Trying to to buy a "mega-watch". Budget £40,000. Help!

[CKQC]

Very well put and I completely agree. What I need to decide is whether the 310.025 would hold value better than the 5940.

[CKQC]

More visits today to review and consider further!

Managed to find a location with 2 x 5940 that I could try side by side, which was great.

So, black or yellow gold?

I thought the black with black looked so contemporary and striking, so I thought it was the better combo to start, but I eventually came back around to the understated elegance of the gold with tan strap.




Also, viewed gold and platinum 5140 which was superb as well. Do we think the 5940 just edges it?

The 5140 was nice as well - the picture doesn't quite do it justice.



Also tried on the 5327 which was "nice".

Edited by CKQC on Monday 28th August 21:00

Edited by CKQC on Thursday 7th September 13:23

[CKQC]

Nice to see a few more thoughts and posts. The Vacheron perpertual is nice, but I don't think it feels quite as elegant as it's Patek counterparts?

I've viewed a very lovely platinum Patek 5140 as well. It was so much nicer in platinum than gold, that it is certainly up there with the 5940 for me.

A picture below. It wears well on me, I think.

[CKQC]

Good question! The occasion it is being bought for is the very start of 2018, so anytime between now and then.

Just need to find one, in the UK, in budget and it in mint/unworn condition.

[CKQC]

drainbrain said:

There's a beauty of a virtually new 5940g on TZ's SC just now at £36k. Can't see you getting a better deal than that one.

Have PM'ed you! Thanks for thinking of me DB.

[CKQC]

Update, 5940 no longer available at TZforums, but sadly not due to a purchase by me. I was just a bit slow!

The 5205 is a nice watch and I tried it on (picture above on 22 August). Feels more like a sportswatch than an elegant Patek though. To me, that is...

[CKQC]

drainbrain said:

It is indeed and the op could have had it at the lower price if he'd responded to the email from the seller he requested to be put in touch with.

But as that seller said, "his loss".

Hi DB, I was very grateful to get in touch and I did. Unfortunately, the email went to my junk and I didn't see it till the next day. I hope I haven't offended you in any way, that was not my intention and thank you again.

Perhaps not the worst outcome in a way, as my preference is for a 5940J (not G, but I'd consider one if it was at a price I couldn't refuse).

Some lovely pictures here. http://www.watchprosite.com/page-wf.forumpost/fi-1...

Edited by CKQC on Saturday 4th November 20:18

[CKQC]

Quick question.

If I were to buy a watch in Germany and bring it into the UK, would there be duty to pay on it at customs? I would want to make the mistake of not factoring that in, or worse still, end up getting stopped at customs because I didn't know the rules.

My understanding is that you walk through the green channel as long as it is for yourself?

https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-e...

Edited by CKQC on Sunday 5th November 10:33

[CKQC]

Tresco said:

has been an interesting thread which I sense is genuine.

Thank you Tresco, it is a pity that you even had to say that. Good to see certain posters living up to the forum names though - fit for the toilet and not very bright indeed.

Nijius Maximus Nain said:

I'm hoping this whole thread wasn't just one big wind up (pun intended)....

Ha, pun appreciated.

As I have consistently done, I will ignore the "PH standard" jealous have-nots/pricks that infect this forum, but I'm happy to to answer your genuine question.

I have come close but still haven't bought. I bid on this watch http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/201... at Sothebys which showed me that these watches are potentially overpriced on the open market. I am biding my time till another one comes up at an auction or the open market has a price adjustment. Even with the buyer's premium, the watch is cheaper at auction by some way than the sellers on places on like Chrono24, let alone WoS. This particular watch had full papers, letters of authenticity and a further 16 month left on the warranty. It sold at USD 35,000 which was bang on the upper estimate (the price of USD 43,000 you see is the price with BP). It was a very useful exercise for me to see where the "true" value of a used watch lies.

I love these watches, but they are not popular (I can't understand what the obsession with the Nautilus is about, to the cost of any other PP), so the market will correct itself and the equilibrium price will eventually reflect supply and demand. I'm not going to be the mug who pays well over the odds, when I have evidence that these can be bought for less. In fact, a couple of (unauthorised) dealers have been in touch offering new watches at much reduced prices, so perhaps, the market correction is already underway. The PP 5040 is a similar shape and that is now trading at the £20k level. This is a superior watch, with a superior movement, but it is an indication that £60,000 new (and not much less used/old stock) doesn't seem to be holding up.

I'm not in a hurry to buy, because I want to "buy right", so I'll get there in time and will update when it happens. Some people on here have beenvery helpful.

This thread has been a great help in generally discussing thoughts with enthusiasts and settling on my choice of 5940.

Edited by CKQC on Tuesday 9th January 16:21

[CKQC]

PJ S said:

^
Maybe knock off another £2-3K to make up for no warranty remaining and cover the cost of a service in a year or two?

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/patekphilippe/quantieme...

