dr.kol
11333
Thank you for your thoughts.
Oct 07, 2014,23:06 PM
It is true that with the price of a new PP annual calendar, it is possible to buy i.e. a nice collection of modern Rolexes. The price is, like you stated, one thing. The other one is (more as a question): how special the modern standard Patek movements actually are? Think about 324; what is really special about that? Is it somehow better or nicer that say a standard Rolex or JLC movement? It is at least different - hacking seconds are missing. According to my trusted watchmaker, there is really nothing special about cal. 324.
I have been contacted by two "grey dealers". They have offered me "quietly" new and wanted Patek references with xy% discount. So the special position of Patek is pretty much gone.
Vintage Patek is another story. I love them and whenever I find something really interesting, I jump on that. Something very special are ladies vintage watches: with those Patek really showed their skills and these watches are still affordable.
Nowadays the standard families of Patek movements are industrially made like any other movements - a bit more finished and decorated. The rarity is gone and with the "standard" watches Patek is like any other big-scale producer. Some of the Grand Complications are very different and still something to dream about. If the market in my industry will be as strong next year as it looks like at the moment, I will try to order a Minute Repeater.
I still love Patek watches. However, I start to see a bit clearer through the very clever marketing of Patek Philippe. My horizon is wider nowadays and I am at the moment considering again a nice VC and looking carefully at the offerings of Breguet.
Best, Kari
This message has been edited by small-luxury-world on 2014-10-08 01:06:04