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WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Patek Philippe

Good luck with that...

 

faith thing...

I enjoy talking to AD's and watch repair specialists all over the world - ok maybe not all over but many places in US and EU-  and what I heard consistently from objective people is that PP has a great movement, but their cases are terrible, from durability point of view. My personal experience is in complete agreement with those statements. For example, once, I dropped my PP 5140G over a plastic floor in the gym from a height of 1.30 meters. As many would know, 5140 is a very light watch. What happened stunned me. It probably landed on the crown, which bended the stem, which may be OK. However, the tip of one of the lugs also chipped off!!!!! Yes, the white gold case was brittle and chipped off. When I did some research, I learned that PP cases are made by pouring liquid metal into mold, as opposed to machining from a solid stock. Evidently the case of my watch was the result of an imperfect pouring or quech/cool process that resulted in a brittle white gold case !!! Yes, this is PP quality control for you regarding the cases. Of course I had the lug tip repaired by laser welding, but it was an eye opening experience. My opinion about PP changed dramatically after this event. Cheers. Jim

 

 

 

 

  

 

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21 Comments view entire thread 

Bezels & Crystals & Nicks & Scratches, Mrs. Stern Listen UP!

 
By: Doctor : June 26th, 2012-13:04
Kari, in another post of mine you lamented the marks of wear on your 5167 bezel. I'd like to respond and ask all the readers to post a pic of your best scratch and proof of wear yet to be won on your Patek's skin, regardless of which model. I nearly celeb... 

Interesting thoughts...

 
By: dr.kol : June 26th, 2012-13:28
I must admit that I like my watches better with less scratches than with more scratches. The sad thing of both the Aquanaut and Nautilus lines is that the bezels of those watches are real scratch magnets. Just now I am wearing Blancpain Aqua Lung and this... 

Have more faith in Mrs. Stern...

 
By: Doctor : June 26th, 2012-14:22
Good questions Kari, 1. "why would they produce a bigger number of simple watches when they can also sell the complicated ones?" It's not about the "bigger number" but the the " better " and more innovative of design, and those are key values of Patek, th... 

Lucky you!

 
By: dr.kol : June 26th, 2012-14:43
When Patek is concerned, you are an optimist. I am a pessimist but still love Patek. Anyhow, I hope that you are right and I'm wrong! Best, Kari

Good luck with that...

 
By: jimjenkins : June 27th, 2012-12:51
faith thing... I enjoy talking to AD's and watch repair specialists all over the world - ok maybe not all over but many places in US and EU- and what I heard consistently from objective people is that PP has a great movement, but their cases are terrible,... 

Fan-boyism...??

 
By: patrick_y : June 28th, 2012-08:33
Quoting you: "Bottom line Patek is delivering to the needs and wants of the customer for the sake of getting and keeping customers for generations. They exist to serve us, not us them. " Doctor, I'm concerned, especially with the last sentence in your pos... 

Hmmm...

 
By: LwC : June 28th, 2012-10:12
Greetings Patrick. Considering the tone of your posts in this thread, if I didn't see your name attached I might have thought that I wrote them! When did you get so boisterous? LOL Best regards.

Not all of my posts are rosy...

 
By: patrick_y : June 29th, 2012-01:55
You're probably too familiar with my posts that are very complimentary. While the majority of my posts are of such nature, there are posts that I read that don't elicit such a response. Sometimes I will not respond at all, but if I feel that I can help an... 

Ver-boyism...

 
By: Doctor : July 2nd, 2012-10:20
I like your post Patrick. I could go on and on about PP and Aquanaut shortcomings. the 324 movement has an inconsistent accuracy as compared to at least 6 other movements of which I've owned and tracked the accuracy. The 324 gains and then loses as much a... 

wow where do I even start

 
By: edwardwchang : July 7th, 2012-08:13
This is the perfect example of a guy who has drunk his own kool aid. I am a lawyer and I know well the danger of falling for my profession's own BS. Quoted from the OP " What most impresses me about PP Patrick and what I think you are reading into and see...  

doctor , just back from swimming 40 lengths

 
By: darma : June 27th, 2012-01:49
of the local community pool with the nautilus 5711 on the wrist. I couldn't contemplate taking it off whilst i swim and its now got its share of nicks from daily wear.Everyday the bond gets stronger from regular wear. regards darma

I agree...

 
By: Duke2Earl : June 28th, 2012-07:48
I basically use my 5167 as a daily wearer. Although I wish it would come back from its regular service (it's been in Stern's care since late January). It has indeed been scratched in my usage and I declined to have the scratches polished out as part of th... 

Rolex has no consistent values? Some respectful disagreements.

 
By: patrick_y : June 28th, 2012-08:16
Regarding this paragraph: " Don't get me wrong I'm sick of Rolex branding and positioning and screaming loud designs and cliched ubiquitousness. Despite owning three, I eschew them now. They just can't behave in public. They are destined for a great fall.... 

Rolex vs. Patek - Business Strategy, Philosophy, Values

 
By: Doctor : June 28th, 2012-09:16
You are dead right Patrick that "Rolex has incredible consistency with their watches." so consistent they are nearly devoid of any significant innovations in a half century. And please don't talk to me about Blue Parachrome. I'm talking design. Wow, they ... 

Whilst I share your sentiments about Rolex,

 
By: nautilus : June 29th, 2012-00:04
the company won't fail because it's market position is too secure. People who read these posts are passionate about watches but most people don't care and that is why Rolex can't fail, of the available market share Rolex is the brand that the largest shar... 

Wrong on many points

 
By: Fiery : July 1st, 2012-01:58
First of all, Rolex makes not millions of watches annualy, but "only" cca. 700.000. Second, even Patek's CEO Thierry Stern said in an interview that one of the watch brands he admires is Rolex, for their consistent high quality: "Rolex is another one I re... 

Accuracy...Patek vs. Rolex vs. Omega...

 
By: Doctor : July 2nd, 2012-10:46
You didn't read all of my post. Rolexes have the potential to be one of the most accurate movements made, my last two rolexes literally held to within plus or minus 3 seconds for months, but again I had to be fired as a Rolex customer because I had to vis...