Sealed watches and shipping boxes.

Jul 12, 2017,05:43 AM
 

Never in my life could I have imagined so much conversation about this.  The watch, itself is seemingly lost in this myriad of controversy.

The shipping boxes are a wonderful idea and having the watches sealed is as well, serving their intended purpose to protect their contents.

If someone buys the watch from someone other than the authorized dealer, it must be considered to be pre-owned and I suspect everyone here is very much aware of that fact.  As such, whether the watch is sealed or not, the condition of the watch is a factor that the buyer must judge themselves.  What is the difference between a sealed watch and one unsealed if they have never been worn but have found themselves in the secondary market?  Maybe a sealed watch gives the buyer a sense of security but it has not in the least changed the fact that is pre-owned.

I would think this move may be directed to those AD's, who knowingly or not, feed the grey market.  The plastic and the shipping box directive is not much of a deterrent.  Maybe Patek should look much closer at their own dealers for the answer.

I understand their motives but I think there are other alternatives to address the real problem.  

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Looks like times of sealed and double sealed PP is over

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-03:38
News or rumor is that after 1st of July PP ordered firmly to all retailers to open brown box and cut plastic when selling watches and not give any more brown cardboard boxes to customers. No more double or single sealed PP! I just took few random shots fr...  

This is not a rumor.

 
 By: Pretty Boy : July 7th, 2017-03:48
This is what ADs are obliged to do, i.e. to unwrap any watch when it is handed over to the customer. The problem is that not all ADs comply with these rules, and I guess this will continue.

Maybe but info is that Patek said

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-03:53
β€œAll pieces found in a cardboard box or plastic bag after July 1st, 2017 will be view as a fault.” So maybe it will not continue? Cheers D

Absolutely the right decision.

 
 By: keks : July 7th, 2017-03:56
Whether dealers will comply or now time will tell. But it will be very easy to trace down who is not complying and selling sealed pieces.... so question is what the consequences will be for those. Fewer allocations perhaps? Slap on the wrist? Or just a si... 

A PP rape 😱 (which is almost an anagram of wrap πŸ˜‰).

 
 By: Alkiro1 : July 7th, 2017-03:58
Without joking, I think PP collectors should be angry about this decision. Best wishes Alkiro

Why?

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-04:28
If true collectors then plastic is no...if flipper plastic yes

Like me, you know that some PP collectors own the same model in different metals. One to wear and the other ones to keep in the safe and speculate ☹️

 
 By: Alkiro1 : July 7th, 2017-04:40
So such a decision could have an impact may be for them and few others. From my side I don't care... I prefer to wear my watches 😁 Best wishes Alkiro

I'm torn on that

 
 By: crown comfort : July 7th, 2017-04:08
on the one hand I feel sorry for every PP that needs to live a life in a plastic bag. on the other hand, I don't like the potential arrogance behind this move.

See your reasoning

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-04:28
But just don't like plastic

I think it's a good move.

 
 By: nafetS : July 7th, 2017-04:21
It's definitely better, than the decision to put the name and address of the buyer into the papers. This new rule is reglementing the dealers, not the buyers. You could of course argument, that this also has an effect on buyers, but only on those gambling... 

Good point! [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-04:27

I actually wonder, why there's not more people having a problem with their address on the certificate.

 
 By: nafetS : July 7th, 2017-04:54
It's definitely holding me back from buying new PP at the moment. Buying a watch to wear it does not mean, that you'll keep it for your whole life and would you want to have your name and address floating around, basically telling people: there's money to... 

People forget it's a transport case. Intended to transport the watch from manufacture to authorized dealer where it should be opened and transferred to the presentation case upon sale.

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : July 7th, 2017-04:33
In the world of internet many dealers sold without the client even coming to the store and hence they shipped the watch to them in the transport case. It was never intended to be a symbol of s "mint" watch like an investment. Now what does it mean regarde... 

Buying a watch to wear that's it.

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-04:37
As for internet maybe they start use bubble wraps to ship PP

glad that patek is putting an end to this horrific practice...

 
 By: christianch : July 7th, 2017-04:42
I hope that the AD that keeps doing this will be punished accordingly!

It was something "unique" to PP

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-04:44
Not in good sense for me Cheers D

It is certainly true

 
 By: rnaden : July 7th, 2017-04:45
My AD has told me that and the beauty is that I can actually see a watch in the metal instead of trying to imagine it on my wrist while it is wrapped in plastic and in a box!

Lol like your response! [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-05:40

The whole story about "sealed" and "double sealed" is pi...ng me off!

 
 By: dr.kol : July 7th, 2017-05:11
These boxes were not supposed to be any kind of seal - just plain transportation packages. It was speculators and grey dealers who created the myth of "sealed". For me there are unused and used watches. If one is not bling, it's easy to see if the watch i... 

Thanks for input Kari

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 7th, 2017-05:41
Much appreciated Best D

It has been my understanding for a few years now that AD's were supposed to cut the seal.

 
 By: Miles_151 : July 7th, 2017-05:52
With all my watches this is certainly the case. I think it should be the case as anyone who does not wear a Patek and won't open it does not deserve one. I have also heard rumours that on "special application" watches the AD will be keeping the paper work... 

In UK Rhone keeps for 2 years [nt]

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : July 7th, 2017-06:20

On what????

 
 By: Miles_151 : July 7th, 2017-06:46
M.

Are you sure???

 
 By: Miles_151 : July 7th, 2017-07:05
M.

Yes only on that one.

 
 By: Miles_151 : July 7th, 2017-10:04
M.

