The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

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The Grammar of Design invented by Taro Tanaka has always fascinated me, and I've therefore always been drawn to the 44GS and 45GS. When Grand Seiko released this modern reinterpretation of the 45GS, I was immediately captivated. Especially since the hand-wound caliber 9SA4 boasts a beautiful architecture and includes a wonderful little surprise: the ratchet is shaped like a wagtail (an emblematic bird of Morioka, a town near the Shizukuishi studio where the watch is made) and vibrates as you wind the movement.

What I love are the angles of the case, the minimalist dial, and, of course, the dual Seiko and GS signature. For me, this is Grand Seiko at its best and a legend of Japanese watchmaking.

Grammar of Design

For a long time, I wondered if I really wanted to add a Patek Philippe to my collection, and if so, which one.

What I quickly realized was that my taste leaned towards a shaped watch with a manual movement. I was particularly drawn to the reference 5100, known as the "manta ray."

Until the day I tried on this Chronometro Gondolo. It was the rose gold version, with its two-tone dial. But I was immediately captivated. Everything about it struck me as exceptional: the tonneau-shaped case, the incredible hand-guilloché dial, the exquisitely refined pear-shaped hands, the manual caliber 25-21 REC designed specifically for this reference and bearing the Geneva Seal, as well as its wonderful historical heritage, since it's a recreation of a 1920s model that can be admired at the Patek Philippe Museum.

I knew there was a platinum version, so I made sure to find a full set.

The "honeymoon" was intense, and even now, I find it hard to wear any other watch. The oval time display is wonderful, and the tonneau shape is magical on the wrist. This watch is, without a doubt, one of the most important in my collection.

Style & Heritage

I am not naturally very attracted to steel watches with an integrated bracelet: I much prefer watches in rose or yellow gold with a leather strap. But, when I discovered this Alpine Eagle, I was very seduced: the pattern of the dial, inspired by the eagle's iris, is quite fascinating and the gray color, as well as the Roman numerals, give it a classic and dressy look while being sporty, which, personally, pleases me. Its design obviously contains elements that recall the Royal Oak (the screws on the bezel) and the Nautilus (the "fins" on both sides), but it also has its own personality and the finishes are of very good quality (mix of polished and brushed). What I appreciate most is the way in which, being quite thin (9.7mm) and well sized, it fits perfectly on the wrist. And, compared to its illustrious rivals, it has several important advantages in my eyes: a COSC-certified movement, 100m water resistance with a screw-down crown, a reasonable price and immediate availability in store or online. I therefore find it an ideal watch, not only for summer, but also for other more formal or dressy circumstances.

Sporty & dressy

Tradition and imagination, a look that is both dressy and sporty, timeless and surprising, simplicity and complexity: when I discovered this watch, I was truly dazzled, because it perfectly combined these opposing aspects that attracted me as much as each other. I was looking for an exceptional watch for my 50th birthday and I knew immediately that it would be this one: combining the purest watchmaking classicism with an almost extravagant form of fantasy, that was exactly what I dreamed of.

So there are these famous cow horn-shaped lugs: a magnificent touch of madness, which gives the watch a rather unique energy and dynamism. But the round case is very classic and, with its mushroom pushers, it has an undeniable retro, even vintage look.

The key element of the dial is, for me, the blue tachymeter scale, which adds a very nice touch of color that can be found in the blued hands of the chronograph. I also love the very thin rose gold hands, as well as the indexes, the two Roman numerals (XII & VI) and the applied Maltese Cross.

And then, finally, there is the very beautiful caliber 1142, which is a very nicely decorated and improved version of the famous and historic Lemania 2310, with, the highlight, the Maltese Cross-shaped column wheel! The movement, which beats at 21600 V.P.H. (3 Hz), is really audible and has a nice musicality, which I appreciate. And winding it daily offers a nice sensation.

In short, this watch corresponds to my personal ideal and I wear it with any outfit, because its slightly sporty and not only dressy look allows it to go with everything.

Tradition et imagination

My desire stubbornly pursues the somewhat confused image that I carry deep inside me of an ideal watch: a discreet, traditional, elegant and technically remarkable rose gold watch. It was therefore quite likely that I would like the Classic micro rotor by Laurent Ferrier. When I discovered, a year ago (in April 2023) the newly launched version with an “evergreen” dial, I found it wonderful. I then discovered, on the second-hand market, this version with a slate dial and decided to acquire it. Two elements differentiate this dial and make me particularly like it: first, the small gold indexes in the form of studs for the minutes (which are absent from many other versions); second, the golden/copper color of the “Laurent Ferrier Genève”. For the rest, everything is exceptional: the reactions of the dial to light, the onion-shaped crown, the spear-shaped hands and, of course, the micro rotor movement with natural escapement, whose architecture and manual finishing I never tire of admiring.

This watch now forms, with the Corne de Vache by Vacheron and the Quattro Spirit by Chopard, a trio particularly dear to my heart and perhaps — who knows? — definitive.

Sobriety & watchmaking excellence

This watch had an irresistible appeal for me. The whiteness of the grand feu enamel dial is resplendent in any light. And what purity! As for the jumping hour complication, I find it both visually beautiful and very poetic from an auditory point of view. Let me explain: visually, I really like this unique "dauphine-fusée" shaped hand, which indicates the minutes and is somewhat reminiscent of the display of regulators; and, from an auditory point of view, the click of the hour disc, which jumps instantly at the passage of each new hour and which is very audible as soon as one is in a quiet environment, constitutes a discreet, but sensitive and poetic way of marking time. I love it. The case, which is inspired by pocket watches, is very nicely finished, with a mixture of polished and satin. And the caliber 98.06-L, which offers 8 days of power reserve and is COSC certified, makes wearing this watch extremely practical and comfortable. Limited to 100 pieces, this generally little-known watch is for me a real marvel.

