Comments:
Once I saw the sign in the next room I knew I was in the right place. Museum pieces. This is what I was really interested in.
Patek first displayed some fine and usual pocket watches, even some that were dated well before Patek Philippe even existed.
Below a fine minute repeating wristwatch from 1957. This reference is 2524-1.
The next few pictures are watches that belong to the all time great of Patek Philippe and are among the most sought after wristwatches in the world. Below a fine Patek Ref 1518 in yellow gold.
Next is a VERY RARE single button chronograph with split seconds function. The watch is from 1926/1927.
Next a stunning pocket watch with world time function. The Enamel work is a piece of art. This pocket watch is from 1949.
Below a set of dials being made for the Patek world time Enamel watches which is reference 5131. Patek only makes a few of these watches a year and they are extremely sought after by collectors.
The level of color richness on the Enamel dial is outstanding. No wonder demand is so much higher than the supply.
After two hours of intense observation and concentration I was hungry. Munich is well known not only for the October Fest but also for the good food on offer. Some pictures of the 'Viktualienmarkt' in Munich.
The food market in Munich is impressive.
Even Bagels are available in Munich. A shop only selling Bagels and Doughnuts.
I then headed to the Goldener Kalb- a restaurant specializing in Meat -as the same suggests 'Kalb' in German means Veal.
For those who are not experts at eating meat- there is a menu explaining the different cuts.
Before eating meat I chose to have some fish. Crab meat (hopefully Alaskan).
After lunch a walk through Munich. A nice autumn day means people sitting outside and enjoying-what else - some beer. Biergarten at its best.
And you will get it by Poldi Prince of Bavaria, himself
What I know about Patek Philippe is that this brand is that it imposed on the wearer some conditions and observations which many people cannot provide these conditions. But when I saw the pictures that you captured in the car, I found that the Patek Philippe was in the utmost degree of chic and beauty. I saw that you are a special person who can wear a rare watch professionally.
As for myself, I am of fickle mode who loves classic watches, but at the same time love sports watches , diving watch or any strange watch, even in my clothes
.
Thank you very much and good luck
WTA
Load More Comments >>
Road trip to Munich: Goal-Patek Exhibition
There is an old saying 'Build it and they will come'. And come they did. This year Patek chose Munich to stage an exhibition that was truly exceptional. Once inside the exhibition you thought you were in the main room of Patek's Grand salon in Geneva on Rue du Rhone rather than at an exhibition hall. The effort Patek put into displaying their history and DNA to the public was truly phenomenal. It also seemed as if they brought more than half of the museum in Geneva with them (as you can imagine there were plenty of security guards walking around). What was on display was unbelievable and rather than write a more elaborate introduction we will let the pictures speak for themselves with minimal commentary. Also because Oliver (A small luxury world) did such detailed and superb report on the Munich exhibition, I thought I would cover the exposition from a different (and perhaps less professional) angle. Before though, perhaps a brief comment on the actual road trip before. Since I am based in Zurich and Munich is only 300km away, going by car was a very viable option. I thought I would chose a German car rather than an Italian or British. So I decided on a Mercedes that is nearly 60 years old.
E">I had to drive relatively slow as this car has 'drum' brakes and going faster than 120km/h on the German autobahn with no disc brakes is asking for touble unless your Juan Manuel Fangio. Going that slow made me repeatedly check the time-I didn't want to be late. The exhibition closes at 18:oo every day.
E">There are plenty of disadvantages of driving such an old car (1956). For one it gets extremely hot inside. Forget driving this car in the summer. Secondly you have to respect its age so driving it like you own a modern car is clearly not an option (you need to plan on braking long before you actually need to brake). But one advantage old cars have is the respect they command, especially in their home country. The parking guard at the Bayerischer Hof garage gave me the best parking space available. He even moved a modern Bentley GT out of this space. Notice on the right of the car is the guard house.
E">Luckily the exhibition was only 3min walking distance from the hotel. The first hall of the exhibition was almost exactly like the living room of the Salon in Genevaon Rue du Rhone. In this part there were mostly modern watches so I did not stay long.
E">One watch worth commenting on in the modern room: A world time with an unusual and not before seen dial. The dial resembles the Bayerische Wappen or 'Coat of Arms'. I assume this watch will only be made available in Munich at select ADs. Notice that Munich has replaced Paris on the dial as they are in the same time zone.
