STYLE

Investing in a 5119G is arguably smarter than investing in stocks or art. PATEK PHILIPPEis one of the most prestigious firms in the world, with a historydating back to 1839. Consider the stats: more than 70 patents held;three to five years of research to develop each new model; 220watchmakers who make everything on the premises; 1,200 to 1,500 stepsto make the movement of a single watch. Your grandchildren’s children’schildren will appreciate this. They will be wearing the watch, butwithout having had to spend many thousands of dollars on it. The 5119G is an evolvement of Patek Philippe’s most popular watch, the Calatrava 3119, which was introduced in 1985.

The CASEmeasures 36 millimeters in diameter and is exceptionally thin, at onlyseven millimeters. Around the edge is Patek Philippe’s iconic “Clos deParis” hobnail pattern, etched using the traditional diamond guillochétechnique. It’s also water-resistant (at depths of up to 98 feet) andis handmade in either 18-karat white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold.It will certainly survive your shower.

The subtly domed glass over the watch’s face is called a “sapphire” CRYSTAL, and it’s exceptionally clear. It’s also highly resistant toscratches, which means the 5119G will stay brilliant for a long, longtime -- like its owner, of course.

On a background of pure white lacquer, the simple Roman font used for the numbers makes the DIALeasily readable. Its uncluttered austerity, say the folks at PatekPhilippe, “has survived all fashion trends.” Translation: It goes witheverything -- and it always will.

The inner workings of the5119G are mechanical and manually wound -- old-school style (the markof dapper gents everywhere). It is called the 215 PS MOVEMENTand has 130 hand-crafted parts. At only 2.55 millimeters thick, it isone of Patek Philippe’s thinnest, made in-house by craftsmen who polisheach tooth of each hardened-steel pinion gear with a beechwood disc. Itoscillates 28,800 times per hour -- outpacing maybe even yourBlackBerry. It also, as you might suspect, keeps painfully accuratetime.

The hour and minute HANDSare shaped like long, elegant leaves and made of 18-karat white gold.The smaller inset hand -- it keeps track of those 60 little seconds --is shaped more like a conductor’s baton.

The BANDis crafted of bold-scaled alligator hide that’s finished with a highgloss. The 16-millimeter, 18-karat prong buckle will keep your 5119Gsecurely fastened around your wrist -- important when you’ve spent theequivalent of a Mini Cooper on your watch.