Plastic is worhtless

 
 By: watch-er : July 7th, 2017-06:46
A watch in plastic in a box is utterly useless except as to flippers as a poster here said. Shame on Patek ADs for not complying with Patek's long standing rules of delivery. PP has only itself to blame for the flipping of watches sealed and in boxes unop... 

Errr..

 
 By: Chimaera : July 7th, 2017-07:02
You know my views on this as a matter of principle. But there is another reason too: anyone taking delivery of something expensive & hand made wrapped in plastic and then in a box with a tiny window HAS MORE INTEREST IN THE BOX THAN THE CONTENTS. How on e... 

....and more of naked ones ;) :) [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:06

Here is a Rebus for all watch experts...

 
 By: christianch : July 7th, 2017-11:17
how are watches from other brands e.g. Rolex, JLC, AP transported to the AD ? Do they have a similar sealed status ?

Bubble wraps ;) [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:06

Who cares about plastic and cardboard?

 
 By: Arie - Mr Orange : July 7th, 2017-11:38
It's about the watch isn't it?

For some obviously yes or not ;) [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:06

Easy Answer to the box/plastic problem

 
 By: drphileasfogg : July 7th, 2017-12:23
1-Put a barcode on the box ( possibly extend to the second plastic seal) 2-Upon purchase return the box to Patek headquarter in Geneva (AD is responsible for it) 3- Upon receipt Patek enable the warranty, only done if come with an AD ID tag/ declaration, ... 

or the distributors could open the boxes

 
 By: watch-er : July 7th, 2017-14:48
and ditch the junk in NY or where else they are located just sending ADs the watch in the presentation box as the AD is suppose to ship to customers. Why didn't they think of that. A big reason for the shipping boxes is lots of watch can be stored in a re... 

Indeed [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:07

There are very legitimate reasons why a collector who is buying a brand new Patek solely for his/her personal use would want it to come factory single sealed inside the shipping box.

 
 By: patekova : July 7th, 2017-17:36
1) Since the watch is factory sealed, there is zero chance of it getting scratched because of being handled by others. I once once bought a 5070 and the AD insisted on unsealing the watch. I instructed the sales person to ship it flat in a long box so it ... 

I completely agree with this. The behavior of a group of grey market dealers and buyers doesn't demonstrate cause or establish proof of a problem.

 
 By: 5980 : July 8th, 2017-00:39
If a buyer prefers to receive his/her watch sealed, whether for the pleasure of placing first fingerprints, for later unveiling, or for permanent storage, that decision is his/hers alone. The "problem" is being mis-attributed to some silly plastic wrap or... 

You as I don't have

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:05
much fate in humanity my friend Seriously some truly valid points you made Thanks for joining the discussion Cheers D

Ha. Just been around the collection circuit - watches, cars, etc - a few times.

 
 By: 5980 : July 8th, 2017-09:44
I'll wrap myself in plastic wrap when I see the solution which creates a perfect, liquid market for "true" collectors only, free of the bastard flippers πŸ˜‰

All your points are spot on!

 
 By: patekova : July 8th, 2017-09:16
We live in a free market World without borders. It's not going away and there are many benefits overall, including for Patek. The relative ease of selling or trading a watch for whatever reason generally leads to more purchases of Pateks.

What about other brands then?

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:11
Do collectors of other brands just care less than PP collectors? Although I can completely understand your reasoning Cheers D

Had they never

 
 By: watch-er : July 8th, 2017-05:43
let the watches go sealed you would not even know or care about the boxes. A PP created problem. I agree with you, as you have done so ably, a compelling argument can be made to let the sealed watches continue to go out. A further point, also that if the ... 

Watches delivered without the transport boxes

 
 By: jon_jon : July 7th, 2017-18:26
I like the transport boxes and the plastic wrapper for protecting the watch when I am not wearing it. It is easy to store them in a bank safety deposit box that way. However I can understand Patek Philippe's concern over the single sealed and double seale... 

Breathe with me as Prodigy said ;)

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:12
Thanks for chiming in Sincerely D

for plenty simple reasons

 
 By: ch9698 : July 8th, 2017-03:56
it's finallly THE idea

So you are happy ;) [nt]

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 8th, 2017-05:12

yes very

 
 By: ch9698 : July 8th, 2017-05:21
it's fare

And now

 
 By: TS1987 : July 9th, 2017-15:08
auction prices for double sealed will increase.

Again I concur

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 9th, 2017-15:31
Cheers D

How much is the air from

 
 By: TS1987 : July 10th, 2017-03:39
Plan les Ouates worth? I suspect as much as hen's teeth or unicorn hair?

I tend to think it is good news

 
 By: Mark in Paris : July 9th, 2017-15:57
but no sure of the strong impact in the end for me. Personally, I wouldn't pay a premium for a sealed one and would buy a standard excellent condition version for instance (I know other people might feel otherwise of course). I'm not sure that such carboa... 

Agreed Patek deserves nice wooden box

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 10th, 2017-01:19
for each and every reference. We are here to help and support each other no need to thank me...sharing is caring Cheers D

Excellent thread Damian.....

 
 By: watercolors : July 10th, 2017-12:26
I agree with many points and decided that I would not mind my name on a car purchase from a dealership, why it would be different with a luxury watch certificate ? For security reasons as well as warranty purposes if nothing else. I also think a paying cu... 

Sealed watches and shipping boxes.

 
 By: whit : July 12th, 2017-05:43
Never in my life could I have imagined so much conversation about this. The watch, itself is seemingly lost in this myriad of controversy. The shipping boxes are a wonderful idea and having the watches sealed is as well, serving their intended purpose to ...