Patek Philippe

Hi All,
Wondering what your thoughts are on being the first owner of a watch and having papers in your name? I'm planning (someday) on passing the watch down to my kids and wonder if it makes sense to spend the extra $$ vs. getting a close to or like new watch? I understand a like-new PP will have the cert in the first owner's name -- but I can register with PP as a second owner correct?

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

PP only allow registration for the 1st owner, which you need to provide the AD details as well during the registration.

And registered as such.

best,

Horo

Papers and boxes are only important if you intend to sell the watch.  They are "must haves" for collectors and investors. 

If you are going to keep the watch in the family then it is likely the papers and box will be lost before the watch gets to the next generation.

Registering the watch means nothing unless it's stolen. 

Which I have no idea why some clown would attempt to sell past issues on eBay.

Best,

Horo

unless its important to the OP. The watch has a two year warranty and it is honored regardless of the name on the papers. Of course if it is super important to you than you should pay a little extra and get the watch BRAND NEW from an AD. I can tell you the only time I ever see the papers on a watch  is when it first comes in or when I sell it, everyday in between they sit in the box that sits in a closet collecting dust

Thank you all for your responses. I would think the tourbillon is correct in saying that one really only sees papers upon purchase and if trying to sell the watch.

I guess to clarify, I wonder if it will matter to my son/daughter when I give them the watch and boxes and papers -- that the papers will not have my name on them.

On the other hand, what I understand that is it is the original purchaser's responsibility to send in a registration card to pp? Is that correct? If this person hasn't done so yet, then a potential second owner could turn in those papers? Then in Patek records the owner would be the person who sent in registration?

If I am able to be registered as the owner by pp, then everything would be the same as if I purchased new from an ad -- except that the physical certificate would be in someone else's name.

Is that correct? Hope this makes sense. Thanks!

many which have never been filled out and have/ had multiple owners and I would suspect the number of watches would be higher than you may expect. Patek has
required the COO by the retailer in the recent years but, still many are not completed at the time of sale.

Registering, which I think you are referring to the little white card enclosed in the leather folder with the COO, is for your magazine subscription and that information (in 2008) supposedly was not shared by the people Patek had handling the magazine with the company. That, of course may have changed since then because of the personal information and additional references you may own.

The magazine is available to all Patek owners whether a new piece or vintage so when you get a watch serviced by HSWA for example, a registry form is generally enclosed for the current owner if he/she has not done so previously.

One other thought/question:  I believe if the watch has been around for 5 years of more, you can request an extract from the archives.  Do these also show the first owner?

If you buy new from an AD, at least you are assured the piece has no past issues with respect to ownership or wear. Is it worth it? That's your call.

Friend who has never worn the watch. It's pretty much as good as I think it gets as a "preowned" watch. So the extract just proves the watch is real but no owner info. At this point I am leaning towards my friends watch... It there anything I should be concerned with? Thanks so much -- this is my first watch purchase so i'm new nervous and overly thorough

Thank you!

you have described. 

The only issue may be a service if the watch has some age, but that aside, it sounds good.

I know you will enjoy it.