Patek Philippe

There are many reasons to love or not a watch.

The watch pictured below shows several characteristics that I particularly affectionate such as the officer case, the "Breguet" or "pomme" (French word for apple) hands, the Arab figures, the window calendar (and perpetual, but that's not essential for me), the retrograde date hand, a good way to mark the end of the month and realize that all begins again, the moon phase (a complication I've never owned and would love to live with), all that in an understated sobriety.

Still that watch is not really what I would call a classic. Why? Because you don't see a Patek Philippe retrograde perpetual calendar minute repeater wristwatch so often. That is what the reference 5213 is!

Let me be clear and honest, this 40.6mm watch perfectly fits my wrist (and my soul). Like generally all Patek Philippe watches it's much better on the wrist for real, than on the best pictures.

Of course I will not say that it is my favourite modern Patek Philippe, that would not be true. References 5959 and 5950 remain my favourite current models (and the 5105 perhaps my favourite overall, at least equal to the split second brothers), and 5207P is my favourite minute repeater, 3939 coming second, then 5013, 5078, 5016…. So there is some margin before I order a 5213.

But as we do not all have the same taste, I can understand why some could see the 5213 as their Graal!

This watch is clearly more « solid » than the 5016 it doesn't really replace. It is not as thin and shows a seducing thickness, not of the watch, but of the forms. Like a real officer's watch. But which army would need and afford such tool?

I wrote that it does not replace the 5016 because it looks like a modernized 5016, except for the fact that it is equipped with the 5013 automatic calibre…. Does that mean that we will someday get a tonneau cased tourbillon model?

Anyway at this level I would take any reference. I can say that all Patek Philippe wrist minute repeaters I've heard were excellent, the cathedral gongs ones being particularly seducing. This one was very good too. In fact if I was able to order a minute repeater but couldn't hear it before purchase, that would be one of the very few brands I would trust.

I can't wait to see and read the new book that Patek Philippe must issue at the end of the year about repeating watches. Certainly many hours full of dreams to come….

Obviously the tourbillon version of this calibre is more beautiful, but I guess that an automatic calibre is much more practical with a perpetual calendar. And at least the minute repeater automatic calibres get a very appealing guilloche rotor that reminds the nice automatic calibres from the past.

The officer case is a very appealing solution for someone like me who loves plain backs, but love calibres as much !

And you can get the inside of the cover engraved, so your message remains hidden too !

We should never undervalue the captivating dance of the repeating hammers. That's one of these few moments when you can indeed view the sound!

Minute repeaters count among the most complicated pieces, but the view is surprisingly simple. You can hardly imagine the other side of the works.

So this one is for those loving roundedness. If you want sharp angles, look elsewhere.

Are you tempted to push the sliding lever ?

I can tell you it's worth doing it!

I hope you enjoyed it ! As said before, that's not that often….

Best

Dje