16th of March 2010... 16th of March 2018. 8 years of pure pleasure, 8 years which passed at the speed if sound.
I remember when I first saw the Patek 5070G,very well. It was in the window display of the Paris Boutique, in 2005. Then, I saw it, one year later, on one of my friend's wrist.
He wore it in a casual chic way, under a white linen shirt, top class. Since then I started my hunt without much illusion. The kind of " well, let's see what will happen "...
Then, in 2008 / 2009, the Platinum version was unveiled... I ran at my dealer and asked her to put my name first on the list, which was easy to do since it was the morning of the first day of the Basel Fair... One year after, no answer, except that I was told that my illusions were just illusions or disillusionment.
But, a few months after, I noticed one for sale at a parisian dealer. The price was good, the trade was ok, and then the stars and planets were perfectly aligned... It was mine!
Finally!
Here is an in depth and comparative review I wrote some years ago about the Patek 5070:
The 5070 has become, since its first days, in 1998, an icon. Not that it is a perfect or a fine chronograph, but it belongs to the category of these watches whose flaws are their qualities.
The white gold version is the more understated one, with its silver brushed dial and its white case. Here, not much contrast, but sobriety, class, elegance, discretion.
Even the dimensions plead for the understatement of this chronograph. Yes, it is big, with a 42 mm diameter case, but it is not thick ( 11, 6 mm ).
The only problem / flaw of that watch is that there is a big gap between the size of the case and the size of the movement ( 27, 5 mm ). So there is a direct consequence, or two:
- The movement seems a bit lost in the case, but Patek managed to solve that issue with the case back design.
- The 2 counters are centered, but here again, the special bezel helps a bit to compensate that element of dial design.
One thing is sure, the Lemania movement of the 5070 is nicely finished, with some inward bevels, which is something lost with the in house movement housed in the 5170.
And the charm is here. Strong, obvious, at least for me.
That's why I allow myself to call it an icon. Which seems better appreciated with years passing...
My Patek collection can objectively be called meager, but it is not the number of pieces which counts, it is the love and passion you have for the pieces which compose it.
I didn't want to write a review here, rather a testimony of my passion for that watch. And I am not a big Patek fan, but I must say that some of their watches are among the most interesting.
So is the 5110P, an iconic world time, my favorite Patek watch, and the 5070. Even if, once again, it is not the most refined chronograph.
But I would say... Who cares, when you have a kind of King of Cool!
Long Life to the 5070! For sure it will stay in my collection for a long time.
Best,
Nicolas