Patek Philippe

tlw99
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Great question

Great question to which you have already received some great answers. 

I have yet to see the new PP manual movement, but the mere fact that it is manufactured in-house means nothing to me.  Given that historically all watch movements were sourced from outside at a time when Patek was building the reputation it now enjoys makes me perfectly comfortable if not delighted to have the Lemania. 

There is also the Philippe Stern interview done in 2003 in which Stern stated that it made no sense given production numbers of that era to create its own in-house movement, but that if it did it would "probably been identical to the [Lemania] we currently use."  As I read the interview, the justification to incur the cost for building a new movement in-house was based upon the need for increased production and the need for financial and technical independence.  It seems evident that he couldn't have Hayek/Breguet or others dictating terms to Patek.  So now the new movement will be reproduced for decades to justify the R&D cost, while the Lemania will be confined to a relatively few special watches.

But regardless of the movement, for me it still comes down to the overall aesthetics of the watch.  I had the 3970, and while I very much appreciate the watch, it wasn't for me.  I did not need to justify my purchase of the 3970.  I just sold it and bought the 5970.  But I don't feel the slightest urge to sell the 5970 to buy the 5270.    On the other hand, if I loved the 5270 over the 5970, I would most likely ignore the fact that it wasn't a Lemania movement and buy it anyway. 

 Tlw

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