dms
911
Very interesting thread ...
... especially since I am also considering a simple yet classy Patek to be added to my collection.
I am personally looking at red gold, but find the dial of the 5196 maybe a bit TOO classical for my taste.
If it were available in red gold, I'll definitely go for the P layout with the two-tones dial and the marvelous Breguet indexes.
Next is 5296R sector dial since the date window is a show stopper on the more classical dial, with a larger movement and crystal back which are two features on my wishlist.
The 5565 and the 5196 Pisa version dials are also interesting, but I have little hope Patek will release a version with the same dials as limited series, and the premium for those limited refs is too high for me.
Then, as Spangles mentioned, the Vacheron Patrimony small second is also a very nice option with the guilloché, dauphine hands and "chemin de fer".
So, for me, no perfect fit for my expectations "yet", but lots of "very nice to have"....
And did I mention that 5110P is also on my wishlist?
Hopefully Santa Claus (or its Basel counterpart) will be nice with me this year...