What is so special about Patek Philippe? Some (civil) input is appreciated!

Dear enthusiasts,

i?d like to run with a topic that came up in the answers to bmccaw?s recent question. I?m in hope of a civil exchange of opinions in this regard; it is somewhat apparent Patek Philippe does have some strong followers here and i?m quite interest in your personal take on this:

What makes Patek Philippe so special for you?

That?s a very personal question and i do know there?s no right or wrong, just different perspectives.
Whether is the historical achievements, outstanding vintage or contemporary watches, skills and craftmanship unsurpassed or just a personal piece with a nice story or background, i?d appreciate your input a lot.

Furthermore, your comments and thoughts are appreciated in that they may help those new to the brand finding a basic approach and hopefully, a perspective to discover the special magic that surrounds timepiece with this special name.

While you may recognize i?m more a lurker than a poster over here (but a bit more active in one of our other ThePuristS.com fora), i?d like to break the ice with what makes Patek Philippe special for me.
The brand is widely regarded the King of brands and it is so with good reasons; there?s a real heritage that is alive and very real, with the Patek Philippe Museum offering a chance to see some of the most outstanding timepieces ever made. This heritage is alive today in that they still do a lot of work like it was done decades and centuries ago. Tradition is not just a word, but a true obligation. Personally, i do believe quite some current timepieces are in line with this, resulting in some of the finest craftmanship and design pieces to be found.
You see, i?m quite influenced by past achievement and traditional design and execution.

That said, i?d be glad to read your comments and input and i do hope of a few of you out there joining in. Maybe this will be a chance for those who, like me, tend to be readers more than posters to step out of the virtual shadows and make yourself heard?

Have a great weekend all,
greetings from germany,

Peter