Patek Philippe

After reading your answers to chapter one, there's once certainty. You love Patek Philippe watches (we already knew that anyway). And we're still looking to know why.

So rarity is not a main reason. Well of course it is not as who can say here I own the only XXXX of this forum? If rarity was a serious reason you would not look for a friendly relationship with people owning the same watch as yours.

I've chosen to discuss now about tradition. In a lost world where all things vintage seem to sell so well, or appeal so much, I guess that tradition can pump up the volume.

Tradition means "a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past" (from Wikipedia). Immediately you think about the Patek Philippe ads of the last years. No? I do. As you I don't buy the marketing side even if I'm always happy when one of my sons asks about one of my watches.

In fact I think there's much more about tradition in our interest for Patek Philippe watches than these ads. You can trace the ranges of watches so far back in the past that some have become somewhat traditional. What about the history of the Calatrava? What about the glorious chronographs? What about the worldtimers?

Patek Philippe also promotes in the Patek Philippe Seal the respect of its traditions.  Traditions in design, in production, in finish, in service, in excellency…. 

We can also consider the tradition from Geneva, incorporating a certain kind of specific finish, an architecture of calibres. The most recent calibre of the new annual calendar reference 5235 is IMO a good example of a traditional architecture of bridges from Geneva, rounded and harmonious. On the contrary the 5959 calibre is on its side a good example of the traditional finish of the complicated calibres originated in the Vallee de Joux.

The simple design of many current Patek Philippe watches can be easily traced back reference after reference down to the pre war times of the precedent century. To some extent the references are replaced more and more often but the overall catalogue still looks nearly the same, with just some nice but discreet modernization taking place slowly.

Why do we love Patek Philippe watches? Certainly not because they are traditional, but maybe because of some traditions they perpetuate.

Elegance in itself is a tradition that goes well with Patek Philippe watches. More than often dressed, they are rarely show off. One of the Patek Philippe traditions is to have an elegant volume, a kind of thinness. Compared to other brands Patek Philippe has remained traditional on this aspect while others have gone to the opposite extreme for a while, to finally seem to recover some reason. But tradition must be permanently kept and respected to remain pure and not become a marketing gimmick.

Patek Philippe reference 1554 from  1942

I suppose that traditions can remain preserved only when they are related to essential aspects. Tradition must not be boring, it must be a pleasing pillar on which to build a new chapter of a never ending history. You may think that the 5196 could have attained a definitive design now, but we will certainly see an updated version someday. Probably it will be the same but better….

Tradition doesn't go against innovation. Efficiency is another tradition of Patek Pilippe watches, so the new 5550P is an innovation on the base of the 5140P that is improving the base while remaining traditional on what is not innovative.

You could of course consider that the way Patek Philippe manages the design evolution in the range in the long term is the sign of limited imagination. I don't think it's the case. I think that the will to respect the tradition of the brand necessitates a huge wok of design to perpetuate a style without ever letting it be out-fashioned. It is easier to appeal with brand new designs IMO than to permanently revitalize lasting pieces.

One aspect we should also consider is that consequently some may dislike the Patek Philippe tradition and still love some Patek Philippe watches. The work done on the Nautilus range for instance, may have brought a brand new audience, maybe younger, to the brand Patek Philippe. The recent annual calendars 5205 and 5235 may also appeal to younger customers, while they bring back to modern days many design features already seen in the past even if in some maybe never seen combinations.

Great ideas, great designs supposedly never die. Consciously or not, and quite probably consciously, Patek Philippe knows that. So the Patek Philippe tradition was slowly made of the consolidation of many great ideas, designs, practices in the past. "Tried tested and true" was said by a very traditional car brand in the US 15 years ago. I don't know if that's still the case today as the industry has changed a lot. The watch industry doesn't need to change as much, so tradition can be preserved to target those who cherish it.

So clearly, do you love Patek Philippe, or the Patek Philippe watches, because of tradition? What is the tradition of Patek Philippe for you? What is the definition of a traditional Patek Philippe watch (for you)?

Do you think that the pink or green or yellow dials on ladies' Aquanauts was a good idea?

It's up to you now.

Best regards

Dje