FabR - I really appreciate hearing your thoughts on my post. I read and considered your response, and that response helped to fine tune my perspective:

Jan 14, 2022,14:47 PM
 

Specifically, at this juncture, I am under zero illusions that my identity as a hobbyist is permanent. A leopard cannot change his/her spots. And, I am a firm believer that interest in watches is highly cyclical, and the current frenzy will likely (hopefully) abate. In other words, us watch enthusiasts will be around far longer than the hanger-ons.


I plan to go with Kari for this next piece, and this watch will keep my "dark passenger" (to borrow a phrase from Dexter) at bay. To be honest, there are not very many references in the current Patek catalogue that I am significantly interested in (although your 5236P is one such reference), at a price level that I am comfortable with, and, to echo your point, there is a "reward [in building] a beautiful Patek collection [] step by step". Patek is not going anywhere, and I think I need to be at a different place in my life, at the very least, monetarily speaking, before taking that next step (and that is, if I take that step at all). I'm in my thirties, after all. Conversely, I do think there is a shorter fuse on ordering something from Kari. With an output of 60 watches per year, and an already lengthy waitlist, a Gronefeld type restriction could occur. I guess, you just don't know when you are dealing with such a small operation.

Like you said, it is critical to enjoy each minute of this game, and I have thus far. But I get the feeling that my enjoyment, if I go down path number 1 at this time in my life, may take a dip. To provide an example, I think I would be unhappy if, at the end of two years, I have two additional Pateks I did not and do not want, and am still wondering whether I will be allocated the one I do want. At the end of the day, it is a marathon not a sprint.

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The Next Frontier – Part I

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-03:52
In the late oughts, I started my journey as a watch enthusiast in earnest. I had always had at least a passing an interest in watches – owning and wearing, at various times, a Casio calculator watch, a Casio G-Shock, a Victorinox, and others I cannot now ...  

Wow

 
 By: takman : January 14th, 2022-04:44
What a read and thank you for sharing. I have a lot in common with what you wrote and it almost felt like I was reading my own story. I’ll be a father for the first time this year so I am also looking to add a special piece to the collection. The VC 1921,... 

Small world!

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-05:23
I am a native of Vancouver - I grew up in Kitsilano, in fact! The VC 1921 is an absolutely magnificent watch. If I do, indeed, increase my watch box to 8, I think that one has a surefire shot of making the cut. Funny you mention the Reverso - that is one ... 

The Reverso…

 
 By: takman : January 14th, 2022-22:39
Is definitely a must have in my opinion, there’s something for everyone in that model family. Yes, the Alpine Eagle has grown on me as well. Imagine if they ever gave it the LUC treatment, although it’s no slouch in it’s current state. I have to admit I s... 

Fantastic post

 
 By: Brandon Skinner : January 14th, 2022-05:25
Good luck with whatever direction your journey takes you!

Thanks, Brandon!

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-14:15

The second is, indeed, an attractive option.

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-14:22
I get the feeling, however, I need to hit the brakes with my collection and gain (regain?) some perspective. It is very easy to fall down the rabbit hole...

This is a very wise advice!

 
 By: diracpoint : January 14th, 2022-21:58
With so many options available, sometimes our brains need some time to figure out what we really want!

Isn't that the truth!

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-22:03
Analysis paralysis.

Like many in this hobby, I am a little crazy.

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-14:21
And I am drawn entirely to new watches - I cannot stand knowing that my watch had a life before me. I know this forecloses me to a lot of beautiful watches in the hobby, but for now, it is something I can live with. I have considered a birth year watch (a... 

Thanks for a really nice and well-written post, a pleasure to read it! It sounds like that, similarly to many of us on this forum, Option 1 to delve deeper into the world of Patek is what you really want, provided you’re given the right access to it…

 
 By: FabR : January 14th, 2022-09:20
Hence my best suggestion is to pursue just that, but only to the extent you fully enjoy the experience…in particular, *never* purchase a watch (Patek or otherwise) that you don’t want, only in order to arrive at another one! Even if I don’t like to think ... 

FabR - I really appreciate hearing your thoughts on my post. I read and considered your response, and that response helped to fine tune my perspective:

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-14:47
Specifically, at this juncture, I am under zero illusions that my identity as a hobbyist is permanent. A leopard cannot change his/her spots. And, I am a firm believer that interest in watches is highly cyclical, and the current frenzy will likely (hopefu... 

