Your post reminded me of a time when i was in my late-20s. I had some money and it was burning a hole in my pocket. I went along to a Porsche dealership and had a test drive in a 911. It was the 993 version. The test drive was just incredible. The road holding....the acceleration....just the feel of it. Today, the 993 is slower than my Golf. It is technically inferior to most modern cars and infinitely inferior to the modern Porsche on essentiallyevery technical level. Yet, in garage there is a 993 and no modern version. Our love for something is, in most cases, a very personal reflection of ourselves. We share similar passion on watches, yet our tastes only overlap on certain areas. As i always say, there is no right or wrong....but just our own impression of how we feel. Bla bla bla....having said all that.....
.....I feel the modern era of Patek is not entirely as black or white as it seems. I think Patek have seevral layers to the company. I remember speaking to a former Mod on this forum many years ago...our dear Oliver....and he said he thought there was about 6 or 7 "layers" to Patek Philippe watches. Entry level watches were essentially mass-produced and the quality was commensurate with that. However, once you move up the layers, a different picture emerges. Take, for example, the 5370P. To my mind, it is an extraordinarily special watch from Patek. The finishing. The movement. The enamel. The complication. In one package, it represents something quite special. Take the 5131 series...all metals. The Patek Philippe world time watches are, to my mind, in a league of their own against any other manufacturer. Look at the Aquanaut 5650G released last year....it comtains a technology advancement that makes a production watch as accurate as a Tourbillon and comfortably beats the accuracy of the most recent advance from Rolex. And...to boot....its more robust. I could go on, but my point is that very little is black or white......probabilities are rarely 1 or 0. Within Patek Philippe, there are areas of excellence that truly are incredible. This year...Basel 2018.....I am not sure that its as easy to highlight. But generally over the last 5 years or so, then yes i think there are areas of excellence. Having said this...bla bla bla.....
....I do also agree with much of your sentiment. Perhaps there needs to be more areas of excellence and less mass production concepts. maybe there needs to be more focus on areas where the company excels rather than where it just sells.
Like many here, I am a very big fan of the 5970. The 5970P was my very first modern Patek bought from new. It holds that special place for me. It is a superb watch with incredible balance and poise. I understand how you feel regarding the salmon dial. I agree with you on how you perceive the salmon dial.
Miles, I have a lot of time for the comments you make here. I think its strikes a note in many peole who have collectedc Patek over the years.
Best to you
Joe