Mark in Paris[Purist]
10488
Well, this is what Patek is trying to do
Jun 22, 2017,15:34 PM
I see from the number of posts you make on the subject that it is really bothering you and as I said, I feel the same as I couldn't enjoy 2 I was looking for in the past.
This being said, I've been discussing in the past with a few salespersons I know quite well and who experienced close enquiries from Patek's HQ about models that appeared for sale not long after they've been allocated to a client. It is not an easy situation for them to deal with either.
The watches are sent in boxes to the AD and he has to open the box before showing the watch to the client. He also has to present the watch with its wooden box when a client is picking his watch.
It is difficult to check what AD does it and which doesn't (you only know after the watch is put on the maket again) and in some regions, some ADs are big sellers or long time partners and it is difficult to deal with it. Furthermore, if the watch is shipped to the client, then it has to be protected in such box.
The thing is that it is very difficult to be sure that a client won't sell it. Some are blacklisted but, as you can imagine, there are so many potential customers for limited editions and low volume references that there is always a chance you sell it to someone who is not going to keep it.
Compared to the number of Patek clients, the number of sealed limited editions available on the market is very small (if we take aside all the sells without a proper picture which mean they don't actually have it).
It is not that easy to manage but let's at least assume that people sharing their watches here are new happy owners and that they'll wear them
Best, Mark