How does purchase history work?

[soulsea]

I’ve read several threads on the topic and keep getting conflicting answers. I know for example with AP, if I walk into any boutique they have my name on file on their computer with all my purchase history and from where I bought a watch, whether bought new or used, every service that has been done on any of my watches, every strap I’ve ever bought, and which sales person at which boutique is assigned to me, essentially they keep a database of all my interactions with the brand and I assume it has some bearing as to which timepieces they are willing to offer me and when.

Does Patek do the same thing? Don’t ask me how or why my AD did this for me cause I don’t know, but after years of patiently waiting and not bothering them too much, I just got word that I got offered a 5712G. This has been a grail piece for me and my first Patek so I’ve been bouncing around the house in excitement all evening and I obviously immediately accepted and it’s being shipped out to me tomorrow. Of course all the paperwork will be at my name and I will also input it into the register.

Now that I will finally be part of the Patek family with a timepiece that I will never sell, does it mean that Patek will apply it to my purchase history and make it easier for me to get subsequent timepieces? And will ADs other than mine be able to see that this was not a used purchase and consider it in offering me other pieces that may become available with some priority because they have access to my record the same way AP does? Or is my history only visible and considered by the AD I just purchased the Nautilus from?

Hope all that makes sense? In short I’m trying to figure out whom other than Patek corporate cares about my purchase history in considering future offerings.

Thanks.

[mickyd329]

The AD system works differently. I don't believe other AD'S can look up your purchase history. For that matter, I don't think Patek dictates who gets what allocation other than application pieces.

[soulsea]

Interesting. The reason I ask is because I was recently in Geneva and made an appointment at the Patek salon (not where I’m getting my Nautilus from). I had a long chat with the very nice sales rep who went into much detail about how there is a new corporate edict from the top saying that Nautiluses and Aquanauts cannot be offered to customers as their first timepiece, unless Stern signs off on it himself. Obviously the fact that I’m getting a Nautilus as my first piece seems to contradict that (unless in fact it was signed off by Stern at my AD’s recommendation), but more importantly that statement seems to indicate that somewhere there is a a system in place to track purchases to a name in order for that policy to be implemented, so I was trying to figure out how that works.

Of course the whole idea of it could not be true and just something they say to everyone to make them buy other pieces before getting Nautiluses and Aquanauts and there is no actually such policy.

[Andad]

Buy a lot of unpopular Rolex watches and overpriced jewellery and if their dollar value is higher than anyone else then they might offer you a sought after model if you are related to the owner of the AD.

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by Andad

You buy a lot of unpopular Rolex watches and overpriced jewellery and if their dollar value is higher than anyone else then they might offer you a sought after model if you are related to the owner of the AD.

I understand that that’s how it works in a lot of cases, but it wasn’t the case with me. I know it may be hard to believe but this is my first purchase from this AD of any kind. It’s just a unique circumstance with someone who put me on their list years ago and kept their word … apparently honorable people like that still exist.

That aside this isn’t really the question I’m asking. I was just wondering if now that I have a purchase history it can be looked up and recognized by all Patek ADs and company boutiques.

[Gent675]

Originally Posted by soulsea

I was just wondering if now that I have a purchase history it can be looked up and recognized by all Patek ADs and company boutiques.

No.

[codecow]

Patek purchase history at the corporate level is only interesting for application pieces. With that said, applications to get an application piece are still filled out by your AD; so ultimately the AD still controls everything but Patek can say no.

One thing that helps a lot apparently with application pieces is going on the factory tour via your retailer. After completing that I was “allowed to” apply for pieces.

[soulsea]

I appreciate all the answers, and I’ll post pics when the pretty thing gets here. :)

Out of curiosity because I’m obviously new to the PP world, what is an ‘application’ piece?

[joli160]

No, maybe in the US but certainly not in Europe. That would be illegal.
Privacy laws are pretty strict in the EU.

[unotaz]

Any minute repeaters, certain enamel pieces and basically anything over 350K USD on the catalogue are all application pieces.

