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Patek Philippe

Nice dilemma

 

A very nice shortlist. All are great choices.

5231 and 5327 are at opposite ends of the availability spectrum. 5231 is an application piece and will be impossible to get at Msrp from an AD without a big purchase history. 5327 like you say should not involve too much of a search.

5236 is interesting - I expect supplies will be limited at first.

Of the 3 above my choice is easy 5231 every day - but you need to consider if you only have one Patek whether this is the one.

Others maybe to consider...

5320g - one of my favourites. A mix of deco and contemporary. Not for everyone but I love it.
5170g - white or or black dial. In my opinion, much underrated beautiful pieces. Depends whether you like a chrono though! Should just about be available as NOS somewhere.

And some curve balls for used - I know maybe not your preference but tempting!

5110p - For me, the most beautiful non enamel dialled WT. Also stunning as 5130p which may be able to be found NOS.
3940 - the classic perpetual and the remainder of your reserves gets your Lange too.
3970 - go full tilt for the full classic Patek experience! If you don’t want your watch big this can be yours. Wears a little thicker.

And last of all .....
5270g or R for just about similar money grey to the 5236! Wears big but I believe it is a slightly unloved future classic. Appreciation for this piece should rise after its discontinued. It wears big though.

You have a lot of tempting options. Good luck in your search.

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28 Comments view entire thread 

First Patek

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 22nd, 2021-07:28
Very, very long-time reader, and I believe first-time poster. I took an extended break from purchasing watches, in an effort to enjoy the watches that are already in my collection (a JLC dress watch, a Rolex Submariner, a Speedmaster Professional, and oth...  

A warm welcome to the Patek forum ! For me, an...

 
By: GLau : April 22nd, 2021-07:38
enamel Worldtime is a special and iconic ! However, I am biased because I am the enamel “slave” ! Good luck with your decision whether it will be 5231 or otherwise. Let us know what yiu decide and we look forward to your wrist shot ! ...  

Welcome! These are all very great choices

 
By: GirlAndHerWatches : April 22nd, 2021-07:46
I would make the exception and get both the world timer and new perpetual, I really like 5320G as well but might be going against your blue dial choices.

Nice dilemma

 
By: captainbob : April 22nd, 2021-08:06
A very nice shortlist. All are great choices. 5231 and 5327 are at opposite ends of the availability spectrum. 5231 is an application piece and will be impossible to get at Msrp from an AD without a big purchase history. 5327 like you say should not invol... 

Welcome

 
By: chris7509 : April 22nd, 2021-08:33
Welcome here ... i believe the most important points have been shared already. 5231 and in general the enamel familiy are a hard drug if you get hooked on it .. Around availabilities, if you are not a "known" customer i do not believe you will have a chan...  

Hello Josh, and welcome to our great forum! Glad you decided to purchase your first Patek...and since chances are it's also your last, it's even more critical to get it right! :-)

 
By: FabR : April 22nd, 2021-08:34
Between the three watches you mentioned, my favorite are definitely the 5231 and 5236, by a long shot. To be as usual honest and direct, however, it's extremely difficult to be allocated a 5231 as a first-time Patek customer, irrespective of whether a giv... 

Thank you for the thoughtful comments, to all who have responded so far!

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 22nd, 2021-09:31
I have been leaning heavily towards the 5321, but, like others have said, I have full knowledge that I will not be allocated one of them. Nonetheless, while I am typically opposed to paying one red cent above MSRP, I think I could stomach the grey market ... 

To an extent, I am just a picky person

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 22nd, 2021-18:28
I have yet to find a watch that I 100% love. But there are flaws, albeit minor, that I can live with (thus, I ended up getting married ).

The 5327 is just not balanced...

 
By: mdg : April 22nd, 2021-18:19
...when they enlarged the case, they had to do something with the extra dial space to hide the small (although nice) movement. It was a design compromise. Some compromises are necessary, but at $100k this should not be one of them. I'd also throw the 5172... 

n/t

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 22nd, 2021-18:28
So, MSRP for the 5231 is $80 and grey is $100, and with the former, I'd have to pay 10%+ sales tax. To me, that is not so crazy. Obviously, do not want to pay the grey market surcharge - but I can live with it in this instance. As for the 5236P, I guess t... 

I can see that the prices aren't too bad, but...

 
By: mdg : April 22nd, 2021-18:42
...if you plan on buying more PP, you will be in the same boat as now, not having a relationship/history with your AD. Chicken/egg. If this is your 'exit' piece, then no problem...

This will be my exit piece for the foreseeable future

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 22nd, 2021-18:53
Although I imagine those are famous last words! The other watches on my list are not Patek, so I’m OK with not establishing a relationship. I’ll still give the AD a chance though. I would probably say I’ll buy this Patek, diamond earrings, Cartier for wid... 

Don't give up hope of buying via AD...

 
By: mdg : April 22nd, 2021-18:59
...I would talk to a few and let them know what you want. If they sell other brands you might be interested in later that may help. I had no history with a local Rolex AD but put my name on the list for a SS white face Daytona and got it after about a 9 m... 

Welcome... you’re asking for first hand information about a watch that isn’t even out yet...

 
By: patrick_y : April 22nd, 2021-19:36
Perhaps the best advice here anyone can give you is to go to a store and try on some of these watches and see if anyone really speaks out to you. Now it’s true, it’s difficult to find a store that has all three. But you can get close approximations. Perpe... 

...

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 22nd, 2021-20:05
So far, I've had a chance to try the 5230 and the 5327. Loved the feeling of the first, I go back and forth on the second. Obviously, have not had a chance to try the 5236. (Also, at least one person here appears to have it, and I heard it is trickling in... 

Definitely seems like you plan things very far out in advance...

 
By: patrick_y : April 22nd, 2021-23:38
And by the time you're ready, there'll be something new out that'll catch your eye. I wouldn't be surprised if by the time you're ready to get your first Patek, something else has caught your eye and these three will be forgotten. As an analyst by trade, ... 

That may be the case

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 23rd, 2021-01:05
Out of the three, the 5231J is the one I want the most from an emotional perspective. I love the romance of it and I think it is the perfect size. Really, my only reticence stems from acquiring it - I would prefer to get it from an AD, and feel like I can... 

I'd go 5231J which is by far the most beautiful watch among your picks in my eyes...

 
By: trs : April 22nd, 2021-21:25
The 5236 is too large for my taste and it somehow leaves me cold. I have never liked 5327 either with its upsized case and the breguets filling the dial space on the periphery making it unnecessarily busy. I'd much rather get a 3940 (as I don't mind going... 

re: emcquillan and oyster case

 
By: JoshTheCanadian : April 23rd, 2021-14:51
For some reason or another, I vastly prefer the 5231 to the 5131. I mean, they are both wonderful. But I prefer the lack of crown guards on the 5231, and have never been a fan of the engraved PP on the 5131