The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[Thrift Vader]

Here's a watch with all kinds of design "flaws." I think it's one of the most beautiful Pateks ever.

It's like if noisy Jazz was a dial.

 

[TheFoo]

Here's a watch with all kinds of design "flaws." I think it's one of the most beautiful Pateks ever.

Really? I mean, agree to disagree, but . . . yuck.

 

[TheFoo]

Once you see it...

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Yes, Lange goes on and on about things like the Golden Ratio, but rote application of aesthetic concepts does not make something look good.

I happen to very much enjoy the overall balance of the Lange 1 dial, whatever my reservations about Lange’s aesthetic and design choices. However, the very slight overlap of the main dial and sub-dial is ugly and inexcusable to me. Just make one or both slightly smaller and then they wouldn’t touch at all. As it is, looks like a forced decision as opposed to an optimal one.

 

[Texasmade]

I agree with Foo and TV on the Neptune. It's a jumbled mess with a terrible looking bracelet. Not all SS Patek's are popular.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Really? I mean, agree to disagree, but . . . yuck.

It's delightfully weird. If you took the name off the dial and didn't know about the watch, you would never guess it was a Patek.

As you suggested, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nicole Kidman is objectively more attractive than Gina Gershon, but I've always had a thing for Gershon while Kidman is meh to me

 

[TheFoo]

I agree with Foo and TV on the Neptune. It's a jumbled mess with a terrible looking bracelet. Not all SS Patek's are popular.

You all know I love Patek, but I’ve always said they commit their fair share of snafus. What makes them great and deserving of their status is when they get it just right. Patek at it’s best is maybe unbeatable, but then they also made the tentacle monster that @Ambulance Chaser posted.

 

[TheFoo]

It's delightfully weird. If you took the name off the dial and didn't know about the watch, you would never guess it was a Patek.

As you suggested, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nicole Kidman is objectively more attractive than Gina Gershon, but I've always had a thing for Gershon while Kidman is meh to me

I’m not sure this analysis works. Objectively, Gina would be much better in bed than Nicole.

 

[mak1277]

It's delightfully weird. If you took the name off the dial and didn't know about the watch, you would never guess it was a Patek.

As you suggested, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nicole Kidman is objectively more attractive than Gina Gershon, but I've always had a thing for Gershon while Kidman is meh to me

That watch is more like a really ugly rich girl than either of the examples you just gave.

 

[TheFoo]

By the way: rote symmetry should not be confused with overall visual balance.

 

[Thrift Vader]

I’m not sure this analysis works. Objectively, Gina would be much better in bed than Nicole.

I always wanted to bone Fran Drescher. Mostly for the noises.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

So you guys hate this watch too? Paging @George Red . . .

 

[Texasmade]

So you guys hate this watch too? Paging @George Red . . .

I hate the dial. It's probably my least favorite Nautilus on a bracelet.

 

[mebiuspower]

By the way: rote symmetry should not be confused with overall visual balance.

Yes. And there had been cases where I really liked the watch in photos, but all the allure went away once I put it on my wrist at the AD.

 

[TheFoo]

Also, whatever the genealogical reasons for the customary crown placement at 3 o’clock, it is also obviously the most ergonomically rational place to put it. After all, most people are right-handed. Putting it on the far left side of the case would be awkward to operate and wind (of course, unless you’re left-handed). Putting it on top or bottom would be even more awkward and far less accessible. Any other position would would just be arbitrary.

And since the crown at 3 o’clock makes sense, so does the position of the date window. F.P. Journe, when discussing dial design and interface, made the very good point that putting a function closer to the crown that operates it increases design clarity and intuitiveness to the user. The placement of the power reserve indicator on the Chronometre Sovereign illustrates this concept to good effect.

Sometimes things come to the way they are by accident or for bad reason, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t correct anyway.

 

[Dino944]

However, the very slight overlap of the main dial and sub-dial is ugly and inexcusable to me. Just make one or both slightly smaller and then they wouldn’t touch at all. As it is, looks like a forced decision as opposed to an optimal one.

Sorry, I disagree with that. I think it adds something interesting visually. Anyone can separate a subdial from another dial, it would have been a safe, expected, but boring choice.

I agree with Foo and TV on the Neptune. It's a jumbled mess with a terrible looking bracelet. Not all SS Patek's are popular.

Even the time only Neptune was ugly. In addition the Patek Sculpture is another ugly steel Patek. Many years ago, there was a lot of chatter about them on other forums, but it has quickly been forgotten for good reason. Looks like a collaboration with Ebel.