Patek Philippe

Miranda
[PuristSPro Moderator]
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The perfect DNA

Baselworld 2005, Patek introduces a watch very dangerous…dangerous to your health that is. The 5970 is launched, I remember this moment well, I stood in front of the window at the Patek stand mesmerised, and I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing.

The new perpetual chrono featured a larger 40mm case, and what a case it was. The dial featured a tachymeter and we saw the return of rectangular pushers.

It was love at first sight. Patek had taken all the best from the vintage

1518, 2499 and 3970 and mixed those all up to make, what for the first time for me challenged the 2499 as the “perfect watch”.

Everything was awesome about this piece; I adored the flared lugs, the size, the dial…it was one of those moments in life you remember for ever.

Technically, it was the same movement as the 3970, making this the third variation of the seminal perpetual chrono combination (excluding the 5004 with split seconds of course).

Many here often make the comparison of the 5070 with the 5970. This for me is a wrong comparison. Think of the Ferrari 458 and the Enzo. The heart is the same, but both are very different: the Enzo beginning with the 250GTO, 288 GTO and then F40, F50.

A true challenge for the 5970 comes from its ancestor, the 2499. In technical terms, the 5970 is more complicated but lacks the exquisite finish of the 2499 movement. Aesthetically, well beauty as they say is definitely in the eye of the beholder, for me I honestly find it hard to choose, but if money was of no significance here, I would give a hair’s width to the 5970 as being more beautiful. The 5970 is a true heir to the throne, and has become a legend in its own right.

The initial versions were in rose and white gold, and I am led to believe they were made in equal numbers through out the production. As to the exact numbers, no definitive answer.  These were joined in 2008 with a one year production of a yellow gold version before the final version in platinum in 2009.

All versions are spectacularly beautiful in their own way. The yellow gold has very vintage look, the rose is warm, and the white the most understated and the platinum with its black dial the most dramatic.

There was a unique piece made with a blue which was auctioned for charity. The price was actually quite modest for a unique piece, but then maybe all thought it was going to be the standard version….I expect some wished they had pushed harder!

There was also a diamond set version the 5971p in platinum also with black dial.

The 5970 run ended with the 5970p in 2010, and so too with it the legendary Lemania movement.

The 5970 was a wonderful finale to a movement launched all the way back in 1986.

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   Imran