Patek Philippe

What new Patek Philippe watch for 2011?

 

We’ll know the Patek Philippe novelties in less than 3 weeks.

As each year some certainly already know them, but I will ask them to respect embargo dates.

Still as I have no idea and no information about what is coming I’m tempted to discuss. Do you want to discuss?

We can take some time to look three years back and try to see if we can imagine where in the Patek Philippe catalog the novelties will land. You’ll see below the main novelties of the last three years.

I don’t know where they’re going but I know what path they’ve taken.

In 2008 we saw the launch of both simple watches like the Gondolo 5124G and extreme complications like the 5207.

Patek Philippe Gondolo 5124G

We’ve seen no new case model for the calibre 25-21 REC PS since the launch of the 5124. Furthermore the Gondolo range has been decreased to the two models equipped with this calibre, the 5124 and the 5098. As it seems quite pertinent to equip Gondolo models with a form calibre, we can suppose that coming Gondolo models will keep using the 25-21, unless we see the “simple” ten days calibre of the revered 5100 do a come back.

Patek Philippe calibre 25-21 REC PS

I’m in favour of seeing more stainless steel watches back in the Patek Philippe range. In fact as I love form watches I’d love to see a stainless steel Gondolo watch equipped with a 25-21. We see here from time to time several marvellous vintage Patek Philippe form watches. Maybe a new watch inspired by those marvels could do well?

2008 was also the year of the launch of the last version of the 5070 series. The series is now closed but we saw last year the new 5170J. Can we imagine a blue dial 5170P?  I can’t imagine it personally as the 5170 is way too classic for that IMVHO but I obviously can imagine a 5170P. Maybe we’ll see a 5170G before though. I don’t think the 5170 style will allow such a strong colourful design. I would have enough with coloured indexes on the G and white indexes on the P.

Or will we get a different case design with the other gold colours, like a 1463 styled case?

Patek Philippe 5070P

We also saw two black dial versions of complicated watches earlier seen with white dials. Who wants to see more black dial watches this year?

For how long haven’t we seen a black dial Calatrava for instance? Or a black dial stainless steel Gondolo?

Patek Philippe 5078P black dial

What about getting a black dial white metal 5170 this year? Isn’t the 5959P below enough to convince you?

Patek Philippe 5959P black dial

2008 was also the year of the launch of one of the hottest current Patek Philippe watches. The enamelled worldtime 5131 is a gorgeous watch and at a same time a relatively accessible one if you have the good profile. I write “relatively” to compare with a minute repeater for instance, don’t take me wrong! Would we see this year a 5131R? Or could we imagine another watch with an enamel dial? I think of a chronograph once again.

Patek Philippe 5131J dial detail

In fact the beauty of the 5131 comes from the rich colours of its dial, from the depth of the enamel. Can you imagine another complication with such a colourful dial?

What about a perpetual calendar with an enamel dial, a watch that could be based on the 5159? Or a Gondolo perpetual calendar with an Art deco enamel dial?

Patek Philippe 5131J

Or will we see more modern techniques and not especially traditional decoration? We’ve seen nothing from the Patek Philipe Advanced Research since the 5450 in 2008.

We all suppose that this story is not over but we’ve not heard much about it in the last three years. Has the time come?

Patek Philippe 5450

On the opposite we’ve heard of the 5207. We’ve seen it no farther than this week. Maybe there would be some room in the range for an upscale instantaneous perpetual calendar. I’m sure there are collectors who would appreciate such a piece, even if it would be very costly.

Patek Philippe 5207

The 5207 was also using a very special case, decorated on the sides. The case has become more important for the style of the watch and the 5205 has followed this new trend last year. The success of the 5205 will certainly lead to more such pieces.

Patek Philippe 5207 back

We saw less novelties in 2009, at least at BaselWorld. In fact the 5153J was the main novelty. Still we saw several watches of the highest appeal.

Patek Philippe 5102PR

The 5102 remains a dream for many. The PR was mixing platinum and pink gold. The combination of two colours in a case has been rarely used in the modern times. Maybe that could be the base of a new watch.

Patek Philippe 5098R

The 5098R was my co-favourite of the year (with the 5970P). It is still on my Patek Philippe short list. My wish for 2011 is to see it remain in the range. I’m sure it could also be produced in yellow gold, especially now as it seems that yellow gold comes back trendier.

Patek Philippe 5101R

Another watch in pink gold the 5101R reminds us that 2009 was the year of pink gold for Patek Philippe. This large watch houses a fantastic calibre and I’m sure many would like to see this calibre in a slightly shorter case. A simpler case on the 5105 style could be quite tempting.

Patek Philippe 5153J

The 5153J was the main new watch for 2009. Of course it was not totally new as it was a larger 5053 with a new dial. We still have to see another colour of this watch. Maybe the G version will join the J this year?

The charm of opening an officer back comes from a very short and subtile pleasure, reminiscence of the old pocket watches.

Patek Philippe 5153J back

The 5167R was the other fantastic pink gold watch with the 5098R. The brown dial and strap give a refined and modern touch to the warm gold colour. It is for once a pink gold watch for young people.