Hi PJS. I've already examined this watch via a friend who lives in Geneve. Their price is their price even though it's rather scratched and could use a polish. "Real world" picture of the watch below. They weren't interested in negotiating, so I dropped it. I would have been open to it as all the papers checked out, but they aren't realistic with their price.

dimots said:

Hate to say it,. but you don't buy one of these for 'value', you buy it because you love it. If you buy to make money it will probably disappoint.

You can say the PP 5040 is a 'better' watch if you like, but it doesn't look as nice and it isn't as much in demand as a result.

I would say don't spend too long rationalising or you will inevitably end up concluding there's really no pojnt buying it at all

(Speaking as someone who has spent similar amounts in the past...and many times had to talk himself out of spending much more haha ;D).

Hi, I think you have missed my point, or maybe I haven't been very clear. I am not looking for an increase in value as I have no intention of selling it. However, this is a large sum of money to me (thought it may not be to others) and I see no reason for paying over the odds, when a little patience will see me right. I very much enjoy the research and the "hunt"! Also, I think the 5940 is the superior watch not the 5040.

Spumfry said:

Interesting thread, really hope you manage to find the right watch for you.
One question though, I'm genuinely curious, why ask the question on Pistonheads? Isn't that like joining Watchuseek and asking for advice on which hypercar to buy?

Thanks, very kind of you. I don't think I'm alone is saying there are a number of knowledgeable watch enthusiasts on this forum and some have contributed to this thread. I have found it informative and entertaining (!) as have others, so I would happily post here again. Aside from a couple of unusual sorts who offer no value (easily identified through the thread), I've been happy to hear the different views and have some thoughts answered.

Edited by CKQC on Tuesday 9th January 21:57

[CKQC]

dimots said:

I hope you find what you want, but whatever you do don’t let your head be turned by a ‘bargain’ that compromises what you really want! That’s the impression I got when you mentioned the 5040. As many people can testify buying something you didn’t really want is the best way to double the cost of acquiring what you DO want

Oh yes, we're completely in agreement here. My heart is quite set on a 5940. In a parallel universe I'd love a PP 5270, but I don't think I want to spend that much. I only mentioned the 5040 as a comparator for what an older PP of similar tonneau shape is worth today. It's nowhere near as nice as the 5940 to me.

dimots said:

drainbrain said:

A low-ish volume mass produced lowish cost nice-ish watch from a "hot" brand:

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/patekphilippe/-perpetua...

A connoisseur's concept of a "mega watch" made by a master. One of two:

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/201...

Top trolling you must be really pleased with that one.

Perhaps not exactly on point (tiny bit more expensive and a pocket watch), but not sure I'd say he was trolling. Certainly nowhere near the type of posts we had from toilet and not very bright on Monday.

drainbrain said:

If the OP seriously wants a 'mega watch' he needs to up the ante considerably and start looking at much smaller and more bespoke manufacturers. For example, a decent Roger Smith probably edges into mega-watch territory but is more likely to need £100k than £40k to commission.

40k for a watch is VERY mega for me. It's all relative. The 944 Turbo cabriolet I bought as my first car in 2005 for £10,000, was a mega-car to me then, at mega money!

PJ S said:

^ I don't think we need to quite venture into RJ Smith territory, let alone George Daniels, in order to achieve low volume HH pieces.
As I mentioned early on in this thread, pre-owned De Bethunes, Laurent Ferriers, Leroys, Bovets, Grönefeld Rementoire (new), and Girard–Perregeaux Triple Bridges, among others, will each provide a foot in the upper echelon of watchmaking.

Patek is Patek, and rightly or wrongly, their brand name affords them a retail price multiplier we recognise as 'cachet' — there's no getting away from that, and it's also part of the appeal.

Typically measured post from you PJS. I do understand that PP is what it is for a a lot reasons, including their marketing. I've only heard of a few of the watchmakers above, which is case in point. Ultimately for me, I absolutely love the look of the PP we're talking about. There is nothing else from the other watchmakers that I think looks as quietly elegant (to me). With regards to haute horoglogy, I am very unsophisticated and don't know nearly enough as some of you do. I think at that level it is about things like the movement etc, which I must confess is not the most important thing to me.

[CKQC]

Dimots, love to see some pictures if you can take the trouble, to show the version/points you have made in your post? Always interested to see how a design has evolved Why don't you think it's fully resolved? Friend has a 5270, which is just stunning in rose gold on him. It's a bigger watch than I would usually wear, but I tried it on and it was...

[CKQC]

A brief update with good news and bad news!

Through a friend, I have secured a deal on an unworn 2016 5940J at £36,500 which is about the cheapest I have come across a 5940 with the exception of the Sotheby's auction I referred to earlier.

The bad news is that the watch is in the US and I have insisted on a UK deal on UK soil for obvious reasons. That's possible, but may not be till next year when the dealer will travel to the UK.

So, come 2019 I will have a 5940 for sure, but in the meantime the search continues to see if I can get the same deal (or better!) here in the UK without having to wait so long.