Patek Philippe

Love to own a Patek minute repeater as an ultimate collection. To spend similar level of the money will you decide to have:

1) only one ultimate watch 5016P/R, or

2) a few combinations: 5078P+5004P or even 5078P+5970P+5070P

and what reason is your choice? thanks for your opinions for my reference.

The 5016 has perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and minute repeater. Tourbillon doesn't do anything useful in a wristwatch (only pocket watches benefit when vertical in vest pocket as worn in the 1800s). Minute repeater hasn't been useful since electricity was introduced. That means the 5016 is essentially a very expensive perpetual calendar with two other useless complications.

The second choice has 5970 and 5004, both of which have uses.

Yes I know there are quartz watches that are more practical than any of these watches, but that doesn't mean a mechanical watch has to have just useless complications.
Eric von Schonberg

Imo a minute repeater is not the most important in a watch collection. It's personal taste ofcourse but I would not buy a minute repeater or tourbillon. I like those watches and I appreciate the complication but it's not for me.

If I had the money I would buy ALL the chronographs, starting with the 5070 (4 pce) the 5970 (4pce) and even the 5004 (Just to own it in the collection but it's too small to wear for me). Afterwards the 5960 and 5980 would follow. And if your budget allows it, why not search some vintage like 3970, 2499, 1518, 130 ...

My personal favorite complications are perpetual calendars and striking watches. Yours are chronographs. Strong preferences are called for when it comes to collecting watches.

And a fine company to purchase chronographs from indeed!

I know the 5959 is too small for you, but I would probably include that on your chronograph wish list!

forgot it ;-)

but when you have the money a 5959 is also a must have

After the chronographs my 'wishlist' would probably have some Patek worldtimers ranked pretty high

You would be better off NOT buying at all.  I certainly dont remember when was the last time i actually used my chronograph 5970. 

But then i realise, i am buying because i like the brand, i like collecting because it gives me a bundle of joy.  So, regaredless chronograph or minute repeater, i really dont care, and i wont be influnced by expert opinions. 

Either of your choices are supberb, just be blessed you are in a position to make such a purchase.  Enjoy them.

Frankly, nowadays all these functions are really not useful; if you guys think in this way...

say; Do U really need a moon phase? When will you use your split second chronograph when all the games are recorded by eletronic watches?

what you buy is the craftmanship; apex of watch making and the beauty of mechanics...

That's why a 5004 is much collectable than a 3970/5970 ; and a simple 5959 is much much expensive than other chronographs which you guys sought after...

To me; the most collectable contemporary Pateks are 3939H and 5959;

Think the difficulty of assembly on the movement in such a small watch; and the insist of making small watches in today's atmosphere!

 

Just MHO

Little

 

The 5016 would also be my choice, its so beautiful.

The Chrono is a more useful function.  I have actually been using it a bit more lately, timing things. More importantly though, the 5016 specificzlly is a very thick watch, almost not wearable in the 5002 sense.  It's more of a showpiece (a hamburger lump on your wrist) than an elegant gent's watch.  It's not properly water-resistant because of the repeater slide. Why would you spend half a million bucks for a watch then perpetually worry about gettinng it wet.  I have two repeaters and wear them, always worrying about moisture in the back of my mind.  That's no way to live my friend.  Strap a 5004 on, look cool and get it wet.  Far better IMO.

 

...but the fascination of pushing buttons won me over, so went for 5078P plus 5004P. Both totally different, yet each wonderful.

Still....5016P with breguets and a salmon dial....mmmmm....!!!!

In any event, you can't go wrong with these choices - enjoy!!

Tim

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I've never seen a 5016 with a salmon dial.

I think you made a great choice. The 5078 and 5004 are very important watches to own. If you really like Breguet numerals, then maybe a 3939H is for you!

I personally really like the 5078 myself; I think I like it even more than the 3939H; aesthetically, the 5078 looks better on my wrist than the 3939H. The one thing I really love about the 3939H is the blued second hand, this caught me by surprise when I saw it in person for the first time.

How do you like your 5004? I've yet to see a 5004 yet.

..I have a 5101P already....very nice watch. I have seen only pictures of a salmon dial/breguets 5016P...loved it. The 5004P is a great watch - one of my favourites...sent it to the factory for the upgrade on the chrono to make it reliable, as mine is one of the early ones. So far, so good...
Tim

Did some research and I did find the salmon dialed Patek 5016, you learn something new every day.

What was the original problem with the 5004? I heard some weren't working properly, but I wasn't aware of the actual problem.

...affected the early production...chrono hands stuck during operation. Had it happen to mine. No probs since the service and replacement/update of the centre bridge.

Tim

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Personally, I prefer the 5074 over the 5016. I just really love the bezel on the 5074 (which is the same bezel as the 5070).

My ultimate collection would be a 5074, 5078, 5070, and 5970. This is of course a dream.

The 5004 is a great watch and Split-seconds is a very nice complication. However, the 5004 doesn't work perfectly.

These are very difficult pieces to attain. Best of luck!

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This topic does not have a easy answer.....one ultimate vs few good collections.

I agree that most of the functions are not very useful in this century. However, I do have a passion on minute repeater....it "talks" to you instead of you read it......plus the sound of Patek minute repeater is just wonderful.

Love the dial design of 5016, personally think that is the best design of all watches.....but to own it, I have to give up many other great Patek collections. Is that correct?

As to Chrono, I don't think I use it too much, but I had collected 3970 and 5970 already. Double spilt is also a fancy function only......but most of people believe 5004 is "must collect" piece for Patek chrono.  So should I trade up 3970 for 5004.........if so, can't afford 5016. That is why 5078 comes to fill up my desire to own a minute repeater. The size is nice, Roman number and email dial, very subtle and elgant. 3939 is great in Breguet number and hands but a bit small.

So If you choose to own 5078+5004, perhaps plus a 5050 Roman dial, these three can be a good combination for a 5016....but will I still think about 5016 afterwards......tough! 

 

Got approval from PP after much letter writing,  and paid a substantial deposit to my PP AD to secure the order for my GBP£318,100 watch-purchase (!).  Then, later that year,  received back-word that Philip Stern was cancelling my order because he discovered I was a jeweller and watch-seller.

Go figure.  And I consider myself to be one of the World's biggest watch-nuts...

:-(