And no, Patek does not decide who gets what on the sports watches. These are sold at the discretion of the AD.

Originally Posted by soulsea

I appreciate all the answers, and I’ll post pics when the pretty thing gets here. :)

Out of curiosity because I’m obviously new to the PP world, what is an ‘application’ piece?

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by unotaz

Any minute repeaters, certain enamel pieces and basically anything over 350K USD on the catalogue are all application pieces.

And no, Patek does not decide who gets what on the sports watches. These are sold at the discretion of the AD.

Fancy seeing you here. :)

Thanks for the explanation.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by soulsea

Interesting. The reason I ask is because I was recently in Geneva and made an appointment at the Patek salon (not where I’m getting my Nautilus from). I had a long chat with the very nice sales rep who went into much detail about how there is a new corporate edict from the top saying that Nautiluses and Aquanauts cannot be offered to customers as their first timepiece, unless Stern signs off on it himself. Obviously the fact that I’m getting a Nautilus as my first piece seems to contradict that (unless in fact it was signed off by Stern at my AD’s recommendation), but more importantly that statement seems to indicate that somewhere there is a a system in place to track purchases to a name in order for that policy to be implemented, so I was trying to figure out how that works.

Of course the whole idea of it could not be true and just something they say to everyone to make them buy other pieces before getting Nautiluses and Aquanauts and there is no actually such policy.

Yours is a G, I think that policy may only apply to the SS models. And as said, ADs allocate the watches.

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Yours is a G, I think that policy may only apply to the SS models. And as said, ADs allocate the watches.

Ah ok, I guess that makes sense. Thanks

[mickyd329]

Frankly, I don't buy the Patek won't allow the first piece to be a Nautilus/Aquanaut story. AD's get their allocations and they decide who gets what. Of course, application pieces being the exception. If anyone has more in depth knowledge of this subject, please correct me.

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by mickyd329

Frankly, I don't buy the Patek won't allow the first piece to be a Nautilus/Aquanaut story. AD's get their allocations and they decide who gets what. Of course, application pieces being the exception. If anyone has more in depth knowledge of this subject, please correct me.

It wouldn't surprise me if it's just something ADs say to get you to buy other pieces first. The only reason I gave it some credence is because it came from the mouth of the Patek salon in Geneva, but I guess they're also trying to push entry level watches.

Ferrari works the same way. Yes there are the very special and icona models at the very top that Ferrari has to approve, but everything below that is at the dealer's discretion. They just tell people that Ferrari won't let them purchase an 812 GTS or Pista without having a Lusso or Roma in their history first, but that's just not true. A dealer can allocate any of those to someone walking off the street with no history, but it's just the lie they tell as the way to sell Romas and Lussos.

[unotaz]

My first Patek was a 5167R from my AD, so no, Patek doesn't have that rule

Originally Posted by mickyd329

Frankly, I don't buy the Patek won't allow the first piece to be a Nautilus/Aquanaut story. AD's get their allocations and they decide who gets what. Of course, application pieces being the exception. If anyone has more in depth knowledge of this subject, please correct me.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by soulsea

Fancy seeing you here. :)

Thanks for the explanation.

Why fancy seeing unotaz here?


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[seadubs]

Not true - my first patek was a 5167R and my 2nd was a 5712G.

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Why fancy seeing unotaz here?

We interact a lot on rennlist … it’s nice to see a familiar face.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by soulsea

We interact a lot on rennlist … it’s nice to see a familiar face.

Ah cool


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[dauster]

Originally Posted by soulsea

I understand that that’s how it works in a lot of cases, but it wasn’t the case with me. I know it may be hard to believe but this is my first purchase from this AD of any kind. It’s just a unique circumstance with someone who put me on their list years ago and kept their word … apparently honorable people like that still exist.

That aside this isn’t really the question I’m asking. I was just wondering if now that I have a purchase history it can be looked up and recognized by all Patek ADs and company boutiques.

