Patek Philippe

Without any doubt, the Patek Chronograph 5170 was one of the stars of the 2010 Basel Fair. Its reference number may suggest it is the successor of the 5070 and it is actually the case because: it is the new handwind chronograph of the brand after all. But can we say so when we compare them? They are so different and moreover, they don't share the same caliber.





Jérôme already made a comprehensive post about this watch here:
patek.watchprosite.com

And Nicolas about the 5070 here:
patek.watchprosite.com

So I will just add my feelings.





First of all, this 5170 is the first Men's watch using the caliber CH 29-535 PS. As we know, the caliber was originaly presented with the 7071, ladies first as they said at Patek!









Thanks to its case diameter of 39mm, we get a very balanced watch even if I regret that the 2 subdials cut the pulsometric graduation. The watch is smaller than the 5070 even if the caliber is larger (almost 30mm). The power reserve is 65 hours and the frequency 4 hz. The second hand is located in the left subdial while the 30 minutes counter is located on the right.









It is obvious, the design of the watch is totally inspired by the past and by the chronographs from the 40's and the 50's.

So the next question is: which is the best chronograph between the 5070 and the 5170? The question seems logical but when you think about it, it doesn't make sense. The watches don't play the same league expect the one of the excellence.

The 5070 has a more sportive touch and its unbalanced style, due to its thick bezel, gives him a sort of strong character. The 5170 houses a brand new caliber with upgrated performances (higher frequency and precisely jumping minute counter). But its style is more classic and maybe lacks a bit of extravagance. Some will find it very refined, very elegant, others will find it too quiet. Hopefully the indexes and the hands bring contrast with the dial and volume. But, after all, should you wish a more original chronograph, the 5960 and 5980 are available in the current Patek collection.





Just to give you a few figures and to compare the old and new versions of the « simple » chronographs coming from Patek and Lange, I prepared this table. You will notice that the 5170 is the only one which combines a high frequency with a power reserve higher than 60 hours. For me the caliber / case diameters ratio is a key issue for chronographs. The higher, the better, that's my point of view.



I would say in a few words that the 5170 is a great achievement from Patek: they managed to release a totally different chronograph from the 5070 without losing the roots of the brand. The use of YG enhances its "old style". It will be interesting to discover the future versions of this chronograph with other materials and dials... but for the moment, we can enjoy the elegancy of this charming watch.








Thanks a lot to Patek Philippe France.

Fr.Xavier


This message has been edited by foversta on 2010-04-24 14:19:52 This message has been edited by Dje on 2010-04-25 03:52:16 This message has been edited by Dje on 2010-04-29 09:49:00

to have a shot of the 5070 and 5170 side by side frofron/back/side?

I have always struggled with the 5070 for some reason but solely from the net pic, the 5170 appeals.

I've been told from a reliable source that the teeth in the gears of the 5170 are slanted, much like the gears in a car transmission are slanted. They are slanted to provide traction and wear benefits to the watch.

I also heard (from the same source) that the column wheel has an "elliptical adjustment" which allows the distance between the column wheel and the rest of the levers to be adjusted very precisely and easily.

Can't wait to hear more things about this exciting watch!

My favorite part about this watch is that I love the polished cap on the column wheel. It reminds me of the fine movement finishing on the 5959 split seconds chrono.

Hi,

You should have a look and a read there: patek.watchprosite.com /

The calibre is the same!

Cheers

Dje

Alas, I always hear all my details and facts on PuristSPro first. Even though I didn't absorb all of it in the first read. Especially when there were six innovative new patents, each one more interesting than the last.

Thank you for bringing this back to my attention. It is certainly a great read and a fantastic explanation of how a chronograph works. Your insight regarding the violent nature of how a chronograph resets is very similar to my original presumptions.

Many thanks again, and it is always a pleasure to revisit a great post with such important technical detail.

nt

Patek fans get a lot off superb posts the lasts weeks !

 

Thank you !

 

Hi Francois-Xavier,

Thank you for your post. I'm really in love with this watch.  Even more, I'm tempted!

I love the classical look, I find the proportions ideal for me, I'm amazed by the calibre technical prowess.

I'm wondering if that watch could not be my "one".

It is beautiful, somewhat discreet, beautifully finished, it is manual wind with a stop seconds,......

