Patek Philippe World Time 5110P: Ten Years of Love.
amanico
2d of November 2004... Taormina, Sicily. A few months back, I secured the deal on this watch, and just had to take a plane to go there, in one of the most charming towns of Sicily, for a long week end.
I can go much back in Time, as when Patek released this Watch in 2000, it was love at first sight, I must say.
Direct at the top of my dream list... I knew I would get one, one day.
2d of November 2004... The D Day. I am pushing the door of this small shop of Taormina, welcomed by one of my good friend, there.
He goes to the safe, takes the 5110P and his time, too, to show it to me. You know that feeling, the heart which beats faster, with a bit of apprehension.
Will the watch disappoint me, or will it be nicer than in my dreams or on the pictures?
The seller knows me well, he reads in my mind, offers me an orange juice, let me wait a bit more... My eyes are focused on his hands, on this strap which comes through the damn plastic seal, over his hands, he is happy for me, he knows how much I waited for this one, how much this moment is delectable... He is keeping me Under pressure, shows me the well known wooden box, the papers, he is hiding the watch a bit more....
Do I care about the box and the papers? Come on, Hell no! I just want to consume my pleasure, but I quite love the way the dealer is behaving, his game.
I waited for so long that I can still wait a few more minutes, even though the heart is beating really faster... Torture is intimately blended to pleasure, sometimes.
He takes the cissors, cuts the plastic, and hands me the World Time of my dreams, finally.
You know these rare moments in Life, where dreams are transformed into Reality. Even rarer moments when Reality is nicer than Dreams...
This was a moment like this.
The first minutes were dedicated to the examination of the watch, the dial, first, then the case, the movement through the sapphire case back, the crown, the feeling of the platinum case density, the small diamond between the lugs at 6 o'clock which enhances the feeling that this watch is truly a jewel...
Then you start to use the pusher to select your time reference... Paris... Then you set the time, and you wind the movement, a bit...The crown turns in a sliky way.
Delight is at its paroxysm, with a Big D.
You come back to the dial, these sublime hands, and the very elegant finish of the blue part. You literally stick to it. Time stops.
It is now time to put it on the wrist, to adjust the delicious folding buckle, with its Calatrava cross.
Strangely, the strap is " reversed "...The longer part of the strap is at 12 o clock, while normally it is at 6 o clock... A bit disorienting, but who cares?
On the wrist, you don't feelthe 37 mm case, you are convinced it has the perfect size. The proportions are ideal, ehance the elegance of the World Time.
The world time ring is not disproportionned, as it is the case on the 5130, which has a 2, 5 mm bigger case, but the same dial size...No, here, everything is at its place, coherent, consistant.
You can easily understand that I spent the next hours admiring the watch, on my wrist, which is not very polite, I admit it.
Another thing which surprised me is that this watch made and still makes me travel in my mind, while reading all these cities of the world on the white ring... Magic!
The following 10 years didb increase the pleasure of owning this watch. We went through times, good and bad, together... We wrote the pages of our common book.
We travelled together almost everywhere in the world. She never failed, even if I didn't send her for a service... It still runs well, very well, by the way.
I will end with saying that it also is one of my fetish time keeper, the one I wear when I feel the need of an extra strength...
We, watchnuts, are really curious birds...
Here are some pictures I never posted, about the 5110P, pictures I took all along these 12 last months, to celebrate THE moment, with different backgrounds, some being very à propos...
On Visas:
On Security and hotel cards:
A Parisian Palace:
And what about another travel monument, the Orient Express?
The good moments, too, like Epiphany:
And a fine tea...
Unvaluable moments...
With a special mention for the movement, the famous Cal 240 HU with its lovely micro rotor.
And let's end with the same symbol of travels, through these 2 last photos, taken during my asian trip.
Yes, few watches move me like this one... Very few.
It seems to me that Taormina was just yesterday.
All the best,
Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-11-03 05:45:41 This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-10-03 06:56:13
Comments:
4Js November 3rd, 2014-06:01
Very Nice History, I really enjoyed this But, I have a curious question. Why all the way to Sicily for a new Patek? However, the shop owner seems to be a real torturer! Continue to wear in the best of health Best, Joe
amanico November 3rd, 2014-06:08
Because he is a friend.... I met him some 6 months before for the first time. When I discovered Taormina. I bought him the Breguet Type XX Salmon dial. It was a funny deal. I knew him for a few days before, I didn't have the money on me, and nobody to do the wire for me, and he let me go with the Watch, trusting me. We became frien...
amanico November 3rd, 2014-10:03
Yes, this passion drove ( and stil drives ) me to meet some top notch people.
Mark in Paris November 3rd, 2014-06:03
Such love is rare enough to celebrate it with care and joy You're a clever watch fan and I'm happy you too met that day. HappyB' ! Cheers, Mark
Baron - Mr Red November 3rd, 2014-06:03
This is my favourite post of yours four 2014..... It captures everything about being a Purist. Your heart, feelings, emotions......everything is caught in this post. Nothing more for me to say other than thank you for the reminder of what watch collecting passion is all about. For any newcomer to these f...
amanico November 3rd, 2014-06:35
It is all about Passion, my friend. Passion and Admiration for a watch. You can also add " Magic ", as it is ALWAYS magic when dreams come true. Few watches provide such a pleasure. This one is definitely in my Top Ten Keepers. Best, Nicolas
GLau November 3rd, 2014-06:43
Hi Nico, the 5110 is definitely a true love for you & I hope... ...your wife is not jealous !! Looking forward to reading your 5110's 20th Birthday !! Cheers, Gordon
amanico November 3rd, 2014-06:47
LOL. No, she's not jealous. She wears it, too, from time to time. ;) Thank you, my friend
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