Once I saw the sign in the next room I knew I was in the right place. Museum pieces. This is what I was really interested in.
Before I start the history tour, lets start with one of the founders. Antoine Patek, a Polish immigrant who founded this watchmaker together with French watchmaker Adrienne Philippe.
Below a fine complicated pocket watch by Patek from the 1920's with the following complications: Perpetual calender, split seconds chronograph, minute repeater. The white dial is 'Emaille' or Enamel
Equally sought after is what many consider to be the most beautiful chronograph ever made by Patek: The legendary 2499. The dial looks grey but due to the lighting only. Please excuse the poor photography.
Next is a VERY RARE single button chronograph with split seconds function. The watch is from 1926/1927.
Below an unusual and rare wristwatch with world globe on dial from 1957 in Rose Gold. Reference 2481
Next a stunning pocket watch with world time function. The Enamel work is a piece of art. This pocket watch is from 1949.
While on the subject of Enamel. Below a beautiful detailed Enamel work (unsigned so unknown watchmaker) around circa 18oo.
One of highlights of the Museum comes next. It is well before Patek Philippe was founded and dated 1810 from Frères Rochat. A petite sonnerie -meaning hour repeater by chirping bird.
Below a set of dials being made for the Patek world time Enamel watches which is reference 5131. Patek only makes a few of these watches a year and they are extremely sought after by collectors.
The level of color richness on the Enamel dial is outstanding. No wonder demand is so much higher than the supply.
These dials eventually make their way into watches like this one below. The world time reference 5131
After two hours of intense observation and concentration I was hungry. Munich is well known not only for the October Fest but also for the good food on offer. Some pictures of the 'Viktualienmarkt' in Munich.
I then headed to the Goldener Kalb- a restaurant specializing in Meat -as the same suggests 'Kalb' in German means Veal.
Congratulations to Patek Philippe on organising an outstanding Event. It is said over 1'ooo people came every day to see the exhibition or 'Austellung'.
I'd love living in Munich for some of the best things...
..the world has to offer: fine beer and good meat. 
Even better wIth a Patek on the wrist and behind the steering wheel of a classic Mercedes.
Thank you, Le Monde!
Marcelo
There are exceptions to every rule, Magnus.
And you are truly well-informed. Cerpa is one of the very few exceptions.
Cerpa is one of the very few exceptions.Best!
Marcelo
Phenomenal
Beautiful watches and beautiful photos of a well chronicled trip!
Arriving in a '56 300SL - you've taken it to a whole new level!!
Thanks for sharing this experience.
300SL
Yes its glamorous. But the best part of the car is that
it is a REAL drivers car. No air-conditioning, no good brakes, at 12o km/h forget talking
to someone sitting near you (engine is too loud). After driving it for a few hours you actually
feel you did some work to get to your destination....! Best Edmond
King of the World
What a memorable trip you must have had. You must have felt like "King of the World" driving one of the most beautiful automobiles ever made and wearing that watch. Great post !
Dean
Thanks for this great report and photos.
And huge congratulations for your driving machine - the 300SL is much more than simply a car!
Thanks for sharing the experience. Best regards
Georg
With a car like that .....
....... I think Patek should come to YOU instead !!
As much as I like vintage Pateks, for once, your " wheels " beats a 2499 any given afternoon.
2499
Once Patek starts coming to their customers and not the other way around- would be the beginning of the end
for this great manufacturer As for the 2499. Now that is my dream one day. If possible in Rose gold but in
As for the 2499. Now that is my dream one day. If possible in Rose gold but in yellow gold would also do the trick. Only third series or fourth series.
Griaß di Edmond
Hi Edmoind, what a wonderful trip, for classic Patek and in a 300 SL, wow ! My absolute dream and the one of many
Greetings from Bavaria (1h away form you )
)François
What a beautiful day!!!
We visited Munich the weekend before and enjoyed it a lot. Munich is great. But you should have been there on saturday to visit the Allianz Arena (Herzog& de Meuron),
wich is very impressive with 71.000 fans and the glorious Bayern.
Next time I am there I will visit the "Goldene Kalb"...mmmh sounds delicious
Congrats on that beautiful car and thx a lot for taking us with you!
Best Tempus
Goldener Kalb
was very very good! Highly recommend it. As for the Alianz arena with 7o'ooo people.
