Which modern Calatrava holds its value best?

[Silver Bullet]

Thread title says it all ...

[codecow]

5522

[Silver Bullet]

Originally Posted by codecow

5522

Haha. I don’t consider it a Calatrava.

[KarlS]

Originally Posted by Silver Bullet

Haha. I don’t consider it a Calatrava.

But it is as is the 5524

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by codecow

5522

it is.

It always confused me that the 5524 also a calatrava is listed as a "complication" and not a calatrava by patek dispite calatrava in the name, but the 5164 is listed with the rest of the aquanauts and not with the complications dispite having the exact same functions.

Maybe the gold makes it more complicated vs ss

[Silver Bullet]

Originally Posted by KarlS

But it is as is the 5524

I’m not going to argue and will concede that If Patek calls them Calatravas, then they are, but I want to know which modern-day, round, Patek, precious metal, time-only (+/- date) dress watch holds value best.

[jon_jon]

SS Calatrava

[codecow]

Ok I’ll go with 5116 due to the relative rarity but I have no clue.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Silver Bullet

I want to know which modern-day, round, Patek, precious metal, time-only (+/- date) dress watch holds value best.

Over what period of time?

[ap1]

I don’t think these typically hold, like all of them

[Silver Bullet]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Over what period of time?

Well, I’m not asking anybody to look into their crystal ball and predict which will hammer for millions in 80 years.

I’m more interested in which I might lose the least if I buy new from AD and may want to sell a few years down the road (1-10yrs, say).

I really have no idea and my sense is that they all depreciate considerably.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Silver Bullet

Well, I’m not asking anybody to look into their crystal ball and predict which will hammer for millions in 80 years.

I’m more interested in which I might lose the least if I buy new from AD and may want to sell a few years down the road (1-10yrs, say).

I really have no idea and my sense is that they all depreciate considerably.

Damn, poor OP has asked three times for a serious answer. I wish I had one, but I'm just here posing as a potential Patek Philippe purchaser.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Silver Bullet

Well, I’m not asking anybody to look into their crystal ball and predict which will hammer for millions in 80 years.

I’m more interested in which I might lose the least if I buy new from AD and may want to sell a few years down the road (1-10yrs, say).

I really have no idea and my sense is that they all depreciate considerably.

Then if you may want to sell in 1-10 years, it sounds like you should not buy the watch.

[KarlS]

You will take a bath on all of them and in 10 years you shouldn't worry whether it's $1000 either way between .models. Buy what you like it's a watch not an investment

[Passionata]

I like 5227R the most but who cares what i like

[MoosicPa]

Not counting the 5522a, of the modern, current production Calatrava's I would guess the 5227.

[Silver Bullet]

Originally Posted by KarlS

You will take a bath on all of them and in 10 years

Thanks, that's what I thought . . .

[gccmd]

I have no idea about how the value will be in the future but I would choose the 5196 for its heritage. It’s basically the modern version of the original Calatrava 96.

[s.m.b.]

Originally Posted by gccmd

I have no idea about how the value will be in the future but I would choose the 5196 for its heritage. It’s basically the modern version of the original Calatrava 96.

This is what drew me toward the 5196G. It's the closest thing to a 96 and a 570. I actually love the non exhibition caseback... I know, I'm weird. As for longterm value, I doubt it'll ever be worth more than the price of admission.

[GB-man]

Ignoring 5522A none.

6006g-001 & 5296g-010 are the coolest though. Buy one of them.

[jimglazer]

Buy a preowned 5196 or 5296 with box and papers. You can find many extremely clean examples for sale if you look around You will break even if you don’t like it in the short run and over time it will appreciate modestly most likely.

[Silver Bullet]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Then if you may want to sell in 1-10 years, it sounds like you should not buy the watch.

Non sequitur.

[MoosicPa]

Originally Posted by s.m.b.

This is what drew me toward the 5196G. It's the closest thing to a 96 and a 570. I actually love the non exhibition caseback... I know, I'm weird. As for longterm value, I doubt it'll ever be worth more than the price of admission.

I agree, that's why I went with both the 5196g and 5196p.....


044 by

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by jimglazer

Buy a preowned 5196 or 5296 with box and papers. You can find many extremely clean examples for sale if you look around You will break even if you don’t like it in the short run and over time it will appreciate modestly most likely.

