaves me with few options. Fortunately, I came across 2 watch shops that specialized in consignment and sale of preowned watches in my country. And it was as if like an answered pray, one dealer had 2 ref 5054 and another had a ref 5055. Trying both, I realized that I was more in favour of arabic numbers than Roman. I also preferred the black dark face of the 5055. It was even at 1 - 1 because although the 5054 had Roman numbering, it had the hinged metal case. (I recently learnt that it was called the officer case).
A struggle of choosing between the 2 began. I began to look harder at the details. 5055 had illum hands (+1), 5054 had classic vintage watch hands (+1). Tied again. 2 more considerations ensued.
I thought that the officer case could actually make the watch thicker. I also still had the sapphire case back showing the back movement. So the officer case wasn't much of a big deal the more I thought about it. I could trade off a classic feature for a slightly slimmer watch case and still stick to No. 6 of my criteria. 5055 was leading by 1 now. More thinking, reading and considering along the way. Many forum described the 5054 as a more collectible piece, terming it to have the classical look. It however registered as a more mature piece placing it beside the 5055. 5055 had a more cheerful, trendy and modern look ; almost defying what the brand eludes as being safe, classic and full of tradition. Yet all these considerations did not seem to swing my preference over to 5054. To me, the 5055 was a "younger"-looking brother. (It was around this point of time when I started wondering about Patek system of watch reference. Readers would have remembered me popping this question) On my wrist, the 5055 makes me look younger. 5055 (up by +2)
At this junction, the price factor came in to cloud my decisions a little. Having that wonderful officer case back structure and taking the cue from the recent Calatrava 5227 pricing. When the dealer offered the 5054 at a price that was comparable to the 5055. It did seem like a good deal ! 5054 up by 1, 5055 (+1)
But then, I felt that price should not be an overall deciding factor. I am buying the watch to enjoy it, not purely as an investment tool.
I came upon some columnist who described the 5055 as a "wayward" piece, as if a watch rebelling against the rest of the Patek line, trying to look different.
Indeed, it looks very different from afar. The dials are circles of different sizes and as if they were bubbling with "rebellious" energy, there is no symmetry on the dial ! 2 circular dial sits below the hour/minute hand centre and of different size giving that non-equilibrium look. I have been playing it too safe so far. The 5055 was screaming at me to take him home.
When the thinking becomes crowded with emotions and considerations, sometimes it's good to take a step back. The asymmetric dials actually made a lot of space for the Brand name "PATEK PHILIPPE", GENEVE to be seen very clearly. Even as lean back to admire the watch. The rebel 5055 is saying that the Patek movement does run deep in its blood. Looking unconventional and being Patek is a juxtaposition quality that this 5055 have. It's THE watch that would brave the world with me as juxtaposition is a new world struggle anyway. Bring it on !
I lean nearer to listen to what the 5055 had to say.
Here I recalled a time when I read that watch enthusiast refer to the 5055 as "Petite complication". It's a complications watch. It's not a full AC, definitely not a PC, has no chronograph, yet measures seconds (at the 4 o'clock dial) and also contains the calibrated Power reserve indicator; arguably one of the most useful complication to have in a Patek Mechanical watch. Not just a "+/-" marking. But a well calibrated one. I measured it. The space between 2 adjacent dots between 12 to 48 correspond to a time length of 3 hours. Very precise.
At 6 minutes to 10 oclock, the minute hands pass over the power reserve hands looking as if they would clash, but not at all ! The power reserve needle and the minute hand would simply pass, one above each other , not running into each other. Even in asymmetry, there is harmony. It's a moonless on the moon phase indicator. The stars are shining forth, just as it got clearer and clearer which watch to choose.
The appreciation of the description "Petite complication" was now in full bloom. When i read it, it was used by the watch enthusiast to refer to this watch as being a series to fill the gap between the dress Pateks and the Grande complication pieces. The dress Patek markets to those who wishes to have a dress watch, the Grande complication answers to Patek watch collectors looking for much more. Price wise, there seem to be a gap between the 2 and that was addressed by the "Petite complications". Petite complications as having some essential mix of functions that would make the Patek more interesting than the calatrava and more affordable than the AC, PC. Chrono and MRs.
To me, I also marvel at how they could squeeze so many things inside the 36 mm watch case accomplishing this feat with the reliable 240 Calibre and yet still have the watch looking so incredibly thin. It does feel like a weighty piece though, one that exudes presence. The watch is truly petite in both form and function.
Still a rather close contest between the 5054 and 5055 for me.
One thing that really attracts me is the deployant clasp that the 5055 comes with. The Calatrava emblem is unmistakable. A watch columnist in Hondinkee did talk about his 5396 having a deployant clasp and said that it came with Pateks that are considerably expensive. I am not sure about this and sometime back, I also raised this question in the forum. Still the answer is grey. But I know that the 5055 WG came with this and that is enough for me to give the 5055 another point. 5055 (+2)
Though knowing that 5055 is in the lead, I have lost count of the scores I gave to the 5055 and 5054. All I know is that the 5055 is way past a
perfect 10 for me now !
I have no qualms that it is the perfect buy for me. The watch is a wearer on a formal dining occasion or even in a casual occasion like going for a bowling game.
You know that the watch speaks to you when it tells you to snap pictures of it now and then and cause you to bowl like crap. and Hey ! 138 ?!
Does that day seem familiar ? My goodness, August the 13th ! The fateful day when I officially put the watch on after having the watch dealer help me resize the leather strap for a more comfortable fit ! Coincidence or what ?!!
A debut that has been much delayed. But all in the light of a perfect first. Today is the first day I am wearing this Patek to a bowling game. Patek to a bowling game ? Safe or risky ? Who does that ? There is nothing that is unconventional when a 5055 is on your wrist. There is no if's. It's such a watch for any occasion. (except for a few instances, not for beach or workout of course)
My game was crap. Obviously the watch is too distracting. So before the next game, I thought I should let it speak to you. So far it has been talking through me.
Thus, here is my Patek 5055 saying a big "Hello world !"
Time : 10:09. I timed it with precision. Still the 5055 was not happy. I learnt that it has a "perfectionist characteristic".
Watches are often show cased with the time at 10:10 ! A strategic positioning of the hands that gives it the symmetry and elegance.
Damn ! I had one minute to get it right. Another half a dozen of practice shot and
then at 10:10 ! The hour hand, minute hand and seconds hand aligning impeccably.
And so, my morning at the alley with my Patek 5055.
A Debut of my first Patek watch.
I hope all of you do enjoy reading my Patek 5055 WG review. Please comment freely.
Thank you.