Must be been a phenomenal atmosphere (this is the one time I think a crowd is an asset)
Best Edmond
Traveling in style!
Now I regret it even more that we didn´t manage to meet
The T-bone looks yummy. Was it dry-aged?
A few weeks ago I enjoyed one of those ...
... 60 days ...
The Ref. 2524-1 from 1958/1959 is very nice and probably one of the last PP´s "simple" minute repeater "only" with a manual winding movement.
I think it is time for a new one next year, isn´t it?!
New Masthead picture:
I hope you don´t mind ;-)
Cordially,
Oliver
The T-bone looks yummy. Was it dry-aged?
A few weeks ago I enjoyed one of those ...
... 60 days ...
The Ref. 2524-1 from 1958/1959 is very nice and probably one of the last PP´s "simple" minute repeater "only" with a manual winding movement.
I think it is time for a new one next year, isn´t it?!
New Masthead picture:
I hope you don´t mind ;-)
Cordially,
Oliver
Its only a matter of time
before we meet Oliver. Again congratulations on your great report. I really enjoyed
the exhibition even though I concentrated on the old watches. Patek makes some
great new watches as well which will be future collectibles no doubt.
As to my steak: I ended up eating Spare ribs! Was also very good.
I will try the 60 day dry aged one day too.
Best Edmond
ps: What is exactly a masthead? Have not understood that yet....
"What is exactly a masthead?"
Here we go:
First page on the right, it looks like this.
If you click at Patek Philippe Masthead, it looks like this ...
Hope that helps.
Oliver
ps: "It´s only a matter of time ..." I like that
First page on the right, it looks like this.
If you click at Patek Philippe Masthead, it looks like this ...
Hope that helps.
Oliver
ps: "It´s only a matter of time ..." I like that
very stylish
Dear Edmond
thank you for the nice XXX trip
X PP
X SL300
X Bavaria
next time in a BMW 507 and you will get Bavarian membership ;-)
good luck
Stephan
"... BMW 507 and you will get Bavarian membership ..."
And you will get it by Poldi Prince of Bavaria, himself
I would like that
Your Bavarian prince, by the way, is very very knowledgable about classic cars.
He wrote a good book that I have at home. Best Edmond
Honorary membership?
I like the 507 BMW.
But for me the 507 is not a must have car. The 300SL gullwing is. So is a DB4 (vantage). And so is a 275 GTB/4.
Sadly the latter are British and Italian respectively. So lets talk membership.
If you offering an honorary consul membership with unlimited Bavarian beer and Bavarian girls
in Dirndl's, I could be pursuaded to look at the 507 more closely
Thank you for your kind comments.
Best Edmond
Well
Hi
I can't say I dislike your car, as it's just my favourite car overall. I understand it's not an easy car, but as long as it's just a dream....
Each time I saw one (not that often and not recently though) it was just obvious. One of those really great designs, that were left nearly unchanged and are now mythical, like a Type 35 or a DB4 Zagato.
By the way, one of my neighbours used to have one, bought new, but sold it before my birth.......
Thank you for sharing.
Dje
Mythical - not sure
The 300SL (gullwing) is one of those really great designs. Timeless. Aggressive.
An Icon of automotive history. I only wish they built less than they did (they built 1400). For me mythical
is something clearly more rare though. Like a DB 4 Zagato you mentioned. They only built 19 pieces.
Another mythical car is the 250 GTO. Not because its pretty. Because its so good to drive.
And because it has so much history. And its rare. Only 36 made. For me mythical is clearly
linked to rarity and here the 300SL Gullwing is at its weakest.
Best Edmond
I love the car!
Great job! Congrats on using the car! A good choice of vehicle!
Thank you for the photos.
And yes, the insides of those cars do get very warm. And often the air conditioner (if there's even one in the first place) is not powerful enough to keep the occupants cool.
A very beautiful day with Patek Philippe
What I know about Patek Philippe is that this brand is that it imposed on the wearer some conditions and observations which many people cannot provide these conditions. But when I saw the pictures that you captured in the car, I found that the Patek Philippe was in the utmost degree of chic and beauty. I saw that you are a special person who can wear a rare watch professionally.
As for myself, I am of fickle mode who loves classic watches, but at the same time love sports watches , diving watch or any strange watch, even in my clothes
.
Thank you very much and good luck
WTA