Patek in need of service. Deal breaker?

[Zio Di Roma]

HocusPocus said:

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

What’s the point you’re making there? Value? When I’ve looked at chrono24 prices across the board are higher than that.

[HocusPocus]

I use that site as a value tracking resource for watches, I believe it includes auction prices. Only you can decide what value you attach to the watch you've seen, but research information could be a bargaining tool for discounting the PP service costs with a dealer.

Confirmation by PP of authenticity when purchasing from a non AD is probably just as important as conditioning the piece with a service. High end fake watches out there can be very good indeed (including plausible boxes and papers replicating genuine case and mechanism serial numbers), to the point that even some ADs find it hard to tell them from genuine articles. I was once told by an expert (who lectured ADs on fake spotting) that the speed of uptake by counterfeiters on Rolex design changes was astonishing.

Anyway when parting with chunky bits of cash for luxury items, I am a bit cautious. Using a credit card to create a DCS relationship covered by CCA protection sounds sensible. Good luck with the search for your halo watch.

[Zio Di Roma]

I’ve been thinking about this purchase a bit (a rose gold Patek, not that watch in particular).

I am a middle aged Caucasian chap and I am not sure if rose gold is well advised.

There is a white gold 5127 at a London dealer, but I have seen white gold Pateks looking quite dull and battered.

I wonder whether I am better off looking at watches from a maker that does stainless. I don’t want a Rolex, I have several and they aren’t special enough.

Any thoughts on this chaps please?

[gregs656]

I think rose gold looks great.

Maybe Lange?

I take it you are specifically looking for a dress watch?

[Zio Di Roma]

gregs656 said:

I think rose gold looks great.

Maybe Lange?

I take it you are specifically looking for a dress watch?

Gold looks great on dark skin. I am not white and tan easily, but I am definitely causasian.

Lange? They look a bit thick to me.

Yes, a dress watch with date function. No other complications.

[gregs656]

The Saxonia Date is thinner than the Calatrava you were looking at, I think, 9.6mm vs 11mm.

Vacheron do a couple of models. The Traditionelle is nice in white gold and thinner still.

[Zio Di Roma]

gregs656 said:

The Saxonia Date is thinner than the Calatrava you were looking at, I think, 9.6mm vs 11mm.

Vacheron do a couple of models. The Traditionelle is nice in white gold and thinner still.

I think it's the flat sided that put me off that sort of design.

[HocusPocus]

Zio Di Roma said:

I’ve been thinking about this purchase a bit (a rose gold Patek, not that watch in particular).

I am a middle aged Caucasian chap and I am not sure if rose gold is well advised.

There is a white gold 5127 at a London dealer, but I have seen white gold Pateks looking quite dull and battered.

Try looking for PP models with platinum cases. Serious collector pieces.

[Zio Di Roma]

HocusPocus said:

Try looking for PP models with platinum cases. Serious collector pieces.

I am not a massive fan of most Pateks, but I like the design of the 5127.

Here is an example of a used white gold one, starting to look rather dull. I have a Rolex Datejust in stainless and it still looks bright.

https://www.christies.com/features/Watches-Deconst...

[HocusPocus]

Zio Di Roma said:

HocusPocus said:

Try looking for PP models with platinum cases. Serious collector pieces.

I am not a massive fan of most Pateks, but I like the design of the 5127.

Here is an example of a used white gold one, starting to look rather dull. I have a Rolex Datejust in stainless and it still looks bright.

https://www.christies.com/features/Watches-Deconst...

Yup, the piece in that picture looks tired and unloved.

Watches are very personal items and people are attracted to different aspects. Splurge your wad on what gets your rocks off - but I agree the Calatravas are lovely pieces. I have a 5117J and love the unusual hobnail effect, but understand others rave about the shiny Breitlings and Rolexes which both leave me cold.

[Zio Di Roma]

HocusPocus said:

Zio Di Roma said:

HocusPocus said:

Try looking for PP models with platinum cases. Serious collector pieces.

I am not a massive fan of most Pateks, but I like the design of the 5127.

Here is an example of a used white gold one, starting to look rather dull. I have a Rolex Datejust in stainless and it still looks bright.

https://www.christies.com/features/Watches-Deconst...

