Patek Philippe

I know this is a dumb question (because this is largely a matter of personal tastes) but I just want to get a sense of popular sentiment towards these timepieces. To liven up the post, I have borrowed a few photographs posted previously by our brilliant moderators and I certainly hope they won't mind.

QUESTION: If you have to choose only one watch to add to your portfolio, which of the following timepieces would you pick in the 2010 selection, assuming they are all available and are being offered to you?

1. A Lange & Sohne 1815 Moonphase in honey-colored gold (photo courtesy of SJX)

2. Cartier Santos-Dumont skeleton (also courtesy of SJX)

3. Patek Philippe 5205G annual calendar with black dial (photo courtesy of Xavier)

You will note that they all come under a similar price range (well....more or less). I confess that I am posing this question because it is a likely dilemma I will soon face. BTW, please spare me the 'all-of-the-above' answers, and I would love to hear your views and reasons...

Best

Sam

But, without any doubt, I would go on the Cartier Santos Skeleton.

I'm not an annual calendar fan, as I much prefer simple dates or perpetual calendars.

Simple or sohisticated, but not half way, in my very personal opinion.

The 1815 Moonphase is a very nice watch, but for once, I would go on the more original Cartier Skeleton.

I love a lot these " industrial " and modern skeleton, and somehow, this Santos share something ( in the spirit ) with the RO jumbo.

Sporty, yet elegant.

Yes, without doubt, the Cartier, for once!

Best,

Nicolas

but why am I not really surprised!

I know you are not a fan of the annual calendar, you also prefer the white to yellow metal, and given that you already own a JLC skeleton PC, well...

In any case, your vote will carry a lot of weight.

BTW, nice to hear from you after being quiet for a couple of days

Best

Sam

 

But I tried to make abstraction of the colored metal, in this case... For once!



Well, I will be less calm, now that I'm back home!

Best, and thanks for your nice words, my friend, and please, keep us updated with your final choice.

I know your taste is impeccable, so I have no fear for you.

Nicolas

surprised that your "vote" went to Cartier.....

Best

PP

then both Lange and Patek are good choices...and to narrow it down to just one i would go with the Patek... the Cartier for me is not wearable IMO

I've put the Cartier on the wrist...it looks really nice, but is quite a dressy watch. It doesn't go too well with a T-shirt.

Point well taken.

Sam

...purely based on aesthetics (I have always been drawn by the German-Teutonic design gestalt), quality of finish and size. 

I concur with comments that the Cartier might suffer a bit in the "wearability" department.

I love Patek (have owned one...currently own a Lange).  But If I were to spring scarce funds for one now it wouldn't be this one.

But then again, all this is purely subjective.

Cheers
DB Darien

Now I have a real problem....3 responses so far and 3 different answers

Cheers

sam

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Hi samwan,

for pure aesthestical reasons I would choose the Lange.
The Cartier is too cold and extravagant in style IMO, the Patek is too colourless for me considering it´s a watch with moon phase, although I  generallylike the AC.

I´m sure, you will not really be satisfied with whatever results this poll will bring ...

A wise decision whatsoever,

anaesdoc

No message body

... in all aspects, except one: I find them all ugly. Why these three?

If forced to choose I would go for the Lange and then please without the moon.
I like simple and the Patek calandar is not and the Cartier is not in my taste, so to say.
For that kind of money there are a lot of very nice options in the catalogs of AP, PP and VC.

and thanks for the candid comments.

Rgds

Sam

I cannot judge the Lange as I have not seen it in metal (especially with the
new gold colour)......

The PP is interesting but the Cartier is gorgeous and the fit is great....
Also, you will not see many of them as Cartier, for the moment, manufactures few of them.....

Cartier has made some great steps in horology.....

However, it also depends what other watches you own....

If you do own a PP, the go for the Cartier....

Good luck....



Cheers

I'd go for the Patek annual calendar, but in pink or yellow, instead of white 18k.

