Did you see your Patek before buying/ordering?

[AAP8]

I am working towards a 5726 - but my wife asked me a great question yesterday - am I really wanting to buy it just from pictures?

This led me to thinking - how many of you actually were able to see your watch or an example of it before buying? With these watches so limited these days, did you bought a Nautilus or Aquanaut sight unseen?

Being from Cleveland Ohio - means these aren't common watches - in LA/NYC I would imagine some shop might have one to look at - but what about the rest off you??

[JorgeCCW]

It depends, sometimes I order without seeing them on the flesh and sometimes I do. The beauty of buying a Nautilus from AD paying retail is that even if you hate it ; you can’t lose. You can still sell without losing a penny

So do it


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[The Argonaut]

I think this is a really good point, and goes to something my wife finds odd about certain PP and Rolex watches. In almost all other retail spheres, be it looking at a Birkin bags, 458s, Bugatti, etc., you can view the item in question before even considering the question of whether to buy it. For PP GC and SS pieces and most SS Rolex pieces, one cant even see them before buying. At most, one can order it and then decide on the day, which is a "Go" v "No-Go" proportion, but as JorgeCCW states, most will pick it the watch and then decide later whether to keep it.

Bizarre really. Although, based on current stocks and certain models, one has to commit before one sees the watch.

[AAP8]

Originally Posted by JorgeCCW

It depends, sometimes I order without seeing them on the flesh and sometimes I do. The beauty of buying a Nautilus from AD paying retail is that even if you hate it ; you can’t lose. You can still sell without losing a penny

So do it


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I get that the risk is low - thats the great part - I just find it odd that so many would do this - I was just wondering if its me, or its actually common.

[goog53]

Every Patek I have owned was bought sight unseen. If it is sitting in a display case I am not interested. LOL! (It would be nice if HSWA or some place like T&Co had demo models to try on like Geneva)

[AAP8]

Originally Posted by goog53

Every Patek I have owned was bought sight unseen. If it is sitting in a display case I am not interested. LOL! (It would be nice if HSWA or some place like T&Co had demo models to try on like Geneva)

I agree - its odd, this has been the Ohio thread so far - me, you, JorgeCCW - maybe is just a midwest thing?

I would think that HSWA would have a mini-salon setup somewhere in the US, just like AP and Richard Mille do - where they have every model but those are not for sale.

[danestaff]

if your lucky enough to have a great AD relationship, you could order , and then get to see them at an event etc, and then decide as im pretty sure there will always be someone wanting to take your space on the list

[Bearxj86]

I had a chance to see many of these in Japan grey market malls. DeeTee also has a showroom in Orange County where you can try on what he has :)

I did buy my 5711 and 5167 sight unseen from grey initially.

[dsk28]

Originally Posted by AAP8

I agree - its odd, this has been the Ohio thread so far - me, you, JorgeCCW - maybe is just a midwest thing?



I would think that HSWA would have a mini-salon setup somewhere in the US, just like AP and Richard Mille do - where they have every model but those are not for sale.

I have purchased a couple PPs without looking at them beforehand, never been dissapointed by this brand

(Nautilus & Aquanaut)

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[tonupbklyn]

other than my recent dato, all my pieces were purchased site unseen.

[tng11]

I bought a 5167, 5164 and 5990 all sight unseen.

I did have a chance to try on the 5712 before acquiring it. But the search commenced a long time before that.

[traf]

Sight unseen. When Tiffany calls, you say “yes on my way”


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[Fat_ninja]

Think about all those people that had to deal with the catalogue on their mail order brides.


Serious note, i try on the watvhes at grey dealers before hand.

[1688]

Originally Posted by traf

Sight unseen. When Tiffany calls, you say “yes on my way”


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I second that! For me it is by text... immediately charged on the card and no questions asked.

[bobfish]

I bought my 5167 from a grey market dealer but I had the opportunity to try it first. The one I tried was not for sale unfortunately.

I would not buy a watch without trying it. There are many factors besides the diameter in terms of thickness or weight ... But like someone said, there is no risk with a SS PP nautilus or aquanaut. On top of that, within EU, if you buy online, you have 14 days to return it free of charge.

[Passionata]

9 watches out of 10 were bought unseen ,never had a disappointment

[Rsdecker971]

3 references (ACC, pilot and PC) bought sight unseen. 2 were great. Lots of anxiety before the rush of exuberance at unboxing. The 3rd was a train wreck - just didn’t connect with it. Fortunately, my AD allowed me to pass on it and use my payment for a different reference.

[soundserious]

Yes. Always. It’s impossible to see some models.

[danestaff]

Originally Posted by Rsdecker971

3 references (ACC, pilot and PC) bought sight unseen. 2 were great. Lots of anxiety before the rush of exuberance at unboxing. The 3rd was a train wreck - just didn’t connect with it. Fortunately, my AD allowed me to pass on it and use my payment for a different reference.

curious, what was the one you backed out on?

dont say the pilot, please

[The Argonaut]

Originally Posted by Rsdecker971

3 references (ACC, pilot and PC) bought sight unseen. 2 were great. Lots of anxiety before the rush of exuberance at unboxing. The 3rd was a train wreck - just didn’t connect with it. Fortunately, my AD allowed me to pass on it and use my payment for a different reference.

Yes, also curious. "Train wreck" sounds pretty bad!

[bobfish]

There is more to consider to a watch than the diameter, thickness, weight and son on.

In the past, I bought watches that were perfect on paper and did not suit me after all.

So no, I would not but like someone said, with SS PP, the risk is minimal.

Of course, on top of that, within the EU, there's a 14 days withdrawal period free of charge.

[Rsdecker971]

Originally Posted by danestaff

curious, what was the one you backed out on?

dont say the pilot, please

Nope. Love the 5524R. It’s embarrassing, but I backed out of a 5159. Embarrassing as it was the easiest to find of the reference of the 3 that I ordered sight unseen, but one day I just decided I had to have it. Couldn’t find one locally at that time so I ordered it.

Thankfully my AD was great. No pressure at all. I stepped into a 5327.

[danestaff]

Well. Personally I think u done the right thing the 5159 looks an old style watch and the 5327 more modern, maybe not to my tastes, but each to their own

But maybe your tastes are warped as the 5524r has nothing on the 5524g lol imo

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[Rsdecker971]

Originally Posted by danestaff

Well. Personally I think u done the right thing the 5159 looks an old style watch and the 5327 more modern, maybe not to my tastes, but each to their own

But maybe your tastes are warped as the 5524r has nothing on the 5524g lol imo

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Maybe they are!!!

[danestaff]

Originally Posted by Rsdecker971

Maybe they are!!!

It's good everyone has different choices, otherwise the world would be boring

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[Racerdj]

So far I have only made a couple wrong purchases by not seeing them. I did not see several including the 5270 and 5740 before they were delivered.

[nyc2la]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

[danestaff]

Originally Posted by Racerdj

So far I have only made a couple wrong purchases by not seeing them. I did not see several including the 5270 and 5740 before they were delivered.

but only regret if you were offered those pieces, or could have got them without the waiting lists

[AK797]

I wouldn't buy without seeing it first, the 5711's blue dial did not do it for me irl so I learned my lesson from that.

[toucan]

I have seen them all in person and tried them on as well.