Start of Patek Journey with 5396R

[kaelao]

Hi all, am a newbie with Patek so would appreciate some pointers / guidance on the experts on this forum. Looking to start my journey with the brand and was thinking of starting with 5396R.

Popped by my local AD and hit it on well with the salesperson and think I stand a decent shot of an allocation at some point.

Eventual goal would be to progress to add World Time, Aquanaut and Nautilus to the collection but know those are tough as first watches. My question is what is a realistic path to those pieces?

I love the look of the 5396R but it trades at a discount on the grey market so if the above more in demand watches are still multiple watches away after starting with the 5396 I might look to purchase grey so start with.

Appreciate any thoughts from the group. Thank you!!!


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[Champagnepapi]

The 5396R is a classic and elegant reference, but many Patek dress watches are already below retail (or heading there) on the grey market. If your ultimate goal is just a Nautilus or Aquanaut, the path to getting there depends on many factors
You might be one watch away, or six… and even then the waiting time is unpredictable.

If you have a clear plan or are ready to take your chances, go for it. But if you’re only looking to own one or two specific pieces from Patek, it’s worth considering whether starting a relationship with the brand is the right move for you. It can be expensive, sometimes frustrating, but also deeply rewarding.

My belief is to focus on buying what you truly love and want, rather than spending just to secure future allocations (unless you have endless funds). Good luck


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[ts3]

Agree with Champagnepapi above.

Another issue with starting to go down the AD route is that you'll be limited to Patek's current catalogue. I don't think Patek have been at their best lately. In my eyes they had lots of misses in terms of looks over the past decade. More often than not I prefer a discontinued reference over the current iteration which means I have to go preowned anyway.

On top there is the risk that Patek will pull the plug on your AD just when you are close to getting that Nautilus or Aquanaut you want.

I can see two reasons why starting out to work with one or several ADs may make sense today:
1) You absolutely have to buy new with your name in the papers.
2) You want to work yourself up to always getting the latest and greatest upon launch and/or want some exotic rare handcrafts or minute repeaters from the mothership.

[jon_jon]

Originally Posted by kaelao

Hi all, am a newbie with Patek so would appreciate some pointers / guidance on the experts on this forum. Looking to start my journey with the brand and was thinking of starting with 5396R.

Popped by my local AD and hit it on well with the salesperson and think I stand a decent shot of an allocation at some point.

Eventual goal would be to progress to add World Time, Aquanaut and Nautilus to the collection but know those are tough as first watches. My question is what is a realistic path to those pieces?

I love the look of the 5396R but it trades at a discount on the grey market so if the above more in demand watches are still multiple watches away after starting with the 5396 I might look to purchase grey so start with.

Appreciate any thoughts from the group. Thank you!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A lot of this depends on the AD. If the AD is located in a major city like London, HK or Singapore, I would say the journey to a sports model Patek from an AD will be long and arduous. An often easier route is an AD located in smaller cities. However they are the ones often losing AD status, most likely due to selling through the back door to resellers. So it is a tough situation to be in if you are new to Patek. If you have you heart set on a sports model, just buy on the secondary market and enjoy the watch. If you are interested in taking the slow path with an AD, it can be rewarding with invitations to special Patek events and getting to meet some Patek execs like Thierry Stern or your local Patek managing director. Eventually you may be invited to a Patek factory tour if they have vetted you and know you are not a flipper and a serious Patek collector. Many of us have been to the factory tour and it is a special event where you are treated like a VIP. After going on a factory tour, you are often allocated some of the hard to obtain prices.

[Calatrava r]

If you want a certain watch, I would buy it on the secondary market now. Buying a lot of watches now which trade at a discount on the used markets solely to position yourself for a watch you do want is somewhat risky. If the AD loses status, the whole process has to been to no avail in obtaining what you do want. And that AD may never come through for you either just based upon the needs of other customers and their very limited allocations.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by jon_jon

A lot of this depends on the AD. If the AD is located in a major city like London, HK or Singapore, I would say the journey to a sports model Patek from an AD will be long and arduous. An often easier route is an AD located in smaller cities. However they are the ones often losing AD status, most likely due to selling through the back door to resellers. So it is a tough situation to be in if you are new to Patek. If you have you heart set on a sports model, just buy on the secondary market and enjoy the watch. If you are interested in taking the slow path with an AD, it can be rewarding with invitations to special Patek events and getting to meet some Patek execs like Thierry Stern or your local Patek managing director. Eventually you may be invited to a Patek factory tour if they have vetted you and know you are not a flipper and a serious Patek collector. Many of us have been to the factory tour and it is a special event where you are treated like a VIP. After going on a factory tour, you are often allocated some of the hard to obtain prices.

This does sound very neat.

[kaelao]

Thanks everyone, the above is really helpful.

Would be cool to see what have people’s journeys at ADs looks like in terms of watch allocations? Just curious to see the journey to get to the more desirable watches.

Thanks again!


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[jamestucker]

Originally Posted by kaelao

Hi all, am a newbie with Patek so would appreciate some pointers / guidance on the experts on this forum. Looking to start my journey with the brand and was thinking of starting with 5396R.

Popped by my local AD and hit it on well with the salesperson and think I stand a decent shot of an allocation at some point.

Eventual goal would be to progress to add World Time, Aquanaut and Nautilus to the collection but know those are tough as first watches. My question is what is a realistic path to those pieces?

I love the look of the 5396R but it trades at a discount on the grey market so if the above more in demand watches are still multiple watches away after starting with the 5396 I might look to purchase grey so start with.

Appreciate any thoughts from the group. Thank you!!!


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Is your local AD in the UK?

If you are based in the UK you may want to establish a relationship with the London Salon.

They should be able to get you a 5396R and a world timer (not 5231G or 5935A) without a significant wait and they are likely to get you an Aquanaut or a Nautilus after 2 dress pieces.

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by jamestucker

… you may want to establish a relationship with the London Salon.

They should be able to get you a 5396R and a world timer (not 5231G or 5935A) without a significant wait…

Why not a 5935a ?

[JSol1]

I purchased my first Patek at our Boutique. It was the 5396/r and it’s what I wanted for my first Patek. My collection is sports heavy and all Rolex and I wanted a proper dress watch that had that Patek DNA. I am aware that the 5396 can be had well below retail in the secondary market, but this wasn’t a concern for me.
I got the watch in March and absolutely love it!
I was offered an Aquanaut in October unexpectedly which was a pleasant surprise since I wasn’t expecting anything this year.
At the moment our only additional Patek is something for my wife, but she hasn’t found the right one yet…

[kaelao]

Got the call for the watch!! That was quick…

Welcome more data points / thoughts from everyone


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