The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[bigbadbuff]

Pairing precious metals with rubber straps, reminds me fancy restaurants that try to pair exotic foods with ordinary foods. Sometimes I can't tell if the idea is to elevate something ordinary or to make something fancy seem more casual, but often the end result is merely a pretentious mess.

Case in point, pm Daytonas on OysterFlex.

 

[bigbadbuff]

Not looking to sell a watch, but I'm curious as to the consensus on what % grey market dealers pocket for watches they sell on consignment.

Depends on if it's a B&M or online. Online greys typically buy it outright, no consignment.

 

[Thin White Duke]

i'll just note that the guy is wearing a tweed-ish suit with a sweatshirt draped over the shoulders nantucket-style. yes it is all very editorial (that bokeh!) but on the street i dunno.

Ex SF regular Phat Guido was a regular customer of P Johnson and he used to that ridiculous thing with the sweater too. I don’t know which one of them started it but I wish they hadn’t bothered.

 

[benf]

This watch (Patek 5522A) was launched during the Patek NY exhibition in July. LE of 600 pieces, available in the US only. MSRP was 21k.

Deets:
SS, 42mm dial

There’re now *3 listings on Chrono24 with asking prices ranging between $49k to $75k. That’s a markup of 130% to 250% for a 600 pcs LE.

Is this a case of
- irrational exuberance
- free market
- Trump trade
- all of the above?

 

[bdavro23]

This watch (5522A) was launched during the Patek NY exhibition in July. LE of 600 pieces, available in the US only. Price $21k.

There’re *3 listings on Chrono24 with asking prices ranging between $49k to $75k.

Is this a case of
- irrational exuberance
- free market
- Trump trade
- all of the above?

View attachment 856461

Patek makes some undeniably gorgeous watches and I would love to add one or more to my collection. This one however, is not one of them. In fact, I would honestly rather wear this:

 

[Dino944]

This watch (5522A) was launched during the Patek NY exhibition in July. LE of 600 pieces, available in the US only. Price $21k.

There’re *3 listings on Chrono24 with asking prices ranging between $49k to $75k.

Is this a case of
- irrational exuberance
- free market
- Trump trade
- all of the above?

View attachment 856461

Its a matter of matter of speculation and a free market. Patek doesn't offer a large selection of watches in steel, this is a limited edition, and dealers, gray dealers, and flippers know there are people who will spend crazy money on watches just because it has the Patek name on the dial, so they are taking advantage of it's limited supply (and potential buyers). Personally, I don't find it attractive, and for more than its MSRP, but far less than what speculators are seeking, I'd rather have a Calatrava in gold or platinum or some other watch.

 

[pmeis]

This watch (5522A) was launched during the Patek NY exhibition in July. LE of 600 pieces, available in the US only. Price $21k.

There’re *3 listings on Chrono24 with asking prices ranging between $49k to $75k.

Is this a case of
- irrational exuberance
- free market
- Trump trade
- all of the above?

View attachment 856461

I actually like this one enough (the look, not as a Patek) that it sent me off on a hunt for other simple time only watches with applied lumed Arabic numerals. For some reason this is not a popular style/feature choice. Didn't really find anything that I liked. I found plenty of applied Arabic dials, plenty of applied lumed stick dials, but almost none with applied Arabic and luminant and what I did find I didn't like the font choice.

 

[BLAUGRANA]

Depends on if it's a B&M or online. Online greys typically buy it outright, no consignment.

Thanks. I'm actually seeing quite a few on consignment and I'm very curious as to the cut the grey dealers are taking. I'm guessing something like 20%, but I'm not really sure.

 

[double00]

they might work a sliding scale. 15% can get expensive quick. having consigned some not-cheap guitars lately i also found that there is often lots of wiggle room so negotiation seems very possible as well.

 

[Keith T]

^ Yeah, I agree with you and could not justify such a purchase. But it does look kinda cool, in the way the newish Yacht-Master in gold looks hip, too. I think I would quickly tire of the look and hence prefer a gold watch to have a leather strap.

Would rather have the Yacht-Master in gold myself-- or the Aquanaut, rather than a comparable Hublot on rubber strap. But that's just me personally.

Here's another gratuitous wrist shot from one of my visits to the AD. (Did not buy LOL). But I honestly thought it had a warm look, a weighty "precious metal" heft, and was also quite impressed with the strap, although I'm sure Rolex is somewhat overstating all of the research and technological advancements that it's supposed to represent.

View media item 2292014

 

[Dino944]

Would rather have the Yacht-Master in gold myself-- or the Aquanaut, rather than a comparable Hublot on rubber strap. But that's just me personally.

Here's another gratuitous wrist shot from one of my visits to the AD. (Did not buy LOL). But I honestly thought it had a warm look, a weighty "precious metal" heft, and was also quite impressed with the strap, although I'm sure Rolex is somewhat overstating all of the research and technological advancements that it's supposed to represent.

View media item 2292014

I'd rather have any Rolex than an Hublot period. However, perhaps if any brand should be purchased on a rubber strap, it would be Hublot as they basically invented the concept with their first collection of watches back in the early 1980s.

I like the look of a rose gold watch with a black dial. However, in the photo you posted, it basically looks like a large black plastic watch. Yes, I can see some of the lugs and a bit of the crown, but you really can't see much of the rose gold. Sure, from other angles one will see more gold. For example if looking at it from the side or the case back you will see more gold, but realistically, looking down upon it is the view one typically has of the watch when its being worn. IMHO, its a lot of money for a lot of rubber.

 

[Keith T]

Pretty much agree with you Dino, and that's leaving aside the cringe-y moniker which has been discussed before as well Ahoy, skipper!

So this is probably a whole 'nother tangent, but for better or worse, I'd have to say that Hublot has been quite influential in terms of what's viewed as "popular" by the non-WIS crowd over the last 5-10 years.

The gold / rubber thing isn't necessarily new, as you've pointed out. Yet for that huge portion of the watch buying public that's just picking up whatever quartz piece at the mall, or something that catches their eye on Amazon....there's a whole lotta stuff getting snapped up that's at least vaguely Hublot-ish.

 

[Keith T]

I actually like this one enough (the look, not as a Patek) that it sent me off on a hunt for other simple time only watches with applied lumed Arabic numerals. For some reason this is not a popular style/feature choice. Didn't really find anything that I liked. I found plenty of applied Arabic dials, plenty of applied lumed stick dials, but almost none with applied Arabic and luminant and what I did find I didn't like the font choice.

Curious if you happened to catch Alpina's version. Bit of a mashup with Arabic / horizontal? sticks...but of course would retail at a mere fraction of the Patek.

http://alpinawatches.com/baselworld-spotlight-alpinas-new-startimer-pilot-automatic/

Also, shout out to whoever posted the Hamilton Khaki

 

[pmeis]

Curious if you happened to catch Alpina's version. Bit of a mashup with Arabic / horizontal? sticks...but of course would retail at a mere fraction of the Patek.

http://alpinawatches.com/baselworld-spotlight-alpinas-new-startimer-pilot-automatic/

Also, shout out to whoever posted the Hamilton Khaki

That's about as close as you'll see, though this is 44mm and I don't particularly care for the font choice.

 

[TheWraith]

I find gold watches with rubber straps are working too hard to be something they're not.

+1 and that descriptive is also accurate for the gentleman in the photo wearing said watch, I feel.