Comments:
Something worthy of worship？ or extraordinary value ?
What does the title of this book,「 Cult Object」, mean? Could someone please tell me the nuances of it?
Something worthy of worship？ or extraordinary value ?
Cult would be in the sense of worshiped. PP are worshiped or subject to a "cult" in the religious term... Paraphrased to something like: Worshiped object and Investment
Thank you very much. In short, does the content of this book be written from two perspectives: an introduction to models worth collecting, and investment methods and precautions?
Hard to say as I don't know thi book. My gut feeling would be that it is an introduction to PP and how horology can become an investment. I would say more for newbies than for actual collectors, but you would better ask someone who knows the book !
I have the book...
I have the book and just took it off my bookshelf to take a look. It’s a beautiful book, full of photographs. It’s essentially a history of Patek Philippe and its most iconic watches, filtered through the lens of market value over time. So imagine a history of Patek book with great photos, with an overall emphasis on auction prices, how to buy used, what to look for in purchasing vintage watches, etc. It’s a good book, happy to have it in my library.
Haven’t read the book, but I find it weird that the cover watch, Ref 5135 (while I happen to like it), is generally not appreciated, has gone nowhere value wise
and is readily available. Certainly not a great “investment”, to say the least.
To me, a 'cult object'...
...is something that attains mythical status. Sometimes because it is obviously desirable like a rare Rolls Royce. Or sometimes because it was under-appreciated at the time.
A good example of this is the Patek 5020 'TV' watch. I loved it the first time I saw it, but it was a poor seller when released. It was rediscovered party because after so many years the value went up because of its rarity.
Dictionary definition: Cult: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (such as a film or book).
Btw, the watch shown on the cover is gorgeous and one of my favorite Patek annual calendars. I often prefer case shapes that are not round.
I am in your corner. Always loved 5020 especially the P. I think the 5135 is extremely attractive (although too big for my wrist… I have tried more than once). Maybe it will have its day like 5020.
And I especially like non-round watches, particularly rectangles. For me the ultimate being 5101P, which I would love to own.
I don't like the combination of Cult Object and Investment at all. Or it is about Cult, or it is about Financial Times.
I got the book in 2015 and love it since then. Cult object means something specific: the classy calatrava, which hasnt changed from the 30s to the 80s. The book focuses on this line and time.
Am perplexed, as still trying to figure out the difference between a Religion and a Cult.
The term 'Fanboys' may be the modern wording to describe those who are single-brand merchandise-obsessed.
Hmmm, I better get going then on my religion of the Mechanical Timepiece.
Our Prophet, the Mainspring, is all-powerful. Our God brings life to all within our Movement. Let us pray to the Mainspring, his true believers know the power and beauty of Mechanical Timepieces.
I think the term Kult Objekt in German can be translated to "very desirable" or 'sought after"
and not so much as Cult in the sense it is used in English.
Thanks for provoking an interesting discussion, Shun, on a much more substantial topic than it would seem at first! Here's my take, which might surprise a couple of you: Patek Philippe is NOT a cult! :-)
Disclaimer for anyone who got into watches a few minutes ago: 1) Nobody loves Patek (the people, the brand, the philosophy, and most of the watches) more than I; 2) I've been fortunate to call myself a good friend of Patek (the people and the brand) for several years now; and 3) I've even been its Moderator for this platform for 3.5 long years (co-Moderator for this first 2, to be always fair 😅☠️😱🤴🕺🚑, and single Moderator since April 2022).
Well, that watch collecting (including Patek and Rolex collecting!) should not be viewed as an investment is obvious to most of us....but I'm romantic enough to reiterate it in these overcrowded and unpredictable times of ours! 
Now straight to the point: While this is a joyful, fantastic passion, it is NOT a “cult” my friends! The term sounds way too cheap, narcissistic, and naive to be used in horology --- whether you are an independent author or... Patek Philippe themselves!
If you happen to moderate a major brand for a forum or publication, you'll soon become familiar with their communication style. As many of you know, among other things, if you do a serious job as Moderator, you'll receive the materials for their official announcements. (It was a true honor to make them live for you, right here, for the past 3 years.) And I can guarantee you, as someone who also writes for some top academic journals for a living: Patek Philippe's style --- and the quality of their English translations! --- is top notch, on multiple levels.
However, it turns out they DID occasionally use the term "cult" too! Ha! As far as I can tell, it mostly happened in reference to the unprecedented success of the Nautilus line... But honestly, it surprised me. So here are two of Patek's (otherwise spotless) recent releases, which I did not include in my official WPS announcements but are now publicly available:
Final, happy note: My friends at Patek currently appear to favor terms such as "legend" or "icon" (or derivatives) in lieu of "cult," which I find more appropriate
Thanks again, Shun, for a typically thought-provoking thread!
FabR
Fab, couldn’t agree more that the word “cult” as applied to Patek collectors is IMHO demeaning and extremely negative. It often connotes an almost blind obedience
to and reverence of someone or something that can be quite evil and where one’s appreciation of self is often subsumed by following the cult leader’s destructive dictates. I am thinking eg of the Waco Texas massacre involving the Branch Dravidians and their cult leader David Koresh. Perhaps I am being a bit too negative, but a passion for and appreciation of mechanical marvels that are also like beautiful miniature works of art produced by Patek Philippe is hardly cultic.
That said I certainly don’t imply negative or evil intent on the part of the publisher. The use of the word “cult” is catchy, obviously thought provoking and perhaps good marketing in spite of some negative connotations.
Best, Patekova
Thanks Patekova, and in perfect agreement. I can't imagine the author had any nefarious intent, or at least more nefarious than selling a book by confusing his readers on my beloved brand! :-))
But a proper terminology does matter (note that I'm not a native writer of English, so my efforts were likely even greater at the beginning! ) The word "cult" might indeed evoke different feelings in different persons. But whichever the affection the author gives to it, it wouldn't seem to apply to the brand we love or its collectors!
) The word "cult" might indeed evoke different feelings in different persons. But whichever the affection the author gives to it, it wouldn't seem to apply to the brand we love or its collectors! Cheers.
New book about Patek watches
“Patek Philippe: Investing in Wristwatches”
By
Mara Cappelletti
&
Osvaldo Patrizzi (of Daytona fame)
To be released next month