Patek Philippe Sealed Box Policy Change

Ares501 - Mr Green · 2017-07-07T03:38:30Z

Patek Philippe's 2017 mandate for ADs to unseal watches sparked debate. Explore collector reactions, market impact, and the value of 'sealed' vs. unsealed luxury watches.

Ares501 - Mr Green's post from 2017 highlights a significant shift in Patek Philippe's retail policy: the mandate for Authorized Dealers to unseal watches and remove brown cardboard shipping boxes at the point of sale. This change sparked considerable debate among collectors regarding its implications for the secondary market, the perceived value of 'sealed' watches, and the overall collector experience. The discussion explores whether this move effectively curbs speculation or impacts the integrity of the unboxing ritual for true enthusiasts.

News or rumor is that after 1st of July
PP ordered firmly to all retailers to open brown box and cut plastic
when selling watches and not give any more brown cardboard boxes
to customers.
No more double or single sealed PP!
I just took few random shots from our members for illustration

Your thoughts about it?
Will now double sealed PP worth even more?
Would brown cardboard box became asset?
Good decision in my opinion
Cheers
D

Key Points from the Discussion

The policy change is unlikely to deter buyers willing to pay premiums for desirable pieces, as demand still exceeds supply. The issue is not the packaging but market dynamics.
Sealed watches offer protection against handling damage and preserve the 'first touch' experience for collectors. Shipping boxes also provide practical storage solutions for multiple watches.
Some collectors would not pay a premium for a sealed watch, questioning the reliability of seals and boxes as indicators of authenticity or untouched condition, as they could potentially be replicated.
Patek Philippe's policy aims to prevent 'flipping' and ensure ADs perform a final quality check, preventing issues with watches sold unopened on the secondary market.
The brown boxes were intended for transportation, not as a 'seal' of mint condition. Speculators created the 'sealed' myth. For collectors, a watch is either unused or used, and condition is paramount, not the seal.
Collectors should have the option to receive their watch sealed, similar to how car purchases are handled, for personal preference and future value considerations.

The Discussion

Pretty Boy

Jul 7, 2017

This is not a rumor.

This is what ADs are obliged to do, i.e. to unwrap any watch when it is handed over to the customer. The problem is that not all ADs comply with these rules, and I guess this will continue.

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jul 7, 2017

Maybe but info is that Patek said

“All pieces found in a cardboard box or plastic bag after July 1st, 2017 will be view as a fault.” So maybe it will not continue? Cheers D

keks

Jul 7, 2017

Absolutely the right decision.

Whether dealers will comply or now time will tell. But it will be very easy to trace down who is not complying and selling sealed pieces.... so question is what the consequences will be for those. Fewer allocations perhaps? Slap on the wrist? Or just a simple please don't do it again?

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jul 7, 2017

Let's see what happens but change will happen I think

Cheers D

Alkiro1

Jul 7, 2017

A PP rape 😱 (which is almost an anagram of wrap 😉).

Without joking, I think PP collectors should be angry about this decision. Best wishes Alkiro

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jul 7, 2017

Why?

If true collectors then plastic is no...if flipper plastic yes

Key Points from the Discussion

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