What next?

[Wuls]

Apologies if this is the wrong part of the forum or it’s a big yawn. I started collecting about 5 years ago - now with a WG Lange 1, Black Overseas, FPJ Chronometre 38mm, a Czapek Antartique on order and a Pelagos 39 for the real world we live in.

Lucky as I am I feel like I’m obviously missing a Patek at least. 7.25 wrist. What would you add with a budget of $150k. I lean smarter and simple but is it really Daytona, RO territory now or should I be looking at a perpetual or annual calendar now?

Many thanks

[bp1000]

Default answer, but thats a lot of money and you have to spend it on what you like. So have a look and see what works for you.

I love my Daytonas but there is a very big difference between them and a PP,PC/PCC

150k would probably get you a very nice 5320 and a 5170 or a 5270.

[Vasco]

It's a wide question but I would say that a part of high-end traditional watches' appeal is in the finishing, level of complication and some (important) details. If you don't know about complications and don't "realize" the difference in finishing, where to look at, having elements to compare with, you maybe won't get the full pleasure of what you pay for.

This comes with experience, hence by visiting several ADs (different brands) and learning a minimum about the complications (QP, chronograph...).

If just knowing you have a nice watch (on many levels) is enough to you for a starter, then you can also choose to go for a Patek of you choice and still be "proud" or just happy to possess such watch. You'll then have time on the long run to discover it in details.

With the Lange and FPJ, you have a very nice base as a point of reference (I started with Lange too).

My choice would be to go and visit 3 or 4 ADs and say that you don't know what you want in that budget, they'll show you an array of very different models and I think it can help you a lot. A Nautilus (but first time buyer is tough for this watch nowadays if you don't go grey) or a Chrongoraph, a QP or a second-hand 5270 (chrono-QP) could be very nice. However, as you mentioned, there is a lot to get in the below-100K watches (5230 World Time, 5326G Travel Time + AC, 5930, 5205G Blue, etc...). You can hence start with an AC or WT and in the future "switch" to QP or Chrongoraph for instance (or else).

[Wuls]

Thanks - these are very helpful pointers. On Patek, I have found them and their ADs (at least in South East of UK) unengaging, versus my experience with Lange and Vacheron. A strange old world we live in.

[bp1000]

Patek AD's are like this because they are finding it very hard to take on new customers without saying so.

They get just a few watches per month vs the 20+ watches a small rolex AD would get. Its very hard for them to service the demand and to be honest quite a lot of them try to push ladies watches with the promise of a leg up the list but in reality you'll still be waiting up to 1+ year for a simple Calatrava in some cases.

[Benzsiam]

One of PP Nautilus would be good for you if you like it. It would be impossible to get it at MSRP, so you need to acquire from the secondary market. I think 5712r with full bracelet would be good.

[codecow]

If you want to spend the whole budget you should get a perpetual chronograph, however you won’t be able to buy a new one for that.

So if you want new, maybe a manual chronograph.

I’m not a fan of calendar complications personally but perpetual chrono is “the” GC that I associate with Patek.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by Wuls

Thanks - these are very helpful pointers. On Patek, I have found them and their ADs (at least in South East of UK) unengaging, versus my experience with Lange and Vacheron. A strange old world we live in.

Do you have to buy new from AD or is preowned welcome as well?

Key criteria for me are (subjective) good looks and comfort (both on my 6.6 inch wrist). I am also often leaning towards simplicity rather than complexity when it comes to watches.

Long story short, I'd get a pair of 3940P and 5711/1A blue. The 3940 is a well loved classic and for many the best modern Patek PC there is (one might consider it neo-vintage by now) and the 5711/1A is a great choice for a simple can-do-it-all sports watch that looks good and wears incredibly well. Instead of the 5711 you could also go 5167A or R, 5164A, or 5712/1A. My second best alternative for the 3940P would be a 5110P WT (and the current 5230P is pretty as well if you want to buy new from AD). Any of those pairs should be within or not much north of your 150k budget.

You could of course get a PCC instead of a PC/WT + sports pair but personally I'd not get enough wear out of the PCC. Especially the current 5270 don't look all that good in my eyes and they are also a little large for my wrist.

[vitalsigns]

What a nice budget to be working with.

For quintessential Patek, the PCC 5270 is hard to beat.

If you want to go popular and sporty, then a stainless 5712/1A via grey market.

Those are the two that I would be targeting if a single Patek and that budget were on my list of criteria.

[Wuls]

Interesting. Does know one feel the 5711/5712 and an Overseas (and a Czapek soon) is a bit overkill in the SS Sports segment?

And to the question on pre-owned vs AD - not particularly, though it seems a shame to spend this kind of money without a future relationship in the years to come.

