Patek in need of service. Deal breaker?

[Zio Di Roma]

A big birthday looms and I am considering buying myself a present.

I quite fancy a Patek 5127R and have seen the one below. But it hasn't been serviced for 5 years and Patek's service interval is 5 years.

Would you be put off by the fact that the dealer has not had it serviced?

I haven't yet called to determine whether it is still available, by the way.

https://www.mjwatches.co.uk/modern-watches/137/cal...

[hilly10]

I would expect the watch to be serviced prior to sale, it’s not going to be cheap.

[Zio Di Roma]

hilly10 said:

I would expect the watch to be serviced prior to sale, it’s not going to be cheap.

It's about £800 I think.

I think what is going through my head is why the dealer hasn't done it and uplifted the price.

[hungry_hog]

For a 15k watch I would expect a service

And the fact the dealer hasn't bothered to send it off would be alarm bells for me I'm afraid

Would you spend 150k on a Ferrari without a service? In relative terms it's that level if not higher

looks like 1 bag for a service
https://www.patek.com/en/retail-service/services/s...

Edited by hungry_hog on Sunday 15th August 15:28

[EX51GE R]

hungry_hog said:

For that kind of money (I know it doesn't have a price but must be 20k+ I am guessing) I would expect a service

And the fact the dealer hasn't bothered to send it off would be alarm bells for me I'm afraid

Would you spend 150k on a Ferrari without a service? In relative terms it's that level if not higher

It does have a price, £14995.

[voram]

Zio Di Roma said:

I think what is going through my head is why the dealer hasn't done it and uplifted the price.

Agreed. MOT due next month the A/C just needs a re-gas.

[PH User]

£15k for that?!

[theclutch]

PH User said:

£15k for that?!

New to watches?

[gregs656]

I very much doubt it needs to be serviced. It’s 13 years old and has been serviced once at least. If it’s priced right it wouldn’t bother me.

[Zio Di Roma]

gregs656 said:

I very much doubt it needs to be serviced. It’s 13 years old and has been serviced once at least. If it’s priced right it wouldn’t bother me.

By contrast, one of our local shops has a 5227 that is (IIRC) 3 years old and it is for sale having been serviced by Patek and with a new strap.

[anonymous-user]

PH User said:

£15k for that?!

With you on that, it’s absurd.

[gregs656]

Zio Di Roma said:

gregs656 said:

I very much doubt it needs to be serviced. It’s 13 years old and has been serviced once at least. If it’s priced right it wouldn’t bother me.

By contrast, one of our local shops has a 5227 that is (IIRC) 3 years old and it is for sale having been serviced by Patek and with a new strap.

And I assume priced accordingly.

[Armitage.Shanks]

gregs656 said:

I very much doubt it needs to be serviced. It’s 13 years old and has been serviced once at least. If it’s priced right it wouldn’t bother me.

I agree. Then again I don't have my watches serviced unless there's an issue with them. The dealer may offer a 3rd party/in house service as part of the deal I doubt they will pay for PP to service it. See if they'll discount and then decide who/when it's serviced. It's not a complicated movement.

[HocusPocus]

I'd expect it to be PP serviced (ie Rhone Services at Chalfont St Peter) before sale with fresh strap. You then are totally assured it is genuine and meets PP OEM quality. Not cheap even for a watch without complications and will take several months. Lovely pieces though.

When I had a Calatrava serviced in 2019, it was £1325 plus £480 for a strap. Expect it to take 3-6 months for the service.

[romeodelta]

bulldong said:

PH User said:

£15k for that?!

With you on that, it’s absurd.

It's precious metal from a top tier watchmaker. What were you expecting?

It's the mass produced ones made from old exhausts for the same money, that don't make sense to me

[Zio Di Roma]

HocusPocus said:

I'd expect it to be PP serviced (ie Rhone Services at Chalfont St Peter) before sale with fresh strap. You then are totally assured it is genuine and meets PP OEM quality. Not cheap even for a watch without complications and will take several months. Lovely pieces though.

When I had a Calatrava serviced in 2019, it was £1325 plus £480 for a strap. Expect it to take 3-6 months for the service.

Perhaps it's the time element that put the dealer off servicing it.

[HocusPocus]

If you are at about that price point, look at some new Calatravas from an AD.

Alternatively keep an eye on the reputable auctions (ie those who check the lost/stolen registers and check authenticity) like Bonhams or Antiquorum to name just two. Even with buyer's premium you may make a saving on a box and papered piece, and then send it for servicing at Rhone Services via your local AD.

The PP obsessive passion in engineering and making the piece is easy to appreciate and enjoy on the wrist. One bit of life where you get what you pay for, IMO anyway.

[Zio Di Roma]

HocusPocus said:

If you are at about that price point, look at some new Calatravas from an AD.

Alternatively keep an eye on the reputable auctions (ie those who check the lost/stolen registers and check authenticity) like Bonhams or Antiquorum to name just two. Even with buyer's premium you may make a saving on a box and papered piece, and then send it for servicing at Rhone Services via your local AD.

The PP obsessive passion in engineering and making the piece is easy to appreciate and enjoy on the wrist. One bit of life where you get what you pay for, IMO anyway.

I don't like the 5227. It is too large for my tastes. I also like the crown guards on the 5127.

I suppose if the one in my OP is still available I could buy it on credit card and ship it to Rhone. If it's hooky or not quite right I can get my money back.

[HocusPocus]

http://www.leguidedesmontres.com/en/products-used/...

[anonymous-user]

Totally different view here. The service interval wouldn’t put me of at all. So long as watch is keeping good time, has a good power reserve and strong amplitude I wouldn’t have it serviced. I’d expect to get 20 years from a watch before going for a routine service and lube.

I am aware that this means some parts might need replacement that otherwise would not have done so had the watch been regularly lubed but, so what? They’ll be replaced if needed at the 20yr service.