gaquist
46
3940 Experience
About 2 years ago, I got a great deal on a 3940 in yellow gold. I always admired that watch with the yellow gold (champagne) dial , mine of course had the standard, very often seen white dial. I called Patek in NYC, and asked if they could replace my "opaline" white dial with the gold one, and without pause, the gentleman in service said "absolutely". I sent the watch to Henri Stern Watch Agency and sure enough, I got my 3940 back with a beautiful gold dial.. They kept the original dial, (they told me beforehand that they would). Now my watch looks like one of the limited edition "Beyer" pieces. This dial-changing adventure set me back $3000.00. To me , it was worth it. I wear my 3940 every day and love it.
Is there any hope to be able to order a customized Patek??
As forum members I do not know how much our collective voices mean to PP. Probably not much but I have to bring this subject up. We are all spending anywhere from $10,000 - $150,000 on our Pateks (I am excluding the minute repeaters here), yet we have no ...
I thought like you do, too...
I was totally sure that Patek does not change the dials to another type of dial... I wanted to do one change and asked the issue from Patek\s Boutique in Paris / they said that probably not. Then I asked the same issue from Patek\s Boutique in London and ...
I do understand your point , but ...
Patek is imo art ( so are Breguet, Lange, ...) I mean not only Picasso , Van Gogh, Rodin, Michelangelo, Rietveld, ... made art. I really do prefer a Patek watch above a painting, a vase or a chair. To each his own I guess. But when you say : 'I can order ...
I think Patek is an engineering achievement - not art.
Thank you for your thoughts. But, I cannot disagree more with your comparison of Patek watches to the paintings of Picasso or any other art work. Art works are truly unique. Even if the artist wanted to make another copy, it will not be identical to the f...
but...
Art is not always unique. Are Fabergé eggs art ? Yes they are and I think they made some series with eggs who all looked the same. Their toppieces are indeed unique. And what about photography ? It can be art too , right ? Well I know somebody who ta...
regarding other watch makers
you experts correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't vc initiate a special program that would allow people to customize their their watches or participate in the design of a completely personal watch? maybe the counter-argument is that it is different price ra...
Quai de l’Ile
Indeed, VC allows to customize these watches but imo that is just a marketing gimmick. "owners can customize their Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile with 400 styles and deterrents, like the embedded invisible ink plastic slips that are placed beneath the ...
Not a marketing gimmick.
Vacheron recently made two truly exceptional watches in its custom manufacturing program. I hate to think what they cost, but they are truly unique and spectacular. They were recently written up on our Vacheron forum. I don't disagree with you regarding t...
Porsche is a bad example
I think we cannot compare a Porsche to a Patek in this case. Wouldn't it be better to say the colour combination for a Porsche is limited to those on offer by the factory? Lambo and Aston Martin all have their own colour coding and it is limited. You woul...
Unless you are someone, someone, someone .....
the chances that Patek will take special orders today is close to none. Those good ole days dont exsist anymore, the fact that Patek is already in maximum production, the concept of to accomodate things which isnt on the list is beyond Patek today. surely...
I agree there should be a larger set of choices
as there was many years ago. I am amazed at how many choices there were 100 + years ago. However, I do not think manufacturers feel it is worth their effort to offer them. Unfortunately, businesses today are managed mostly for maximum short term return. I...
Seems I'm the only one.....
Hello, Jim, although I'm far away from beeing in the position to even think about ordering a bespoke piece - I've to admit I don't like the the approach of a (factory) customized product so much - beeing more precise, I almost hate it ;-). Of course this ...
Kari, I hope that you will show us.............
Some before and after photos of the changes that Patek have made to you piece? Also I am intrigued by what you meant, when you say that the AD inscribed something rude on the back of your Nautilus? Regards Tony
Jim, I read your post and the responses so far and I
do agree that Patek should offer some level of flexibility with respect to some limited changes as they did not so long ago. There are reasons to allow this, the one that comes to mind immediately is dial changes. There are times, for example, when you ge...
Well said...and sadly things will not be improving.
I regretfully agree with your comments. Since the Patek name become globally recognizable via internet and this combined with rising emerging markets (e.g. BRICK) the Patek suddently faced with a quantum jump in demand and thus became too valuable (simple...
Stern changed the faces on my two Nautilus - NC...
On the way to going broke, true to form after making my first "real" money, I took my wife to a Patek AD. I paid cash for "Ladies and Gents" two-tone Nautilus. They were identical models #3800/01JA and #4700/01JA. Their dials were ribbed gold with applied...
3940 Experience
About 2 years ago, I got a great deal on a 3940 in yellow gold. I always admired that watch with the yellow gold (champagne) dial , mine of course had the standard, very often seen white dial. I called Patek in NYC, and asked if they could replace my "opa...