Comments:
Amazing how many of my favorite pieces are owned by collectors here:
Medieval ornaments is another personal favorite - truly stunning especially the little (straw)berry: www.watchprosite.com
Given all the rare handcrafts you have seen on our Patek forum, please
tell us your top five and the reasons.
Sure but it's only limited to this forum otherwise
we go into dreamland and I will mention things like Suzanne Rohr's miniature painting by JJ Wetzel - I love old landscapes on enamel dials!!
Forum top 5
1) Anita Porchet's School of Fish - I am just amazed but the vibrant blue and how playful the fish look - also blue is my favorite color
2) The Dream also by AP - love the face of the lion and the details how AP captured the original painting
3) Ellipse wit the medieval ornaments - personally I prefer the calatrava case but the design speaks to me - I think anything related to the old world where artisans created watches by hand definitely puts me into a time and space before electronics and constant notifications www.watchprosite.com
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4) Zebra also by AP - I guess by now you can tell I like Mrs Porchet's style - truly amazing details and the level expertise it requires to bring something so delicate and small with so many details to life
5) Last spot is split between Bocadessa enamel and sailboat wood maquetry - as mentioned before I love landscapes especially European mainly mountains/ lakes and ocean themes
+1! This is Ref. 5177G-023, that we announced in 2021 along with my "School of Fish," and that was allocated to V., one of the distinguished collectors of this forum.
The whole 5177 line (a new Calatrava with a hobnail bezel) is especially dear to me, and I cannot believe it's been in production for already five years! (It was introduced in 2018, and so far has only been used for some very special, out-of-catalog Rare Handcraft models! ;-)
FabR
At first I thought the ref 5177 is based on the 6119 but it's a different
size and movement - I also enjoy the clous de paris pattern on the bezel - works wonderful with the enamel dials.
The two references are in a sense related, and in a very significant way -- this is an excellent point! Hobnail bezels are firmly rooted in the history and tradition of the Calatrava line, which is a big reason why I love them on my Rare Handcrafts...
Instances of a hobnail bezel on Calatrava references go as far back as year 1934 (!), with Ref. 96 D....this was only a couple years after a certain visionary Genevan family, now at its fourth generation, assumed the leadership of the Brand! 
Arguably, hobnail bezels acquired legendary status about half a century later, with the introduction of Ref. 3919, in 1985. We have since seen multiple Calatrava models decorated by this spectacular bezel, including the two references I regard as direct descendants of the 3919 --- the 5119 (incidentally, this was my very first Patek ) and most recently, the 6119.
) and most recently, the 6119.I like to view the 5177 as the "fancy cousin" of the 6119. While they both represent superb modern interpretations of one of the most significant watch collections of the last century, the 5177 has so far *only* been employed for special, out-of-catalog models. That's another big reason why the "Boccadasse" (5177G-010) and "School of Fish" (-028) are among my most treasured watches!
V.H.'s (Pretty Boy) "Medieval Ornaments" (-023) from 2021, as well as very few other dials produced since 2018, are part of this same group of exclusive Pateks.
I hope this brief "historic" note can be helpful as you and our other members consider your next Patek acquisitions!
Cheers, FabR
Wood marquetry is indeed in a category of its own, due both to the incredible technical ability required and its *exceedingly* rare production... Suffice it to say that only one artist (J. B.) is authorized to produce these dials for Patek! ;-)
I humbly received one of his pieces (ref. 5089G-020) as part of the 175th Anniversary RH releases (2014-15):
Once again, many thanks for your interest in this most exclusive area of Patek's catalog, Dauster. Each and every Rare Handcraft produced by the Brand is a marvelous example of "wearable art," and I sincerely wish you the best in receiving an allocation!
thank you for the additional pics - I love how the dial changes its colors in the light. Finger crossed regarding an allocation over the next couple of years
I have to say, the green strap is so unusual...
But so striking with this beautiful reference!
My fav world time.. I’d take any 5131 I could get my hands on. Like that Patek and Geneve on bezel rather than dial and being my time zone Hong Kong vs Beijing on the dial
D. I’m not sure that is possible.
As collectors no one watch will ever make us happy. Many watches make me happy for different reasons in different environments. That said I completely understand how your beautiful WT makes you feel happy and warm inside with many memories of happy travelling times.
I hope you get to travel again soon but you may have to leave your WT behind you if you come to Europe.
Regards.
M.
I hope you get to travel again soon but you may have to leave your WT behind you if you come to Europe.
Regards.
M.
Thanks for your reply and yes cannot imagine being happy with just one watch. As for actual travels, my travel watch due to safety concerns has become a BB58. A nice watch, but ...