Is the 5172 a compromise between the 5270 and other non-grand complications?

[Coolcamden]

Originally Posted by vitalsigns

What a nice budget to be working with.

For quintessential Patek, the PCC 5270 is hard to beat.

If you want to go popular and sporty, then a stainless 5712/1A via grey market.

Those are the two that I would be targeting if a single Patek and that budget were on my list of criteria.

Absolutely my picks too.

[Coolcamden]

Originally Posted by Wuls

Interesting. Does know one feel the 5711/5712 and an Overseas (and a Czapek soon) is a bit overkill in the SS Sports segment?

And to the question on pre-owned vs AD - not particularly, though it seems a shame to spend this kind of money without a future relationship in the years to come.

Is the 5172 a compromise between the 5270 and other non-grand complications?

The 5172 is not a compromise to anything. The movement is pure gold, the thinness is impressive, the dial color is spell binding.

For 150, if I were you, I’d get the 5712 WG and 5172 via grey and rest assure you have the best prior to reaching for the stratosphere.

[namelesswatchguy]

Obviously agree with the advice to really get educated on what’s up there. Just looking at your collection, you have all time only right now. if you are happy with the overseas as your single sport model, I would go complication, the 5172 is the perfect manual wound dress chronograph, or get a QP or even 5270. But you seem to gravitate towards the iconic design of each brand, in which case a 5711 can’t miss.


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[codecow]

Originally Posted by namelesswatchguy

Obviously agree with the advice to really get educated on what’s up there. Just looking at your collection, you have all time only right now. if you are happy with the overseas as your single sport model, I would go complication, the 5172 is the perfect manual wound dress chronograph, or get a QP or even 5270. But you seem to gravitate towards the iconic design of each brand, in which case a 5711 can’t miss.


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Damn! What watch is that? He should get that one haha.

[Humble michael]

Well I have 7 PP and the one that I wear more than all the others is my 5711 A white . Such an Iconic piece , love the thinness and comfort . I also have Audemars Royal Oak and of course several Rolexes and 2 Vacherons and 2 Piaget Constantine’s . Have to tell you none are as fun as the 5711.
Get one and you will throw stones at all the others , ha ! JMO

[Ichiran]

AP26331 since the price has "imploded" big time in moda.

And what exactly is a "chronometre"? Can see a pic of your collection?

[GB-man]

For me I would either go PC or manual chrono. PCC if you want to step up the budget a touch although 5270J can be had around 150k. With the 5320g or 5172g you will have plenty of money left over to spare. 150 is sort of a no man’s land price point.

[DonLee]

The typical direction with this budget is Nautilus or PCC.

However, looking at your collection, I'd imagine something like a 5968G, or a 5164r aquanaut should give you a different look.

[namelesswatchguy]

Originally Posted by codecow

Damn! What watch is that? He should get that one haha.

5172G salmon dial. Look at that movement!


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[Conway]

Originally Posted by bp1000

Patek AD's are like this because they are finding it very hard to take on new customers without saying so.

They get just a few watches per month vs the 20+ watches a small rolex AD would get. Its very hard for them to service the demand and to be honest quite a lot of them try to push ladies watches with the promise of a leg up the list but in reality you'll still be waiting up to 1+ year for a simple Calatrava in some cases.

Is this really true? Are all PP ADs empty?

When I bought my 5196 I had the pick of rose, white or yellow gold models, and the AD was very keen to try to sell me multiple other watches in the store.

I may have to venture into town just to see.

[Wuls]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

AP26331 since the price has "imploded" big time in moda.

And what exactly is a "chronometre"? Can see a pic of your collection?

It’s the Chronometre souverain. But on the 38mm not the current 40mm. Will ping a photo later - it’s on ‘matching’ (to the blue steel hands) saffiano strap now and looks much better than the stock black alligator.

[Wuls]

Originally Posted by Conway

Is this really true? Are all PP ADs empty?

When I bought my 5196 I had the pick of rose, white or yellow gold models, and the AD was very keen to try to sell me multiple other watches in the store.

I may have to venture into town just to see.

Perhaps it’s just London and perhaps just Mayfair but the boutique and a certain store on Mount Street (which just whips out the jewellery) just nod and smile. Even FPJ (granted in Geneva) who have literally nothing were so much better (granted I had the watch already, but I didn’t purchase it from them).

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by bp1000

Default answer, but thats a lot of money and you have to spend it on what you like. So have a look and see what works for you.

I love my Daytonas but there is a very big difference between them and a PP,PC/PCC

150k would probably get you a very nice 5320 and a 5170 or a 5270.

5740 too