Patek Philippe

holdemchamp1225
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Wow Miles, cool post but where do I start to answer the questions you asked...

I will try and be thorough but not carry on if possible.

I am a huge fan of the Lemania caliber 2310 (CH27 in Patek reference) as I think it is one of the most important manual winding chronograph movements ever made. It combines both precision, reliability, durability, etc...that has stood the test of time as well as passing the strictest of tests during the time, carried out by NASA (Omega 321). No other manual wind chronograph can make the same claims throughout it's history. So good in fact, that it was chosen as the base caliber for many of the finest manual wind chronographs of our era from Breguet, Longines, Omega, Patek, VC, and even Indies like Roth, Roger Dubuis, etc...

I actually have a sub-collection consisting of chronographs based on this Lemania 2310 caliber which should tell you how much I think of it 😉👍

If you wish to compare the Lemania based chronos to Pateks in-house chronos, I think it comes down to personal preference as doing so in a technical way makes little sense since the technical advantages are slight at best. There are other calibers from Lange, JLC, and Agenhor (Moser and Singer) that are technically superior to even Patek's in-house calibers.

As for modern vs vintage, Patek and Rolex differ a great deal here. Most people are afraid to delve into vintage Rolex due to so many fakes, modified pieces, lack of history and provenance, even Rolex themselves not wanting to identify or service their own vintage watches. This is a BIG obstacle for most. Then comes the rarity factor and finding certain models in top condition. I have corresponded with hundreds of collectors and enthusiasts about this and can say that these 2 factors are the most common to dissuade people with vintage Rolex.

As for vintage Patek, I would think the rarity and price points are the biggest barriers for entry. Unlike Rolex, Patek WILL archive and service any and all their vintage watches, albeit at a price. At least people who pursue vintage Patek can rest assured that they are getting what they pay for (no tricky business) and get it serviced by the manufacturer whenever necessary.

As for supply and demand for modern pieces, I think we all can agree on the effects of social media and why most of this is happening. No need to elaborate on that.

For me, the Lemania based chronographs are my favorites from Patek for a number of reasons. Some of the most beautiful chronographs ever made by Patek have had Lemania movements (1518, 2499, 3970, 5970, 5004, 5950, etc...). If I wanted to choose a technically superior manual winding chronograph movement, I wouldn't even look at Patek as explained above.

Just my 2 cents. YMMV 🤷‍♂️😉