12 years!
12 years of pleasure, of love, of passion.
And even more, as I didn't fall in love with that watch at the moment I owned it, but the very first day Patek unveiled it, in 2000.
That day, I imagined and thought that one day, I will get the 5110G, which I immensely loved, and thought that the Platinum would be a mad dream.
I spent hours and hours looking at pictures, here and there, and in the Patek catalog, also.
And, in July 2004, I received a phone call from an authorized dealer, who is a friend, too, who told me that he had one, in platinum, for me.
You know the story, the next 4 months didn't fly, to say the least, the wait seemed to be an eternity. And, on the 2d of November 2004, it was finally mine.
There are not many watches I would call a keeper, in the past or current production, even in my collection. I can indeed let the two third of my collection go, without much pain. But the 5110P belongs to the category of watches which are here to stay, with me, or with my family.
A watch which saw many good and bad things in life, many important moments, always.
A watch which saw many countries, as it was with me for most of my trips.
A watch which has an incredible power as we wrote it many times: You can travel without leaving your house. Just have a look at the different cities of the world, look at the time it is here and there, imagine what your friends all over the world are doing, see if they are asleep or not, is this the good time to call them, and so on... That is almost a tool, which connects you with the whole world.
A watch which I consider as an icon in its category: When it was released, there were not so many world timers. Times have changed, and several brands came with their own world time watches. Still, after all this time, the 5110 P, G, J or R, whatever the metal, is still an icon.
Maybe there are some which are more efficient, such as the Vacheron, maybe, but none of them can rival the Patek, in terms of charm and beauty. The 5110 is and remains a queen. Even the later iterations from Patek are less charming, dare I say. With the exception of the latest 5230, but even between the 5230 and the 5110, I will choose the 5110.
Maybe one day I will own the 5230, but I will never sell the 5110 to get it.
Some words of explanations on that matter: The 5110,when it came out, had a new case and dial. You will tell me that it is also the case of the 5130, which is not totally exact. Indeed, the 5130 has, basically the same case, which is 2, 5 mm bigger. And the dial of the 5130 is different, yes, but less my taste in terms of decoration.
The 5230 has a case whose dimensions are between the 5110 and the 5130, and Patek corrected on this last reference something which is important for me, the size of the main dial, cities and 24 hours rings. More harmonious than in the 5130.
The 5110 got it right since the beginning. THAT explains my preference for this reference.
That being said, how to give it the hommage it deserves? I thought about that since the beginning of this year, and felt that taking twelve unreleased pictures might well be a good way to celebrate this important birthday.
Let's try...
1/ The natural shot:
I took several pictures of the 5110 on plane tickets, room cards, boarding pass, security cards and so on. I won't post them here.
But a 5110 on a map? Never! The world on the world shot.
2 and 3/ Readings:
More or less pleasant...
Reading a good old book and wearing a fine watch is an extraordinary experience. Add a good cigar and a fine glass of Armagnac, and you are not far from Heaven.
And wearing the same watch while having to study some legal texts reduces the pain.
4 and 5/ The Patek Philippe Magazine Shots:
There are not only good texts in the Patek Magazine, there are also some superb pictures to be used as nice backgrounds for your photos.
Matching your reading with your watch, isn't that the " Chic du chic "?
6/ The old leather box shot:
The 5110 is an icon, it is not a vintage watch, literally speaking. Not yet, at least.
But on an old leather box, you start to feel its vintage character... And charm.
7/ The Leica Shot:
One of the bet way to know a watch, and to learn a lot about it is to take it in pictures. On a big screen, you better see its flaws and qualities, its balance, its harmony, consistence... Beauty.
The summit of joy is when you take a nice picture of a nice watch, on a nice camera. Here, on a Leica D Lux 4 titanium.
8/ The Salt Shot:
Salt is well known to enhance the taste of food. But it also enhances the beauty of a watch.
No exception with the 5110P!
9/ The Quartz Shot:
To be clear, the quartz is below the watch, not IN the watch.
Just to show its mineral beauty.
10/ The Metropolitan Tickets shot:
Just to prove that even when you are in the tube, you are travelling, with a 5110.
That makes your short trip much more pleasant...
11/ The Monopoly Shot:
In fact, the idea to write this pictorial hommage was born when I took this picture, one year and a half ago.
It was so cool that I was thinking that I'd better save it for a good post.
Life is ( sometimes ) a game, and at that game, the 5110 is not bad.
12/ The Corks Shot:
Why? Because wine and the 5110 share the same thing: a distinguished pleasure...
... Which can lead to a delicious exaltation.
Here we are, my friends.
Twelve pictures, twelve candles, twelve years... To many many more!
Best,
Nicolas
