Watch Commission
595
Late to this, but…
Ultimately the modern internet requires a deft touch. Brand positioning and communications matter. Patek got all of it wrong. How you release a new product is more than just about sales, it is a brand moment and by any standard this was a huge fail.
His comments matter, maybe not quite as much as a more woke community would extrapolate, but this just looks charmless at best. If you’re going to be the face of the brand you need to be very deliberate and consistent in your communications.
The watch is fine, I assume Patek Philippe looked at Cartier and realized they’re printing money off the Santos so they also wanted a men’s square watch. Fine. Mission accomplished. But then release it within a context, not just a bunch of frontal shots or a few wrist turns.
Zero communication skills. Zero marketing. Zero creativity. Massive brand damage. Sales will be fine for now, but the brand no longer looks like the arbiter of taste, creativity, or frankly even excellence.
Therry Stern being the most likeable person in the industry once again with these remarks that are definitely not out of touch...
Why take accountability for a terrible product when you can call watch enthusiasts poor instead? Source: Time & Tide Watches ...
Assuming this is accurately reported, there must be a few
Public relations consultants who could explain to this fellow just how damaging to Patek the tone of his remark is.
Patek isn't what it used to be.
The brand was phenomenal in the 20th century. So many classics, so many beautiful watches. The brand was the peak of class and sophistication. Can we really say the same now? I don't think so.
David, Francine, and others in NYC back in the day at the old NYC office were always a joy.
David was so welcoming, and we shared some interests too. Desired adding a 3939h rg black dial, David was very helpful and knew someone who.... tho we both agreed the ask was a bit steep. Ah well, being passionate sometimes brings about aspirational hopes...
I agree 100%.
Such great name, so much money, such intricate business falling in the hands of someone who couldn’t even achieve a university degree. So much to say that may not be appropriate to say in this forum.
Just because they have enough demand to sell out anything
Doesnt mean what they produce isnt ugly or tasteless. They are not immune to hate or criticism. He was supposed to decrease nautilus production but comes up with another even uglier nautilus.
I agree
Plus there's nothing that screams "classless spoiled brat" more than attacking potential customers for criticizing a badly designed 40k $ steel watch.
You should always keep in mind that under some circumstances it become very personal
because most of the designs of Patek are made inhouse and the head of this department is his wife. So he also has to defend not only the own company but also his family.
I don't think that's the way to do it though
I would associate this response with a 12 year old, not a middle aged company president
Who cares 🤣
I’ve designed and launched my own products for close to a decade now and never take things personally. Making remarks like that is incredibly asinine. His position isn’t earned. He reminds me 1:1 of the managers we run into when buying distressed family b...
Yup, creating takes grit. I think it will be an interesting decade as historic luxury houses mature in the hands of nepo babies that have never created anything
I don't think it's unreasonable to think half of the luxury brands today will be gone as their customers age out and gen z won't put up with the old model of luxury. I give Arnault's brood about 50/50, they've never successfully created a brand, just been...
You make a great point.
There is so much going about a not too bright or driven young guy bestowed with a huge task and an ambitious wife. So much hubris.
He may be more right…
… about the “never will” quote than he knows 🤣. This just made the cocktail party a little more interesting.
I look forward to the post-holiday season sales numbers.
I suspect the numbers will be acceptable and the demographic will skew towards a younger collector.
Who knows... it's probably going to sell out
But as a rather young enthusiast I find both the brand and the watch to be crass and unappealing
The watch will sell regardless, at least for now
Comments like these are more damaging when considering the long term
If the quote is accurate..
That’s a quick way to lose customers and distasteful comment if true. Perhaps they must also consider the possibility that they have designed something a large amount of customers do not care for? Better to ask why and try understand their feedback than a...
He lost the plot totally…
The reaction here is towards a certain model and not the entire brand. Take it as a reflex action when something unexpected hits you. Same for a car or a food item, if I do not like a particular model of a car or a dish in a restaurant , it doesn’t mean I...
Is he lying? 😂
We are an impossible bunch to please aren’t we? We scream “no innovation no daring designs”, and when we get one, we instantly hate it! Remember Code 11:59, or Ulysses Nardin’s new designs? Sure, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea(mine either), but we’ve just...
The code 11:59 had pontential from the start.
The first models were unrefined, but they handled the criticism like adults and made a better watch.
Well, we didn’t know that at release.
BTW, personally I prefer the first edition chrono to the new one. Same can happen here also since it’s a new entire line, don’t you think? I’m sure that in ‘72 when the Royal Oak was presented it received similar welcome.
Code 11:59
While I do not like almost any of them... you could not deny the vision and attention to detail in, especially, the case design. Really, it's the dials that mostly are so-so. But it was not a flabby bore of a design like this... and a redundant design... ...
Somewhat valid points.
However I would like to elaborate a bit deeper, first one should not disregard the brands DNA, meaning what the brand stands for. AP stands for modern industrial design, while Patek for restrained, quite elegance, so using this as a starting point the “du...
