New PP Grail

[Aivas47a]

These are just phone pics, but I have to share them.

A couple years ago I acquired my then-grail, a PP 5146G annual calendar. I loved that watch (still do), but eventually got the bug to trade up for the 5205G. Finally pulled the trigger on that deal last month:





Here's what I like even better about the 5205G:

Greater legibility -- I never thought there was enough contrast between the hands and the face on the 5146G; also the window display of the month and day of the week is easier on my aging eyes than dials.

Dauphine hands -- More of a classic Patek look, I think.

Clean, modern face -- I would never call the 5146 cluttered, but the 5205 is really clean for a moonphase annual.

Accuracy -- I know this is just a matter of individual watches, not models, but the 5205 is by far the most accurate mechanical watch I've ever owned. In daily wrist-wear with nights on the winder, it loses less than a second a day -- more like 3 seconds per week. The 5146 by contrast was one of my least accurate watches, gaining 7-8 seconds per day. (I always meant to send it off to Switzerland for servicing and regulation to see if that could be improved, but never got around to it.) In any case, for the painfully high cost of this watch it's nice to have exceptional accuracy.

I did like the little power reserve indicator on the 5146, and the lume came in handy, but all in all I'm extremely happy with the new grail and don't see another trade coming anytime soon.

As a newcomer here, can I also just express how happy I am to have found this great forum? Such a friendly and welcoming group of guys, with the added bonus of NOT thinking I'm insane (right?) for investing the cost of a car in a watch!

[rr-nyc]

Beautiful PP. You've got a nice collection of watches

[sleddog]

Stunning Jim........That's a watch to be proud of for sure. Congratulations!!

[kilyung]

Jim,
You are a loon. Mad as the hatter I say.

So said the kettle to the pot... Great collection. I need an annual calendar in my line-up. I'd love the 5726.

[StarSovereign]

wow. All I can say is wow!

[paverman]

Congrats on a great addition. I love that pp reference.

[salem65]

Congrats! Stunning piece.

[Andad]

Very nice Jim.

I like the way the moon phase is integrated with the sub dial - very subtle and the movement is a work of art IMO.

[johnbeth]

Congratulations on an Awesome watch and welcome to the madhouse! You have great taste in watches!

John

[topcat30093]

Congratulations on joining the 5205G club.

Here is a photo of mine, which I got back in Novemeber :)

And I agree with you regarding the accuracy, but that may well be down to fact. That for the past 6-12 months the 324 movement and a couple of others, were fitted on the quite, with the new silicon hairspring, which was intially fitted to the advance research models back in 2006.

Just have a look to see whether your hairspring appears blue in colour.

[Porsche]

Cograts Jim, that's a beauty for sure.

Something about the snow white seconds hand that I love....

[Aivas47a]

Thanks for the very kind words guys!

Love that charcoal dial too topcat and will definitely look for the blue hairspring ... I'm actually much more pleased to know the accuracy is attributable to deliberate engineering improvements, not just luck of the draw!

[psv]

Many congrats on the trade-up! Got my first PP yesterday (a lowly Aquanaut).

[kilyung]

Woohoo Patrick! Post some close ups of that bad boy. Bracelet or strap option?

[bewithabob]

Absolutely gorgeous! I really love the legibility. My eyesight just isn't what it used to be. Does this have any luminescence?

[Morax]

Beautiful watch! Congrats.

[witch watch]

Just lovely.

Wear it in good health.

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by psv

Many congrats on the trade-up! Got my first PP yesterday (a lowly Aquanaut).

But a Patek is never a lowly piece.

The same same base movement goes into the Aquanaut as into the 5205G, so look for the silicon hairspring

The Aquanaut is a great all round watch and the lume is absolutely fanatsic.

There is NO lume on the 5205.

[Aivas47a]

Originally Posted by psv

Many congrats on the trade-up! Got my first PP yesterday (a lowly Aquanaut).

Not lowly at all, it's an outstanding piece! I really like the way the Aquanaut updates the classic Nautilus look.

As topcat notes there is no lume on the 5205, that's one of the things you give up moving from the 5146 (though the lume on that model is pretty modest TBH).

[barstoolman]

Stunning watch but sorry to say I like your original grail 5146G even better. Regardless, enjoy!!!!!!

[Kapture1]

Very very nice

[ocwatching]

THAT is an awesome reference! Huge congrats!
makes me what to move into further into the complicated range in PP but I am just too hung up with sport watches of late...
enjoy!

[B. Doggy]

Wow!

[liptonnr]

Tremendous watch! I love it ! Congrats!

[Aivas47a]

Thanks again for the kind words everyone! I can't wait till the end of this month to watch the calendar turn over to May 1. (Is it odd that my idea of a good time at midnight is watching the date change on a watch?)

[gone-rolex-mad]

Stunning PP, huge congrats

[wisguy]

Awesome watch, enjoy it.

[Tony-GB]

Incredible piece.