^^^This a sensible approach IMO.

As other have noted, the traditional Calatrava doesn't hold its value well. It's sad really, as these were the watches that built Patek's reputation decades before anyone ever dreamed of the luxury sports watch.

Who knows what collectors will fancy in the years to come. Perhaps a return to traditional dress watches bolsters the demand for these Calatravas and you'll be rewarded for your good taste.

At present any Calatrava purchased new at MSRP will take a substantial hit on resale. The Achilles heel of the 5196 in particular is its undersized movement which has been commented on many times. Eventually Patek will step up and manufacture an appropriate sized movement for their flagship Calatrava and not feel compelled to hide it behind a solid caseback.

I would also look at the 5120. It's recently discontinued but still readily available, and powered but the cal 240 - the same movement used in many of their high end complications. There may be others in the current lineup with the cal 240 and I'd look at those as well.

Movements are important to collectors, as much as the face, and anything powered by the cal 215 is already hopelessly outdated. I'd love to see a new 5196 with an updated manual wind movement designed for the modern Calatrava, but that would further devalue the existing model.

TL/DR version: Don't buy a Calatrava at MSRP with any hopes of retaining more tha 50% residual value when you sell, but don't let that discourage you from enjoying the watch. Over 10 years it's just the cost of ownership.

[justdate]

They aren’t great for value retention, but I’d rather ‘lose’ $7k over a few years on a watch I love than lose $3k on a watch I wasn’t that crazy about. With luxury items it only makes sense if you love it, so find the one you like best and do plenty of research to find the best deal you possibly can.

[The B]

Originally Posted by Tony64

^^^This a sensible approach IMO.

As other have noted, the traditional Calatrava doesn't hold its value well. It's sad really, as these were the watches that built Patek's reputation decades before anyone ever dreamed of the luxury sports watch.

Who knows what collectors will fancy in the years to come. Perhaps a return to traditional dress watches bolsters the demand for these Calatravas and you'll be rewarded for your good taste.

At present any Calatrava purchased new at MSRP will take a substantial hit on resale. The Achilles heel of the 5196 in particular is its undersized movement which has been commented on many times. Eventually Patek will step up and manufacture an appropriate sized movement for their flagship Calatrava and not feel compelled to hide it behind a solid caseback.

I would also look at the 5120. It's recently discontinued but still readily available, and powered but the cal 240 - the same movement used in many of their high end complications. There may be others in the current lineup with the cal 240 and I'd look at those as well.

Movements are important to collectors, as much as the face, and anything powered by the cal 215 is already hopelessly outdated. I'd love to see a new 5196 with an updated manual wind movement designed for the modern Calatrava, but that would further devalue the existing model.

TL/DR version: Don't buy a Calatrava at MSRP with any hopes of retaining more tha 50% residual value when you sell, but don't let that discourage you from enjoying the watch. Over 10 years it's just the cost of ownership.

I agree with these sentiments with a slight caveat, watch collectors are sometimes known to over romanticise the past when an long running benchmark is replaced - the interest may swing the other way - not likely in this case but possible. Also, I feel the 5196p is what I would buy as the platinum and Breguet often have the most interest.

That being said, even limited production and geographically constrained Calatravas like the SS for the Japan market years ago does not do well in the secondary market.

[Calatrava r]

The 5127 series seem to have held up fairly well.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by codecow

5522

agree 100%

[skippy1416]

Originally Posted by The B

I agree with these sentiments with a slight caveat, watch collectors are sometimes known to over romanticise the past when an long running benchmark is replaced - the interest may swing the other way - not likely in this case but possible. Also, I feel the 5196p is what I would buy as the platinum and Breguet often have the most interest.

That being said, even limited production and geographically constrained Calatravas like the SS for the Japan market years ago does not do well in the secondary market.

I agree that the 5196P would be the best bet (for the reasons you mention).

I don’t understand why the Japanese SS with enamel dial hasn’t done well. Too small I guess. Although small it is a beautiful watch in a rare combo.

[enjoythemusic]

Apply to buy a special enamel dial Calatrava. That would be your best bet imho as other modern models are simply too common.