JoshTheCanadian
434
Thank you for the thoughtful comments, to all who have responded so far!
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 premium in this instance. Specifically, if grey market prices hold, I could probably get one for near $100k, and if I bought it from my AD, I'd be looking at close to $90k with sales tax. It kills me to pay a 10% premium, but I think I can stomach it in this instance (honestly, there seems to be a glut in 5231s on the grey market). I also have an ace that I may play, but I'm not really sure if I want to do so (I have an extremely high net worth client that is the AD's #1 customer by a very considerable margin, and I know she would love to go to bat for me).
I will have to give the 5236 a shot. I do wonder whether it will be difficult to get my hands on it. But I am a patient man, and I am not quite ready to purchase, so I'm willing to wait a year or two for the right piece. It is such a special watch. And if it was 39mm it would be my number 1. However, as a daily driver, I am hesitant about the size.
captainbob mentioned the 3970. That is in the running if I can find the right one in my birth year, which would be a very early edition. There was one up for auction recently, but I don't quite have the funds ready 
. I'd like to try the 3970 again, as well. I tried it some time ago, and the thickness was a bit much for me for a daily wearer. But it is a stunning watch, and there is nothing better than a Patek perpetual calendar chronograph.
. I'd like to try the 3970 again, as well. I tried it some time ago, and the thickness was a bit much for me for a daily wearer. But it is a stunning watch, and there is nothing better than a Patek perpetual calendar chronograph.I know I have not touched on everything, but I did want to touch on the 5320. I really thought that might be the one, but it did not sing to me the way that a $100,000 watch needs to (and to be honest, I felt the same about the 5327 - I don't know, something about the subdials didn't work for me). Perhaps I need to see it in natural light.
Oh, and finally, GirlAndHerWatches, you are a bad influence .
.p.s., to make one thing clear - I'm not wedded to a blue dial. Just something I have a tendency to gravitate towards .
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First Patek
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...
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
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
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
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! :-)
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!
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 ...
My gut says none of them....each watch seems to have fleas and if a watch doesn’t scream “buy me now” it’s
Generally a waste ...u will know when the right watch comes along...love to own versus like to own
To an extent, I am just a picky person
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 ).
Yeah, I recognize I’d have to go grey here, which I am not opposed to doing.
Really, it is not going for that much more than MSRP on grey market.
The 5327 is just not balanced...
...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
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...
...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
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...
...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...
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...
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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...
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
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...
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
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