Price is high but not enough to be unreachable, but that would mean slimming down a lot my collection. I'm thinking for now. That means also forgetting my other PP temptations (5711/1A, 5130G, 5146G).

I hope to see it again soon (I'm sorry I couldn' t attend the presentation as I was away on holidays).

Cheers

Dje
This message has been edited by Dje on 2010-04-25 03:41:36

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and to see it compared to its closest rivals is a nice revelation.To tell the truth,when I first saw pics. of it, the dial left me a bit cold and it also looked a bit too sterile and even though I think the 5070 dial is a bit quirky it somehow stirs my emotion more.However, I'm warming up to this watch as I'm beginning to see the better proportions & coherent nature of it.Its size is just perfect (as the 5070 was too big IMO)as is the relationship to the movement.

I'm particularly fond of your wrist shots as it looks perfectly balanced and exudes this classical old world charm which Patek is famous for.I'm also beginning to really dig the yellow metal.

Thanks & best regards,

fernando

seeing this watch in such crystal clear, beautifully taken photos... I am actually less impressed with it than I was before... perhaps the excitement of Basel fed the warm but not hot feeling for the watch before... The warm has given way to lukewarm....  shrug!

I am with you on this. I was really hoping the 5170 would set my heart pounding......that sort of "gotta have one of those" feelings. It just didn't. I saw it at Basel, but rather than stand lovingly looking at it, I found myself oggling teh Tudor Heritage! To my mind, teh 5170 us a superb watch. It is perfect in most ways. The 5070 has several clear flaws.

 

But it is the 5070 that has "soul and character".

Nice report of a great watch.

From the caliber point of view it is just a marvel. Technical innovation great finish. Great work !
The design is perfectly balanced, a pure Patek.

It could be perfection, but there is something missing imho that you already underline: character.
That's the only regret.

For the design, it takes a lot from the past, but the most "quiet" part of it.

It looks like a 1463 but without the specific bezel and the sporty pushers which gives it character.
It doesn't take the extreme thin lugs of the 130 which make it charming.
The dial oculd have been "two tone" or "sector dial", non of them were taken.

Every details is the most conventional possible and that's the little dispointment, but what a Watch !

cheers

Francois

The problem is that it replaces the 5070, so it takes time, or better, we need time to be used to its new aesthetics, as the 5070 was a reference we " lived " with during almost 12 years.

I  answered that it is an elegant watch,  undisputably...

Still, I prefer the 5070 dial, at the end, even if this last one sees its counters " eating " the applied numbers.

On the 5170, the counters, which are not centred anymore, eat the pulsometric scale, which is not a better solution, IMO.

I don't like the Roman numbers, I never liked them on dials.

So, as always, aesthetically speaking, it is very subjective,  the 5070 and 5170 will have their respective fans, and some will certainly love them both!

One thing is sure: The integration of the new movement is PERFECT, now, without tricks, like on the 5070.

Congratulations to PP fro that.

Finally, we could sum it up this way:

Do you prefer the strong elegance of the 5070, or the classic elegance of the 5170?

Best, and thans for an interesting topic, FX!

Nicolas

 

for a very interesting post.....

I found the comparison chart very useful.....

the choice amongst them is quite difficult.....

cheers

the time and effort of all who compile all of the information and bring it to the forum for everyone to see.  I feel like I'm mooching when I view these posts because they are so well done and I've not done anything but look and sometimes put my 2 cents in.  It is what makes this such a special place for me and I'm sure many others as well.

Now the watch...it's a great looking watch!  I can't find anything that would prevent me from getting it (if money wasn't an issue) at all.  I really can't find anything to be critical about, maybe the shape of the hands but that's it ( I would have preferred leaf shape ).  I truly hope that PP would reconsider their position and allow subtle changes like had been in years past.  I cannot understand the reluctance to afford clients some elbow room.

I'm sure the movement is wonderful, I leave the technical stuff to them and am confident they would only produce a something truly superior and I trust Patek to make everything under the dial as all Patek's should be made.  Movement diameter comparisons, etc. don't mean a hill of beans to me...but the look of the watch certainly is far more important to my eye and how it feels on my wrist.

This has got to be a home run.

Again, thank you for these incredible pictures, reviews, and just great thought-provoking threads.

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