A younger styled pink gold Calatrava would be a nice addition to the range, especially if it could match the appeal of the 5167R.

Patek Philippe 5167R

The top watch of 2009 was obviously the 5970P. This rare and short lived watch was the sign of the final curtain on the Lemania powered chronographs, even if the 5004 is still produced, as we know that we won’t see new watches with this calibre now. The final watch was in fact perfect. All we can hope from this watch is that the replacement will be as beautiful. At least we know that it will use a very appealing base calibre!

Patek Philippe 5970P

To end up with BaselWorld 2009 I will remind you the now famous Patek Philippe Seal. The discussion is now calmed down. Patek Philippe is still making beautifully made watches. We must let time to time and the future will judge.

The Patek Philippe Seal

2009 ended well with the launch of a “Ladies first” watch, a chronograph for women, powered by the all new in-house Patek Philippe chronograph calibre CH 29-535 PS. 

Patek Philippe 7071

This calibre has made up spend a full winter waiting for the fall to come. We all wanted to see a new men’s chronograph. We got it later.

Patek Philippe 7071 back

The new calibre, just made available on the market in the last months of 2010, has not yet had the opportunity to convince the major part of the collectors but I’m sure it will. This excellent base calibre has integrated so many improvements that I’m confident it will help us forget the demise of the Lemania base.

Calibre CH 29-535 PS

In fact the next act took place no later than at BaselWorld 2010. We were all waiting for a men’s chronograph, we got it. We got a very classical offering and you may already know that I love it. I understand that some would have preferred a less formal style, but not for this time.

Patek Philippe 5170J on wrist

The principle of a two counter manual wind chrono is classical in itself. It is certainly easier to begin with a classical design, and launch later a more modern style, or a less formal one. Maybe a stainless steel 1463 priced at the same level would meet a great success?

Patek Philippe 5170J

Why wouldn’t we have a range of different chronographs available at the same time?

Patek Philippe 5170J

In fact that’s what Patek Philippe has done with the new 5950A in 2010 as it is a differently cased 5959. So let’s hope it’s a new policy.

Patek Philippe 5950A

I can’t imagine that the 5950 was launched because the 5959 would not sell. Both watches are gorgeous and offer different sizes. We have to remember that the 5070 was generally liked for its style, but many found it too large (myself among those). The 5950 may have come for such reason: to offer a larger 5959.

I don’t wish to see a 42mm new 1463, but why not?

Patek Philippe 5950A back

The 5951 appeared as an ultimate split seconds perpetual calendar. It reminds us the need for a new watch to replace the still living 5004. We can suppose that it will come based on the perpetual calendar version of the 5170. How long will we wait? Not too long I think.

Patek philippe 5951P

2010 was also the confirmation that we can sometimes choose between different dials on the same watch. The blue dialed 5960P must be seen to be appreciated. We were used to different dials on highly complicated watches like perpetual calendars or minute repeaters, but not much on simpler ones (except perhaps on the 5146). Will we see more choices in 2011? Will we see a blue dial simple Calatrava?

Patek Philippe 5960P

The 5980/1A with black dial was in the same vein of offering more choice. Please just don’t replace the blue dial of the 5711 by a black one!

Patek Philippe 5980/1A

The real novelty of the Nautilus range was the annual calendar 5726.

Patek philippe 5726A

Don’t you want to see more of the 5726? What about the stainless steel bracelet version? Wouldn’t it be the time to launch an interchangeable bracelet to equip the strapped ones?

And are we going to see all the complications implemented in the Nautilus? What about a worldtime Nautilus?

Patek philippe 5726A and 5205G

It’s time to talk of the star of 2010 for Patek Philippe. The new annual calendar 5205G has seemingly appealed more than the 5170J last year. It is certainly a very tempting watch, that can federate the youngest amateurs and bring some new customers to the brand, while the 5170J is possibly more aimed at the die-hard fans.

Patek philippe 5205G

The choice of two dial colours is an easy way to offer the impression of a range with only one watch. We will hopefully see more this watch in the next years,  perhaps with new functions.

Patek Philippe 5205G silver dial

Blue was the colour of 2010 for dials, like pink was the colour for the cases in 2009. The 5140P is an irresistible and tasty option, while the 5140R offers a more classical and understated one.

Again how long will we wait for a blue dial Calatrava?

Patek Philippe 5140P

The last two watches may remind us of the 5153 of the precedent year and we can ask for a 5153R, or an engraved 5153G.

Patek Philippe 5159R

Can you imagine a better choice for hunting? The 5160G is incredible and why wouldn’t we get more such incredible watches from Patek Philippe?

Patek Philippe 5160G

Why would Patek Philippe remain a strict brand?

We’ve seen so many signs of daring tendencies in the last three years, I’m sure we can hope for more.

What are you waiting from Patek Philippe?

Cheers

Dje

This message has been edited by Dje on 2011-02-28 14:30:42 This message has been edited by Dje on 2011-03-04 13:16:27