Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly must-read event that has become the internets Clash of the Keyboard WarriorsThis week, well have some fun with the Patek Philippe 5524G and see if its worth spending your frequent flier miles. But firstLast week, I showed you what has to be the most polarizing Speedmaster Limited Edition to date with the Apollo XVII 40th Anniversary model. Polarizing means that you like it or not. Or, in the case of sunglasses, it means you cant see sh*t on your heads-up display. And folks, you did not see or like this watch. This Speedy was routed in an 85% Crying Shame loss.Yes, Ive embraced schadenfreudeMe? I enjoyed giving Gerard youll recall that hes an owner an hourly update on the voting. Yes, Ive embraced schadenfreude here in Germany. Well, today doesnt get any easier because were going to talk about the controversial Patek Philippe 5524G.Mottos and suchThey say that you never really own a Patek Philippe and that you merely look after it for the next generation. Well, my experience is that Patek never really sells a watch to a person who wears it and merely looks after those who aspire to sell it on the secondary market for profit. But maybe thats just me Perhaps the Nautilus has left me jaded. Or maybe its the O.T.T. auction coverage on vintage Patek.Every so often, though, a little peyote slips into GenevaWhatever it is, Im always left wondering whether anyone is truly passionate about these watches. In my view, they should be, as Patek makes some fine conservative pieces. Every so often, though, a little peyote slips into Geneva and something funky slips out of the works. The 5524G Calatrava is one such example.Behind the ice-cubed curtainIve never been inside the Patek Philippe booth at the show formerly known as Baselworld. Its an intriguing ice cube-like formation that, if Im being totally honest, looks like a Mark Newson Jaeger Atmos. Its totally transparent, so one can see the goings-on, but entry is reservation only. Us Fratelli usually visited on Sunday and thats when I was heading back to the Fatherland.But, lets be clear, Im just not dandy enough to make it in there. This is the realm of Gerard, Robert-Jan, and Balazs. In fact, I heard that the trio held a Zoom call just last week in honor of when Basel should have been. They apparently dressed in all their thanks for visiting Patek neckties from prior years. Gerard, for example, has been attending for so long that he was festooned like a peacock. Yes, the jealousy runs thick from my fingers into the keyboard.Rebellious designer tracksuit wearers clashed with traditional tailored suit wearers in a street fight resemblant of West Side Story.And so it was in the year 2015 that Patek, in full view of its neighbors, debuted the 5524G Calatrava Pilot Travel Time. With a 42mm white gold case, large luminous numerals, and typical 1930s-40s pilot watch hands, the watch was an utter surprise. And the reception was mixed. Rebellious designer tracksuit wearers clashed with traditional tailored suit wearers in a street fight resemblant of West Side Story. And once the spilled caviar and Cristal were cleared, most came to a very sobering conclusion. The 5524G looked, and still looks, an awful lot like the Zenith Pilot Type 20. Patek shared historical pictures and information lending some credibility to their design, but the courtroom of public opinion often dislikes reading.The 5524G in numbersDespite the fact that the 5524G met mixed reviews, it sold when it was released. I dont recall the aftermarket prices for a watch that now retails for a whopping 44,590, but slimy dealers did their best to charge a premium for a while. Well get to the current market later, but suffice it to say, things have quieted. Despite derivative looks, theres a lot to like with this Patek. The caliber 324 S C FUS comes to us farm-to-table and is a two timezone movement with date function.The watch has a skeletonized hand meant to show the home time. Meanwhile, two buttons on the left side of the case can be depressed to advance or decrease the local time hour hand. A couple of small windows on the dial let us know whether its night or day in both home and local time zones.Brand fanatics often claim that the movement is the best thing since Armani created a ready-to-wear collection. The dial is actually dark blue and was issued in this color long before the hue was cool. Like , Patek opts for white gold surrounds for its indices. Regarding usage on the go, the 5524G is good for 60 meters of water resistance.this large watch is only 10.78mm thick.I just completed a lengthy study and can confirm that this specification means that the owner and watch will survive the deep end of any pool at a Mandarin Oriental?or?Four Seasons?resort. Whats truly nice is that this large watch is only 10.78mm thick. This means that it should have no issue going from boutique showroom to shady dealer safe to a second shady dealer safe to a middle-aged Supreme-hoodie-wearing goofballs wrist.The AftermathIn 2018, Patek added a red gold 5524R as a companion to the 5524G. Its a good looking watch as well and tells us that the brand is sticking with this design. I do like a nice dose of stick-to-itiveness. But if its the original incarnation youre after, you can score one at a pretty sweet discount versus retail. Weve found a nice example with all of its boxes and papers for the sum of 34,323 located on the Main Line outside of Philly (Main Line = mega property taxes for those unfamiliar). The seller, who provided the photos, is Watchbox and theyre highly regarded. The question, ultimately, is how you, the Fratelli, regard this polarizing Patek.Patek Philippe 5524G