Patek Philippe

All that I can say is that it is good to have friends!  Especially good friends who put up with one's quirks during watch-related trips, and then to top it off provide great watches for photo shoots. 

A Gentleman Purist handed off these three watches to me yesterday, with the following instructions:

1. Photograph them, and in particular try to get some comparisons of the 5970 and 5270

2. Wear them a bit, but not in the hot tub!

I was pleased to comply on both fronts, and with gratitude to my good pal, here are some photos of these three great pieces.  Let's start with the 5070P.  Not an easy watch to photograph, especially if you are trying to get a good rendering of that fantastic dial color, but I think this first shot is quite close:

From a different angle, with slightly different light...

And now on to the movement side

Having warmed up with the 5070, I tried my luck with the 5970.  For me, this one is the most "classic" of the three, and lent itself quite easily to having its portrait taken:

On to the back.  Maybe it's just the more sophisticated finishing of the case back, or not, but the effect of the back of this watch was much more appealing to me than on the otherwise similar 5070.  Suffice it to say I'm not complaining about either!

Now on the the newest joiner, the 5270.  Really clean looking (and as a result, a bit less classic looking to me), but beautiful in its own right.  The brighter dial (relative to the 5970) made this one a bit more difficult to capture -- dozens of "reject" photos in this batch!

I wouldn't swear to it, but to my eye at least this movement looked to be better finished than the other two.  There are also the technological advancements in this movement to admire (instantaneously jumping chrono minutes, etc.) but the best thing for photography is that this movement hacks

Time for some face-to-face comparisons!  At the end of the day I think it just comes down to what looks good to your eye and on your wrist -- both of these pieces are beautifully executed, in my opinion

In person, the difference in dial color and finish is pretty much as it appears in the photos...

Movement side!  Again, no complaints

And to wrap up, a quick shot of all three together.  What a treat for me!

Over the next few hours, I did (carefully) wear each of these pieces.  The 5070 got the most wrist time -- the heft of the PT case makes it feel great on the wrist, and I love the dial color.  The 5970 was a privilege to have on my wrist, but I felt I was under-dressed (it would be an absolute killer business watch for me, to be sure).  From a wearability standpoint, I can see why someone would move from the 5970 to the more "modern/casual" look of the 5270, but I think if the PP fairy were to leave one under my pillow, I'd be wishing for the 5970.

Hope you enjoyed!  I did take some wrist shots, which I will append in a second post.

Best,

Gary G

This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-01-29 11:15:12

The uploader seems to have flipped one of the shots in the original post -- let's try again...

Hope that's better!

Best,

Gary G

of three very special Pateks. We are honoured!!

nt

And the 5970 G is terms of elegance.

There is something in between the 5070 P and the 5970 G: The 5970 P.

I would have hard time to decide which of the two " P " I prefer.

If only the 5270 didn't have these 2 small portholes...

Best, and thanks for the photo session, my friend.

Nicolas

The 5270 just does not have the balance of classical Patek.... you want to love it, but... you have to be a Patek diehard I think to love it.

A matter of taste...

Best, Mostel.

Nicolas

...to share your impressions -- they are, as always, edifying!

Best,

Gary G

As some of you may know, wrist shots are not really my thing -- but I gave it the old college try with these 3 pieces!

I hope these give some impression of what the watches look like in actual use...

Best,

Gary G

Makes me appreciate the Patek 5970 and 5270 even more. Thanks for sharing !

nt

Stop shooting these Patek, you're making me crazy ;-)

The treat for me is that even though I won't own these watches, I had the chance to handle and wear them through the generosity of my friend.  Great fun!

Best,

Gary

nt

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Nt

I must be getting older because lately PPs are more and more luscious to me, particularly when someone as talented as you photographs them, Gary.  In terms of preference, I have to agree with my esteemed colleague of the French persuasion.  5070, 5970 then 5270 in that order.  This will sound unintentionally harsh, but compared to the other two, the 5270 is somewhat sterile dial side.  That's entirely subjective, of course, and the 5270 is a marvelous watch on its own. Next to the other two, though, it loses something for me.

Best,

CaliforniaJed

Sorry for the delay in responding -- my day job is getting in the way of my hobby

I don't want to set off a firestorm, but the word "sterile" is one that comes to mind for me with regard to a lot of PP watches.  Cleanly executed and of high quality, but perhaps too mannered. 

My observation on these pieces is that there is a difference once you get into the true major complication range -- even between the 5070 and the 5970, there's a discernable difference in the feel and look of quality and hand-work.  And a real difference compared to the PPs that I have owned (5015 and 5065).

Best,

Gary G

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nt

Hi Gary,

What an experience you had!

Thanks a lot for sharing with us.

I definitely have to spend some time with a 5270 on my wrist to make an opinion on this one.

Best

Dje

ps: I love them all but I'm still a fan of the 5170!
This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-01-29 10:23:39

This was great fun for me!  As I said, it was the 5070 that found its way onto my wrist -- and I could imagine that one getting a lot of wrist time if I were ever so fortunate to own it.

Best,

Gary

What a pleasure to open your post this Sunday morning.

Clearly there is a lot for me to learn about these watches -- you have pointed out many of the fine points that my casual inspection (and lack of deep knowledge of PP) missed.  Very interesting to learn about the absence of an "advance all" pusher on the new movement, although in other ways it is very advanced.

As for the dial appearance, to me there is a real analogy here to the difference between the "old" and "new" Lange 1815 chronos -- either you like the more cluttered look of the original dial or the clean look of the new one, but probably not both.  I'm an "old" 1815 guy, so it is probably not surprising that I was drawn to the 5970.

Thanks again for your post, and for the kind words on my photos and commentary.

Best,

Gary

Thank you for sharing these three stunners. The 5270 is really growing on me. It's like the new 458 vs. 430 or the Aventador vs. Murcielago etc... I'm so familiar with the 5970 and have been enjoying it's beauty for so long that it's had to take time to warm up to the new "replacement" model like that of a new model automobile. I'm loving it's simplistic yet beautifully balanced dial. Hmm.. it would be a tough choice deciding between the two for me. Great shots Gary!

I agree with you that it sometimes takes a bit of time for the "shock of the new" to die down and for us to appreciate fresh new styling.  It will be interesting to see how time judges the 5270 as an update!

Thanks very much for your kind words on my photos -- it's a great hobby for me, and I love it that folks find the photos interesting.

Best,

Gary

Especially for the wristshots, they give the best impression you can have of a watch imho.

I  didn't have the luck to try the 5270 but I remeber quite well the 5970G and the 5070P.
At first for me the 5070 even with all his "mistakes" is the best of three. I am so in love with it. I love that fantastic design, this amazing blue color ! An incredible watch. It is a heartbreaker for me and this is completely subjective.

Between 5970 and 5270 I don't know, I like the curves of the 5970 , it looks smaller, the dial is full of infos but balanced and I love its gray colour. I am afraid to see the 5270 as more "flat" not so charming.
But it is just on the photos, maybe in the flesh it would be different, both are amazing watches.

Objectively the 5270 with his last caliber is a winner but from these photo I rank it at the 3rd place.

cheers and enjoy this fabulous watch that is the 5070P

Francois

5070p wins for me in terms of overall wearability. 5970 in terms of classic look. 5270 face is still a tad off centered for me but that movement is spectacular.

I wish I have your skills....better yet...all those timepieces

Best

Sam