Enamel & jumping hour

The Patek Philippe brand was created in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Fran&ccedil;ois Czapek in Geneva, Switzerland. Historic brand of Haute Horlogerie, Patek Philippe is part of the very closed circle of the oldest manufacturers still in operation. It is notably at the origin of the caliber 89, the first pocket caliber with 33 complications. Since its creation, it has had real know-how in artisanal know-how and a strong capacity to innovate. In fact, since 1845, it has been the source of more than 70 patents.
The Patek Philippe range offers sporty-chic watches such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/patek_philippe/nautilus_5711">Patek Nautilus 5711</a> or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/patek_philippe/aquanaut">Patek Philippe Aquanaut</a>, as well as classic watches like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/patek_philippe/calatrava">Patek Philippe Calatrava</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/patek_philippe/complications">Patek Philippe Complications</a> or the Patek Philippe Gondolo. These refined pieces have made Patek Philippe a brand prized by collectors.
The brand created a surprise in October 2024 with the announcement of a new collection: the&nbsp;Patek Philippe Cubitus.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Patek Philippe cost?</h2>
Prices for Patek Philippe watches change every year, but most Patek Philippe models cost between $30,000 and $60,000. A steel Patek Philippe Aquanaut costs around $24,100, while a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph in yellow gold costs more than $200,000. Patek also offers models made from precious materials and set with diamonds at higher prices.
The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to obtain a Patek Philippe, the price of which will most certainly be higher than new given the shortage of watches available from the brand's rare authorized resellers.
<h2 dir="ltr">Patek Philippe: The historic reference in Haute Horlogerie</h2>
The brand Patek Philippe has been owned by the Stern family since 1932 and produces approximately 68,000 watches per year, all models combined. To choose a Patek Philippe that suits you best, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
Check out the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_luxury_watch_brands">Ranking of the best Luxury watch brands</a>, including Patek Philippe.
(Updated October 2024)

Review of my Patek 2479R

Patek Philippe Gondolo 7041R - A quiet tribute to the elegance of Art Deco design.
This is our first Patek, one that my wife had admired for years.
She loves how it balances jewelry-like charm with the timeless refinement and sophistication that Patek is known for. She’s never been drawn to diamonds on a watch, but the delicate sparkle set within the dial (rather than on the bezel) gives it just the right touch of subtle elegance. 

Patek's quite elegance

La marque SYE [Start Your Engine] a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2020 par Arnaud Pezeron &agrave; c&ocirc;t&eacute; de Paris en France. La marque inaugure le Sport Tailoring au poignet. Elle propose des montres sport-chic de caract&egrave;re, fiables, ludiques et abordables inspir&eacute;es de l'univers de la m&eacute;canique auto-moto. La gamme comprend deux mod&egrave;les distincts, la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/sye/mot1on_automatic_24">SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 </a>et la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/sye/mot1on_chronograph">SYE MOT1ON Chronograph</a>.
Cette marque embarque une innovation sur le changement du bracelet disponible en acier ou en cuir. La montre n'offre aucun espace entre le bracelet et la boite d&ucirc; &agrave; l&rsquo;absence de cornes, ce qui am&eacute;liore son confort et sa portabilit&eacute;.
<h2 class="p1">Combien co&ucirc;te une montre&nbsp;SYE&nbsp;?</h2>
La gamme SYE comporte deux mod&egrave;les disponibles sur le site de la marque : La SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 est propos&eacute;e &agrave; partir de 750&euro;. La SYE MOT1ON Chronograph est propos&eacute;e &agrave; partir de 599 &euro;.
SYE est ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines montres par an tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une SYE qui vous correspond le mieux, les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Classement des meilleures marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises</a> dont SYE fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2023)

The brand SYE [Start Your Engine] was created in 2020 by Arnaud Pezeron near Paris in France. The brand is introducing Sport Tailoring on the wrist. It offers sporty-chic watches with character, reliability, fun and affordability inspired by the world of car and motorcycle mechanics. The range includes two distinct models, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sye/mot1on_automatic_24"> SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sye/mot1on_chronograph"> SYE MOT1ON Chronograph</a>.
This brand has an innovation in changing the bracelet available in steel or leather. The watch offers no space between the bracelet and the case due to the absence of lugs, which improves its comfort and portability.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a SYE watch cost?</h2>
The SYE range includes two models available on the brand's website: The SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 is offered from &euro; 750. The SYE MOT1ON Chronograph is offered from &euro; 599.
SYE is independent and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an SYE that best suits you, the Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real customer experience.
Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Ranking of the best French watch brands</a>, including SYE.
(Updated November 2023)

Patek Philippe Gondolo Owner Review : Admirable, remarkable and elegant

Style & Heritage

Pros & Cons for this watch

Where to buy your Patek Philippe?

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Patek Philippe Gondolo Owner Review : Admirable, remarkable and elegant

Style & Heritage

Pros & Cons for this watch

Where to buy your Patek Philippe?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Quattro

Grand SeikoSLGW

ChopardAlpine Eagle

Vacheron ConstantinHistoriques Cornes de Vache 1955

Laurent FerrierClassic Micro-Rotor

ChopardL.U.C Quattro Spirit 25

Customize your Patek Philippe with our selection of accessories:

Eagle Eye Watches

Iconic Switzerland

Grand Seiko
SLGW

Chopard
Alpine Eagle

Vacheron Constantin
Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955

Laurent Ferrier
Classic Micro-Rotor

Chopard
L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25