Comments:
Patek 5204 production numbers
I'm curious if anyone here has an estimate for the production numbers of the 5204. The predecessor, 5004, was produced in very small quantities over its lifespan. I believe fewer than 400 were made. I assume many more 5204s are being produced.
Is it safe to say 1518<2499<5970<3970<5270?
Then 5004<5204, mainly because as production capacity and capability increases, PP can make more of anything later.
I can sense you are feeling the itch, lol…don’t overthink, any PP PCC or Split PCC are all rare but never be as rare as your Independents, especially your 1/1 RG right?
Find the dial or metal variant that you feel most suitable and enjoy! Seeing how “vibrant” our watch scene in OR, whether the 5204R and 5004G, no one else in OR (exaggerated) besides our mutual friend has such watches so you won’t see double 😅
5004 had the nouvelle lemania movement ch27-70 so had to rely on their production numbers
where the 5204 has in house cal 29-535 and pp can make as many as they require
I doubt that impacted their production numbers
The Lemania movements were so heavily decorated and modified with the perpetual calendar modules that they are virtually unrecognizable from their originals. Also, my understanding is that Lemania was an industrial scale manufacturer. I doubt they were a bottle neck. Seems much more likely to me that the rate limiting steps were the ones performed at Patek.
Yes, I have the itch.
And yes, OR is not known for its watch collectors (except for the very notable exception of our esteemed mutual friend)!
Truth be told, I am very seriously considering thinning the herd SIGNIFICANTLY, and hibernating with just a nice Patek for a little while as my passion rekindles.
Truth be told, I am very seriously considering thinning the herd SIGNIFICANTLY, and hibernating with just a nice Patek for a little while as my passion rekindles.
all the modifications required were very costly for the 5004-because there were so many and to get the geneva seal
where the 5204 has an inhouse designed which would be cheaper to produce with the pp seal.
so the 5004 was stopped due to modification/production costs.
so the 5004 was stopped due to modification/production costs.
Just read that production is less than 50/year
Not sure if that's accurate, but it's the only number I've been able to find thus far.
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/patek-releases-the-last-50-ref-5004-split-seconds-perpetuals
from 2000=12 per year
easier and cheaper to make the 5204
the 5004 was so costly to modify and make the ch27-70 to be ssc
This is an interesting topic,
since recently I was also considering to get a 5204, especially for 5204p with black dial, 5204/1r or 5204r.
IMHO, 5204 and 5370 are the most underrated modern Patek grand complication models. 5370 is little big only my tiny wrist but 5204 is perfect. Thanks to the in-house movement, the case size of 5204, again IMHO, is more balanced than 5004.
well, my point is that the grey price is much lower than the MSRP.
I do appreciate the design of 5370p. If it was under 40mm, I would definitely pull my trigger.
5004 great looking watch... but
the cal 27/2310 is perhaps the greatest chronograph movement.
designed by albert gustave piguet in 1942
it was designed to be just a chronograph and not ssc.
the modifications required from chrono to ssc -remember the chronograph centre second hand has to tapped on with a hammer
also going through the chronograph pivot would have be be the addition pivot for the ssc centre second chronograph hand.
this hand would also need to be tapped on with a hammer. the pivot diameters would be very small but be long in length
this area must be the weak area in the 5004.if the chronograph/ssc is actuated regularly then i can imagine the pivots snapping.
the 5204 i would buy-the 5004 i would not.
designed by albert gustave piguet in 1942
it was designed to be just a chronograph and not ssc.
the modifications required from chrono to ssc -remember the chronograph centre second hand has to tapped on with a hammer
also going through the chronograph pivot would have be be the addition pivot for the ssc centre second chronograph hand.
this hand would also need to be tapped on with a hammer. the pivot diameters would be very small but be long in length
this area must be the weak area in the 5004.if the chronograph/ssc is actuated regularly then i can imagine the pivots snapping.
the 5204 i would buy-the 5004 i would not.
there are many particulars of a ssc that can cause problems
dead point and freezing of the mechanism for example.
the single hand split second chronograph where the chronograph and the ssc are the same.is a simpler version rarely used.
repair and adjusting are delicate operations and carried out by only the finest of watchmakers with great patience and time
the single hand split second chronograph where the chronograph and the ssc are the same.is a simpler version rarely used.
repair and adjusting are delicate operations and carried out by only the finest of watchmakers with great patience and time
Have long wanted a 5004
But after reading that and knowing the 2310 I guess I need to be very careful indeed!
The 5004 production was really low instead the 5204 series.
The absolute lowest production run has the 5204R-011 with the gray dial because it was only a one “shot” production and not a lot people know this.
5204P
I've had both and to me the 5004P was way too thick for such a small diameter. I love my Black Dial 5204P and wear it almost everyday. i don't care about numbers its all about the emotion. Its an incredible piece to look at...