That's a totally reasonable (and thoughtful) approach in my view --- putting off your Patek "full immersion" until you are completely ready, if ever...does make *lots* of sense! :-)

 
 By: FabR : January 14th, 2022-16:21
I don't think my own "collecting career" took a very different path, in hindsight...while I bought my first Patek in summer 2008 (hence a few months before turning 30), I kept buying a number of other watches for a few years before it became an (almost) e... 

What an interesting post

 
 By: Pelle_thorstenson : January 14th, 2022-10:35
I began my Friday by reading this twice and in several ways it contains food for my own thoughts when it comes to watches. Many thanks. Bon weekend. Pelle

Thanks, Pelle! I am glad you enjoyed the post.

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-14:23
Sometimes I feel like writing is the best way to gather my thoughts. Further, it is a pleasure to help contribute to this wonderful platform, even if my writing and photography are not up to snuff.

Thanks, Orahu!

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-14:24
To get a little off topic - which pen or pens are you looking at? I have a few nice pens (nicest among them, a Nakaya Dorsal Fin II), but my writing is so piss poor I have not dived too far in to the hobby!

Montblanc forms the corpus of my pen collection —

 
 By: orahu : January 15th, 2022-12:19
And the last three MB three pens or so, that I bought, sit in their boxes. I bought them mainly because I could, they are works of art that highly appealed to me, and I already have so many pens inked up, I don’t need more to choose from for my daily rota... 

Wow!

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 16th, 2022-16:37
I had never seen the NOS F. Scott Fitzgerald pens before, but they are absolutely stunning! That has to be one of the more stunning MB's I've seen. Good luck on your proposed acquisition!

Lots to think about here.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : January 14th, 2022-15:34
For me, option 1 is almost not an option. There are too many games to play, and posturing required. The idea of building a collection over time with certain brands (not just Patek) which was the norm for decades is no longer realistic for most collectors ... 

Right now...

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-15:56
I am looking at a custom option, based on the GMT-6, with an engraved motif. Definitely not going off the shelf! It is not going to be crazy - but it is going to be stunningly poetic, based on what I have in my head.

I neglected to response to some of your other comments...

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-22:06
I currently agree with your comments on option 1. At this particular point in time, it is very difficult to view it as a legitimate option. Jack Forster's article in Hodinkee today very accurately summarized my feelings on this. Also, because I am terribl...  

Sublime!

 
 By: amanico : January 14th, 2022-22:07

Right?

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 14th, 2022-22:15
I had never seen the engraved center before, but as someone obsessed with celestial complications, I was flat out stunned. Plus, a GMT is just so handy.

No question that, or something like that, is THE best choice.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : January 16th, 2022-15:14
I’ve seen a similar engraved center I believe, not sure where so can’t locate it now. Also for me blue and gold is a magical combination.

Blue/gold may be my #1 option...

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 16th, 2022-16:36
However, I have also given thought to platinum/salmon/black - almost a 5270P colorway - or just a platinum/salmon. Still vacillating on a lot of details, but hey, I've got some time to figure such details out!

Lots to consider. I love the visual of the gold, but of pushed I’d also have to consider day to day.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : January 18th, 2022-21:04
Is the watch something you want to be able to wear daily? Not that you would, more that it’s possible. And if so, does one metal work better than the other in terms of leaving you this flexibility. I know for me the answer remains a white metal, but every... 

So, in my view...

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 19th, 2022-01:20
And if past precedent is any indication, I do not imagine that I will wear it daily. While I am reticent to call it a special occasion watch, because it will get daily wear, day-in-day out, I often turn to my sports watches (I am a father of a young child... 

Not long ago I started a whimsical thread revolving around . . .

 
 By: Dr No : January 20th, 2022-22:00
. . . essentials for watch guys. In declining order of necessity, my four were a Speedmaster Professional, an indie, a Grand Seiko, and an El Primero. I'm intrigued by your fourth option. ...  

As am I!

 
 By: JoshTheCanadian : January 21st, 2022-03:53
And what a nice list. Grand Seiko and Zenith are two that I often think about adding to my watch box!