5172g is trading roughly $20k (even 30k if you get lucky with tax) below retail while it’s a great watch not a shocker that an AD would offer you this watch as a first piece.

Only the AD will care and keep track of your Patek purchases unless it comes to rare handcrafts and minute repeaters - than the AD sends an application to Patek on your behalf and lists the watches you own including maybe some discontinued models you bought at auction / grey market dealer like a 5970 or so

That’s it - there is no history of all your watches like for AP.
Unsure how it works at the salon but I’m sure you have to spend some serious money for them to care about you about special pieces


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[llngoc]

Originally Posted by dauster

5172g is trading roughly $20k (even 30k if you get lucky with tax) below retail while it’s a great watch not a shocker that an AD would offer you this watch as a first piece.

Only the AD will care and keep track of your Patek purchases unless it comes to rare handcrafts and minute repeaters - than the AD sends an application to Patek on your behalf and lists the watches you own including maybe some discontinued models you bought at auction / grey market dealer like a 5970 or so

That’s it - there is no history of all your watches like for AP.
Unsure how it works at the salon but I’m sure you have to spend some serious money for them to care about you about special pieces


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I think OP got a 5712G not 5172G.

With that said, it is not a 5712/1a so it is probably one of the "easier" one. The market seems to have changed as someone I know got a 5164R as a second piece about 6-9 months ago and now is on the approval process for a 5990. His first purchase from this AD was a 7118R about 2 years ago.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by soulsea

It wouldn't surprise me if it's just something ADs say to get you to buy other pieces first. The only reason I gave it some credence is because it came from the mouth of the Patek salon in Geneva, but I guess they're also trying to push entry level watches.

Ferrari works the same way. Yes there are the very special and icona models at the very top that Ferrari has to approve, but everything below that is at the dealer's discretion. They just tell people that Ferrari won't let them purchase an 812 GTS or Pista without having a Lusso or Roma in their history first, but that's just not true. A dealer can allocate any of those to someone walking off the street with no history, but it's just the lie they tell as the way to sell Romas and Lussos.

Are you sure that this is not the Salon policy? I think they have strict policy for selling only to locals, one watch per year and sports model are alternating allocations. The SA there may be referring to their own Salon policy. Mr. Stern will be very busy if he has to approve/review Nautilius/Aquanauts sales at ADs.

For ADs, I don't think Patek has any control for a plain jane sports model.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by soulsea

I’ve read several threads on the topic and keep getting conflicting answers. I know for example with AP, if I walk into any boutique they have my name on file on their computer with all my purchase history and from where I bought a watch, whether bought new or used, every service that has been done on any of my watches, every strap I’ve ever bought, and which sales person at which boutique is assigned to me, essentially they keep a database of all my interactions with the brand and I assume it has some bearing as to which timepieces they are willing to offer me and when.

Does Patek do the same thing? Don’t ask me how or why my AD did this for me cause I don’t know, but after years of patiently waiting and not bothering them too much, I just got word that I got offered a 5712G. This has been a grail piece for me and my first Patek so I’ve been bouncing around the house in excitement all evening and I obviously immediately accepted and it’s being shipped out to me tomorrow. Of course all the paperwork will be at my name and I will also input it into the register.

Now that I will finally be part of the Patek family with a timepiece that I will never sell, does it mean that Patek will apply it to my purchase history and make it easier for me to get subsequent timepieces? And will ADs other than mine be able to see that this was not a used purchase and consider it in offering me other pieces that may become available with some priority because they have access to my record the same way AP does? Or is my history only visible and considered by the AD I just purchased the Nautilus from?

Hope all that makes sense? In short I’m trying to figure out whom other than Patek corporate cares about my purchase history in considering future offerings.

Thanks.

All the people who lost their long time ADs in the past few years would be very happy if this is indeed true. (Myself included) But in reality, you start at the bottom of the rung at a new AD and what you got from another AD does not mean anything to the new AD and Patek HQ does not come to help you to find a new "home".