Interesting information
Thanks for reply. I really disagree that the Code case is derivative of 5205, though they have 'something' in common... the Code case is incredibly strong design and has so much depth and angles etc... worthy of AP legend. I agree that Patek is known for ...
Sure, there are just watches, but what’s more important that we’re able to compare notes like gentleman!
And that what really counts…
The trouble with Patek at the moment is:
THIS kind of tone by Mr. Stern makes me feel bad about the brand. Patek is IMO not sending the right message to customers, especially to those who haven't had a Patek but do want one. I went to a PP boutique the other day. The cases were full. Yet, the sa...
I've been to Nakano last August and many PP available
They don't come cheap though, but at least you can try and buy, if you really want.
You are right
Staying humble in the face of success is how you ensure longevity and create a good bond with your customers. The arrogance that PP exudes lately is extremely offputting
well, some of Patek owners already re-selling the watch
many of Cubitus already listed on re-sell market , on just one website I found over 10 watches listed .
They probably don’t have in stock. They will “source” for you.
I was on 47th street today stopped by a shop I know. They have every watch you could imagine. Prices still sky high and no one coming in to dump their pateks.
This is aimed at Patek collectors, increases the feeling of being in the group, exclusiveness.
Thierry knows his people.
If anyone has been handed a massive company and handed massive wealth...
...they will have to work very hard to earn my trust and respect. This doesn't help.
GENERATIONS (fortunately) MOVE FORWARD
TASTES AND TECNOLOGY CHANGE GENERATIONALLY.... ,,,IF THEY DO NOT CHANGE, THEY BECOME STALE.... I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE THE PRODUCT.AND FORM MY OPINION , ..
This distance to reality reminds me of the Prince Andrew interview...."just a straight forward shooting weekend" you know?
To be clear, it doesnt bother me. It's just interesting insight into his world!
Separate from the watch, everything else about this launch really says a lot about where PP is at - this interview, the ads, the price, the hype, the approach, everything
The interview made it clear that Stern's ego knows no bounds. It's bigger than the customers, bigger than designers / contributors like Genta that got him to where he is today (What would PP have been through the hype bubble if the Nautilus didn't exist?)...
That's probably why Pateks keep getting bigger while other watches become more restrained
Just have a look at their catalog and tell me how many dress watches under 38mm for men you see... Not many, right?
I'm not hating, I love 20th century Patek
I am frustrated about their new direction though
I visited Patek at Place Vendôme after a lovely visit to Breguet
it was remarkably unwelcoming. I had to make an appointment – that's OK I arrived for my appointment and was seated at a desk and left alone… For 22 minutes. People came and went around me. No one expressed interest or explained the delay or offered a dri...
Not even a university degree…
Such an accomplished father and such a mediocre heir. The third generation has fallen far from the tree.
I asked myself a couple of questions to try to look at this objectively.
1. If the Cubitus were the precursor to the Nautilus would you see the Nautilis as an improvement? 2. You show 100 non-watch collectors a photo of the Nautilus and then the Cubitus. You ask them was the Cubitus the result of a design project by the compan...
The bigger they are the harder they fall.
They are nothing without the consumer and the consumer is us. If sentiment changes and sales drop I wonder if he would feel the same way, my guess is probably not. What an Arrogant comment!
Exactly! Saw an article in the „Handelszeitung“… 🤦🏻♂️
So it is clear the design is solely from him. The work with other Designers was not successful! 😂 Something inbetween delusion of grandeur and „ivory tower“ Honestly pretty deslikeable… 🙈
Why not produce more of the Nautilus and Aquanaut instead?
More people would be able to get them, but I guess that Patek is not about that.
I KNEW HE ENJOYED GASLIGHTING !
Sorry for the overused current popular word of the last few years... but it is so apropos. Man, he finally showed his Self there. It is funny how his comments have a 'ring' of a certain tribe in US politics these days... in the sense of 'blaming' those wh...
Brought this up prior but can’t find the thread. The article being referenced here also points to TS confirming other sizes to come for the new collection.
Hopefully smaller sizes for my sake. I would be more interested in that than the current sizes. For any reference. I also linked the original article here.
I think we should take this interview with a pinch of salt..
When I read the English translation, I felt his words were rather crass.. but I question : - was it an accurate translation? I know a lot of the true meaning can get lost in translation - is this an accurate protrayal? I have seen his video interviews, an...
Agree - lost in translation or miscommunication.
Found it hard to believe if what was quoted was what he says. Met him in 2022 during an event, seems to be a nice guy…
Words are words, it's the watches that count.
Patek still has an institutional advantage, when it comes to complicated dress watches. The 5959P is the purest expression of a fine chronograph and nothing Mr. Stern says will change that. The more attainable watches are hit and miss when it comes to des...
In 2019...
Before all this nonsense, my father wanted to buy a fancy watch. He was offered a 5320 or a 5960. He liked the 5320, and was very taken in by the salesperson's assessment of how Pateks hold value. I recommended against it because it wasn't a micro-rotor, ...
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