I already have the 5396R which also is an annual calendar

Cheers

Sam

I believe I am close to making up my mind

Cheers

Sam

But if I have to choose from these 3 , I will pick the Patek.
It is a simply laid out and quite dashing, good with jeans and can be worn daily.
As for the Lange MP, if you turn the watch around, you see a very small movement with a big watchcase,
This is afterall a new version of the famed 1815MP, I still think that one is way more beautiful than this.
Though I must say I like the honey gold color.
Cartier...hmmm......I'm not sure. Partly because those few people I know who loves the Santos (non collectors) watches , are quite
a 'fab' themselves.

Overall, I think the Lange MP will look best with its color while the Patek will be more functional and dashing.
So if you are a white metal person who wants a splash of color, go with the Lange.
But if you want to wear this watch very often , get the Patek.
Hope this helps.
*CL

I will both agree and differ with my friend CL. 

First forget the Cartier, not much more to say.  Not in the same league as the others IMHO.

The Patek is nice and useful, but that is most of what can be said.  Nothing too special about it.

The Lange 1815 Moon is a watch, with history, romance, perfect wrist presence, beauty and a special complication (though this complication is not so useful, which perhaps is part of the charm.....).  It's only drawback as CL has pointed out is that is not nearly as nice (front or back) as the original classic, which it must be compared to.  I agree that it is unfortunate that the movement does not fit well in the case, but the plus side is that the new expanded size if great for the wrist.

Don't spend too much time thinking, or that 1815 Moon will be gone.  Better news is that if you need to take your time deciding, the Cartier or Patek will be easy to find, and that 1815 might be avaiable for me.......... )

Many thanks for the input.

Cheers

Sam

... very recently.

Your post about the 5396 R was nearly sealing the deal for me to go for a PP AC.

But than the Lange 1815 in HG came around ... and lucky for me: it felt itself comfortable on my wrist, so I took it home ... .

In my opinion, next to VC's American 1921, it is THE most AUTHENTIC watch at the moment that you can put your hands on.

In that price league, certainly.

The Lange has a very nice depth due to the very thick dial, that is needed for the lovely guilloche and the step for the small second also.

The proprtion work perfectly well: 37.4 mm diameter with 8.9 mm height is just not too big and thick looking: simply classic.

It is really looking as if it was manufactured around 1815, if you just indulge on the beautiful design.

It is limited, a new VERY intriguing alloy, effortlessly genuine design without looking tacky, in simple words: SPECIAL!

The PP AC I have not seen in real yet, but it looks big, long batons are not harmonius, a cold design, ...

Same the Santos: cold.

The Lange is warm, welcoming to look at.

I reckon you did not see the Lange in the flesh yet?

If than you would not really struggle...

It would fit to your soft spot for vinatage (looking) watches the best.


Cheerio

Moritz

This message has been edited by COUNT DE MONET on 2010-08-25 11:19:03

Enjoy Moritz!

--

Richard.

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No message body

A very good point about warm vs cold.

Best

Sam

 

on a Patek forum that people are very objective.

Put me down for the Patek...

From the moment that I saw the first photo of the new 5205 it was love at first sight! Having also tried on a "Dummy" model it only made me more convinced that I would like one. At 40mm it sits nicely on my wrist, though with the slightly concaved case it does sit high up of the wrist. But the layout of the dial is exactly to my liking at with my preferences to having apertures over sundials to read the date, it is just perfect. I even like the new "Hollow" style lugs.
With regards to the Lange, unfortunately am still of the same view as when I first saw it,that I didn't like it, it's too dressy and the guilloshe (sorry about spelling) was also not to my taste.
It soul be unfair of me, to make any views about the Cartier as I have never seen or worn one.But from the photo, Again I would say that for me it's too much of a dress piece and with the Roman dial, which I don't like anyway, is a no.
Though Sam, seeing that you have already got the 5396, you may wish for a different piece, to compliment your already lovely collection.
Regards
Tony

It was precisely because of my ownership of the 5396 and 5960 (both annual calendars, not to mention the 5059) that prevented me from making an immediate plunge. And I need to see both the grey and black dials before deciding...

Cheers

Sam