Patek Philippe - A Wonderful Exchange

A Wonderful Exchange

I'm glad that my thoughts on timepieces and their times were well-received; I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to consider the matter.

It will be fascinating to see what direction design and style (not to mention the world itself) take from this point forward. There is a sense that so much flux occurring so quickly has generated a real nervous energy that could be harnessed for good or ill.

What form will new styles of expression take? We'll have to find out. It's rarely the arbiters of high style who launch the true innovations; breakthroughs tend to start at the margins of culture. (e.g., the Tango, Manga Art, Rock and Roll...). We must be ready to confront the future art and craft with an open mind. They could be inspired by anything from austerity movements to computer culture to Higgs' gravity theory. If artists drew connections between Einstein and Dadaists, it's hard to say how new ideas could become manifest across disciplines.

True innovations in style are not always well-received by those with overly discriminating taste. Most of the reactionary movements of the 30's railed against modern art... rock and roll was supposed to corrupt the youth during the 50's!

I do think PuristS have more sense of adventure than that (MB&F "Frog," anyone?), so hopefully we'll be able to spot and discuss new forms of art as they emerge The next few years should be quite a journey...

Cheers

💰16 Marketplace Listings for MB&F›

Aquanaut: icon or knock-off?

By: Le Chef : October 3rd, 2010-13:11

Interesting discussion about whether the Aquanaut stands as an icon in it's own right, or whether it's a merely a good Nautilus knock-off. Anyone care to comment?

My Icon is

By: dr.kol : October 3rd, 2010-13:22

Nautilus. I will not get an Aquanaut. A picture from my afternoon walk last Friday wearing the Icon. Best, Kari...

I won't consider it an icon either...

By: Hamster07 : October 4th, 2010-09:22

coz it's still too young to become one. I'd say it can only be one new line of Patek, and a good one to start with. If you tell your AD you want to buy your first Patek, he would probably advise you to decide on your budget and the design that appeals to ...

Its as much an icon

By: gqmagic : October 3rd, 2010-14:42

as a 15300 is. Actually I had a 15300 for a while and find the 5167 to be better at ahat they do than the 15300. Better legibility, fabulous luminova, better wr, easier to accurately set the time (no jumping minute hand). More comfortable. Was thinking of...

IMHO, its a affordable PP sports watch

By: Hororgasm : October 3rd, 2010-14:46

and presents good value on its own, but pales when compared to its more robust compeitition fm AP or VC, even its own elder brother . 4 of the last 5 Aquanaut owners i know switched to Nautilus within the first year of ownership. watch either sold or trad...

Aquanaut

By: ct9653 : October 3rd, 2010-19:19

I've gotta say, the Aquanaut strikes me as more stylish, more iconic of the 20th century "modern" look than the Nautilus. I know it's the lower-priced model, but I honestly see it as an improvement in terms of appearance, for the following reasons. The Na...

A Well-Considered Opinion, CT

By: Tim_M : October 3rd, 2010-19:46

Hi, CT I agree with your interpretive view of the Aqua. It's an elegant product of its times. I think the best design flows from the spirit of its times but avoids period cliches. The Aqua is a good example of an updated, progressive, inviting PP sports w...

2010 as the era of giants?

By: ct9653 : October 3rd, 2010-21:18

Thanks, Tim - as you pointed out in your September post about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor's Art Deco "zing" (spot on), there's an energy to various eras. I think we often see the energy best from a distance of a decade or so. I couldn't agree w...

Era of Insecurity, yes... and Change

By: Tim_M : October 5th, 2010-07:33

CT, I think there's something to be said for the notion that this era in history (and horology) has been marked by uncertainty, but only part of it has been the recent financial crisis. (Note: this will come full circle and return to the Aquanaut!). Since...

Interesting point! Thank you. nt

By: Dje : October 5th, 2010-11:02

Change is good

By: ct9653 : October 5th, 2010-11:15

Agreed, Tim, the current stormy financial climate is only a part of the story of our times. You make an encouraging point about new ideas and styles being the product of tension throughout history. As they say, a lot of squeezing and burning a lump of coa...

solid reply

By: Hororgasm : October 5th, 2010-13:59

only a purists can extrapolate horology design from world affairs and trends. i enjoy your post alot, great views.

Wonderful analysis of the times which we live and

By: whit : October 6th, 2010-11:23

the recent past events which pushes and pulls people, industries, economies, etc. and how that relates to even such things as watches. I wonder of the signature that the Aquanaut will leave looking at it 25-30 years from now. But when I think of landmark ...

A Wonderful Exchange

By: Tim_M : October 6th, 2010-20:33

Dear Tim (and others), its and old thread but I have to say...

By: Ornatus-Mundi : June 9th, 2014-00:00

that I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange on creative forces and their compounding. I firmly believe we are just in another such formative era (or: is it a constant flux?) where society as a whole is confronted with a paradigm change of information technolog...

Icon or knock-off don't matter...they are SOLD OUT here in Asia. [nt]

By: ezinhk : October 3rd, 2010-19:22

No message body

Neither ;-)

By: Zeitgeist : October 4th, 2010-00:22

If you ask me, the true icon is the RO, designed some 4 years before the Naut, if I'm not mistaken. You could even say the Naut is a knock-off of the RO, having seen the big success this new concept had. Heresy?

Not so... the true RO 5167 copy arrived in 2010!

By: paulus : October 4th, 2010-00:41

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - as they say. what better proof of the Aquanaut's arrival as the icon of its genre?...

I would not consider the Aquanaut

By: whit : October 4th, 2010-08:13

an icon....yet. The design is relatively new and obviously a derivative of the Nautilus, which I do believe has achieved an icon status, given its ongoing 35 year run and enormous recent success.

Well it seems to be heading that way

By: gqmagic : October 4th, 2010-17:53

1st came out in 1997, it was restyled in 2006 and now there is a rose gold choice. Oh and don't forget the ladies versions

Still Showing Signs of Strength

By: gqmagic : June 7th, 2014-21:00

Well here it is 3 1/2 years later and the Aquanaut has branched out into new lines and metals.

Nope

By: tom2517 : June 9th, 2014-23:21

Not an icon for me, how many people actually know what Aquanaut is ?

Shaving off edges fr an iconic Nautilus, doesn't make Aquanaut an "icon" .........

By: JamesWirral : October 4th, 2010-20:35

The plain, elegance & versatile iconic piece fr PP is: Nautilus 5711/1A An icon resting on another iconic HuangHuaLi mini Hunting Chair...

I read through this thread.......and.....

By: Baron - Mr Red : June 8th, 2014-07:30

.....some comments remind me why I am always a little sceptical when I hear some Patek "collectors". Patek used to be a make that won its plaudits from being "under the radar". In the same way that the Porsche Boxter is often described as the poor man's 9...

Agreed 100%

By: Grisar : June 8th, 2014-08:52

Very well said. It's all about design, functionality and the wearer. A successful Nautilus doesn't make Aquanaut a less watch. My Aquanaut gets much longer wrist time than any other Patek I own including Nautilus.

Love your answer, Joe. Yes, I love it. [nt]

By: amanico : June 9th, 2014-21:47

Thanks.....

By: Baron - Mr Red : June 10th, 2014-01:59

. .....I meant every word. I was in an AD yesterday and tried on a Patek minute repeater tourbillon. Retails at over £400k. Now that such a watch has been on my wrist, I am not sure I can ever try on a Nauti again as it would feel so wrong to wear such a ...