Yup, the piece in that picture looks tired and unloved.

Watches are very personal items and people are attracted to different aspects. Splurge your wad on what gets your rocks off - but I agree the Calatravas are lovely pieces. I have a 5117J and love the unusual hobnail effect, but understand others rave about the shiny Breitlings and Rolexes which both leave me cold.

I like the 5117.

I've seen other white gold Pateks look similarly crap. If I am paying that kind of money, I want my watch to look smart, not like it was found on the beach after the tide went out.

I like Rolexes. I have several pre-bling models. But I hate that they are so common nowadays. In any restaurant we go to, Rolex is probably the most common watch. Hence considering the Patek - though I dislike their sports and fussier models.

[HocusPocus]

Zio Di Roma said:

I like the 5117.

I've seen other white gold Pateks look similarly crap. If I am paying that kind of money, I want my watch to look smart, not like it was found on the beach after the tide went out.

I like Rolexes. I have several pre-bling models. But I hate that they are so common nowadays. In any restaurant we go to, Rolex is probably the most common watch. Hence considering the Patek - though I dislike their sports and fussier models.

If you like the Calatrava, try on a Blancpain LeMan. I have a stainless steel cased chrono in my collection. Very subtle but nicely finished. Bought mine at the factory in Le Brassus.

[Green1man]

Obviously totally personal preference, but I find the Calatrava a bit old fashoned looking. Much prefer something like the Lange here: still elegant, and dressy enough if wanted but somewhat more modern looking and just as good finishing IMO as Patek.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Lange-Sohne-Saxonia-M...

Or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Lange-Sohne-Saxonia-M...


Or want something a bit more complicated (and expensive - but not too much more). These are lovely:-

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/alangesoehne/a-lange--s...

Edited by Green1man on Thursday 2nd September 21:49

[Zio Di Roma]

Green1man said:

Obviously totally personal preference, but I find the Calatrava a bit old fashoned looking. Much prefer something like the Lange here: still elegant, and dressy enough if wanted but somewhat more modern looking and just as good finishing IMO as Patek.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Lange-Sohne-Saxonia-M...

Or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Lange-Sohne-Saxonia-M...


Or want something a bit more complicated (and expensive - but not too much more). These are lovely:-

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/alangesoehne/a-lange--s...

Edited by Green1man on Thursday 2nd September 21:49

As I said, I don't like the flat sides of the AL&S models. I like the 5127 case shape.

[Oz83]

Zio Di Roma said:

I’ve been thinking about this purchase a bit (a rose gold Patek, not that watch in particular).

I am a middle aged Caucasian chap and I am not sure if rose gold is well advised.

There is a white gold 5127 at a London dealer, but I have seen white gold Pateks looking quite dull and battered.

I wonder whether I am better off looking at watches from a maker that does stainless. I don’t want a Rolex, I have several and they aren’t special enough.

Any thoughts on this chaps please?

I know you said that Rolex aren't special enough, but what about a Cellini?

I never considered them until I tried and handled one in person. IMO the dial work is stunning, and the fine, fluted bezel brings something extra to a dress watch, that are normally quite formal. Ok you don't get a nicely decorated movement but they make up for that on price and by being tough as nails and easier to service.

Just a thought :-)

[Zio Di Roma]

Having given further thought to the Patek, I am wondering whether a gold watch is fundamentally a bad idea. Not only is the purchase price much higher, they are soft and become dinged.

I am wondering now about a JLC Master Control in 37mm.

Any opinions on these? I’ve never had a JLC.

[Hereward]

The JLC is lovely but impossible to see the hands in dim light.



My 5115 for comparison:

[Zio Di Roma]

The 5127 would be similarly tricky wouldn’t it?

[Chessers]

I have a 5227G (white gold) and love it, very elegant, fits under the cuff and just looks very classic (in my opinion).

Much preferred to my other pieces.

[Zio Di Roma]

Chessers said:

I have a 5227G (white gold) and love it, very elegant, fits under the cuff and just looks very classic (in my opinion).

Much preferred to my other pieces.

I like the 5227, but prefer the 5127. I am not a fan of big watches and 39mm is big for a dress watch.