The situation with brand own boutique like AP is likely better. But in the end, it may still depending on the new SA you got.

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by dauster

5172g is trading roughly $20k (even 30k if you get lucky with tax) below retail while it’s a great watch not a shocker that an AD would offer you this watch as a first piece.

You’re probably right, I shouldn’t be this happy to be getting this as my first PP from my AD.

But for a lowly person that’s not a Patek VIP, in fact barely a P in general. I’m not ashamed to choose to still feel blessed and joyous beyond belief at being offered and trusted with this timepiece. I’m never parting with it, but I appreciate your market appraisal.

Came in a few hours ago in a brinks truck type of delivery service ...Tiffany's doesn't mess around with shipping, it was pretty cool. :)

[BMAN8]

Congratulations! Looks great.

[soulsea]

Originally Posted by BMAN8

Congratulations! Looks great.

Thank you so much!

There's so much story behind this journey that made the closure so special today.

Regular Patek ADs wouldn’t give me the time of day and many laughed me off. As an example, eight or so years ago I walked into Wempe in NYC (we have an apt on the same street), inquired about a Nautilus telling them I don't mind waiting my turn, and the SA asked me if I had grandchildren because they would be the ones getting the watch if they put me on the list. I don't take these kinds of things personally so I just smiled and walked away leaving him alone with his karma.

I gave up on the brand, not because of my AD experience but because it seemed a fruitless endeavor as I had no entry point, but unbeknownst to me my wife who's not a watch person decided to walk in the Tiffany's 5th ave store a few months later and just asked having no sense or clue of how improbable a thing she was asking for. Since then she called or went by once or twice a year to remind them, and I also went in a few times to say hi and try pretty things. And out of the the blue two days ago they called. It’s beyond amazing and honorable to me that they kept their word. Of all the people that did this for me it ended up being Tiffany's!!!

Over the preceding years they didn’t even make me buy an entry piece, or any jewelry, so I honestly have no idea how or why they did this for me other that maybe they sensed that I am truly passionate about timepieces and that I am an honorable person, but not knowing me that's a huge leap of faith from their end and for that I will be forever grateful. And whereas I was never going to buy stuff like jewelry I didn't want as a condition, now that they did this for me unconditionally I will buy pieces for them. That's the difference between showing my appreciation and being blackmailed, and as a person of principle that means the world to me.

More importantly none of this is about the money. I am blessed and can afford to have any of these watches grey market if I want to. But today was the culmination of a journey that included patience, impatience, frustration, anticipation, hope, a journey shared with my lovely wife without whom I would have never dared walk in and asked, a journey that included new friendships along the way, and so today I when I first opened the box and put the watch on, I was wearing both the road trip and the destination, and it was emotional, which sounds silly when speaking about an inanimate object. All of that would have been missed if I had just bought it second hand, and it would have meant so much less to me.

Anyway, sorry to bore you guys with my ramblings, it was just a wonderful moment for me today and for my wife who is even happier for me than I am for myself, and to see the joy and sense of accomplishment on her face means more to me that the watch. Honesty I can't actually quantify what means more than what, all I know is that it all means a great deal to me and I am filled with joy.

[Ichiran]

Congratulations! That's a nice gesture from Tiffany!

[byow]

Originally Posted by soulsea

You’re probably right, I shouldn’t be this happy to be getting this as my first PP from my AD.

But for a lowly person that’s not a Patek VIP, in fact barely a P in general. I’m not ashamed to choose to still feel blessed and joyous beyond belief at being offered and trusted with this timepiece. I’m never parting with it, but I appreciate your market appraisal.

Came in a few hours ago in a brinks truck type of delivery service ...Tiffany's doesn't mess around with shipping, it was pretty cool. :)

Congratulations on your beautiful timepiece!

[BMAN8]

Interesting story, soulsea. I agree, out of principle, to be patient and wait for a call for a watch that I have expressed interest with an AD.

I hope you enjoy your Nautilus for many years!