Yesterday, I gave an outlook that I will show here some recent additions to my collection that take me on a path of diversification adding some flavours here and there to my collection of Girard-Perregaux watches. However, you will need to wait a bit more for those posts. Instead, I want to go back in time first, to the change of the Millennium, a time when there were a lot of changes in my life and when I bought my first Patek Philippe that remained my “daily beater” for over 10 years.
The Patek Philippe 5085/1A is a bit of an odd one out, like a step child in the family. It was like that when it was new and still today, this watch is not often seen and collectors pass by it without giving it much attention. It should have all ingredients it needs to be a hot watch: steel bracelet sports watch, black dial with complication and caliber 240 PS.
Maybe it is the moderate size of 37mm or the shiny bracelet, but most likely in my view it just misses the in-fashion label of Nautilus or Aquanaut. The bracelet is fully integrated into the case and there is no possibility to change to a strap without destroying the case. It surely is one of the most flexible and comfortable bracelets I ever owned. The shininess seems not an issue on the 5131P or the 5960A, so it is really strange that the 5085/1A is so much under the radar.
The quality and finishing is definitely par with a Nautilus 5712, only the dial one could argue is kept simpler not having the typical horizontal pattern you find in the Nautilus. A nice details are the ageing lume dots on the dial, giving it a bit of a vintage touch. For me, the 5085/1A was almost a daily companion for over 10 years. Today, it no longer is in my collection. Do I regret letting it go? To some extent, but in general, once I made up my mind, I don’t look back. And luckily, another Patek has entered my collection again last year, so I don’t need to complain.
Yesterday, I gave an outlook that I will show here some recent additions to my collection that take me on a path of diversification adding some flavours here and there to my collection of Girard-Perregaux watches. However, you will need to wait a bit more for those posts. Instead, I want to go back in time first, to the change of the Millennium, a time when there were a lot of changes in my life and when I bought my first Patek Philippe that remained my “daily beater” for over 10 years.
The Patek Philippe 5085/1A is a bit of an odd one out, like a step child in the family. It was like that when it was new and still today, this watch is not often seen and collectors pass by it without giving it much attention. It should have all ingredients it needs to be a hot watch: steel bracelet sports watch, black dial with complication and caliber 240 PS.
Maybe it is the moderate size of 37mm or the shiny bracelet, but most likely in my view it just misses the in-fashion label of Nautilus or Aquanaut. The bracelet is fully integrated into the case and there is no possibility to change to a strap without destroying the case. It surely is one of the most flexible and comfortable bracelets I ever owned. The shininess seems not an issue on the 5131P or the 5960A, so it is really strange that the 5085/1A is so much under the radar.
The quality and finishing is definitely par with a Nautilus 5712, only the dial one could argue is kept simpler not having the typical horizontal pattern you find in the Nautilus. A nice details are the ageing lume dots on the dial, giving it a bit of a vintage touch. For me, the 5085/1A was almost a daily companion for over 10 years. Today, it no longer is in my collection. Do I regret letting it go? To some extent, but in general, once I made up my mind, I don’t look back. And luckily, another Patek has entered my collection again last year, so I don’t need to complain.
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