patekova
1857
Emmanuel, I think perhaps you may be not giving the 1518 its rightful due in referring to it being a little less sought after than 2499, 3970 and 5970..
I guess it also depends on how you define “less sought after” and who might be seeking it. There are certainly more collectors of modern Pateks than vintage but the demand among big time vintage Patek collectors for 1518 is intense and this can easily be demonstrated by prices achieved at auction sales. For many years the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction was a steel 1518 at approximately $11,000,000 USD. A few years ago at Sotheby’s New York a rose/rose went for $9,000,000+ USD. While the 2499 is often regarded as THE all time great Patek, the 1518 is definitely pushing the envelope a bit. Earlier this year Monaco Legend Group offered for private sale a steel 1518 (one of 4 known) reportedly for a price “in excess of $20,000,000”.
So perhaps literally one might argue there are more collectors seeking the less astronomically priced and easier to set 3970/5970 than 1518, but when a mint 1518 (and most are not mint) appears at auction, in any metal it is one of the major highlights of the watch auction season and a true grail watch for the big time hunter.
Personally, I have never owned or sought one. I do not qualify as being a big time hunter😊. I am exceedingly happy owning 5970, which to me is a perfect watch aesthetically and functionally.
As for 5270 - great watch with totally in house movement, but if secondary market pricing and availability are any indication, I agree it is not as popular as any of its predecessors. However, I won’t be a bit surprised if that changes as time goes by, especially after one day it is discontinued. It is a great watch with wonderful variants.
Best, Patekova
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5020 & 5021
The perpetual calendar chronograph is a complication very intimately linked to the history of Patek Philippe. Among the most celebrated references are the 2499 , the 3970 and the 5970 . For whatever reason, the ref. 1518 and 5270 seem to be a little less ...
Wonderful analysis, as always, Emmanuel.
The 5020R looks great, but the J yellow gold example here is so clean and elegant. I appreciate the different case shapes when it works like here. Different enough without being a caricature.
Thank you so much.
I'm sure the J looks fantastic too. I just respond to the warmth of rose gold more immediately in general. And yes, different design, yet very convincing. Best, Emmanuel
My guess is that non-round watches are always having a hard time
getting to the heart of most collectors because they don't look sporty. But I think there's something specific to the 5020: the absence of tachymeter scale, which makes this watch even more dressy or even less sporty than other chronographs. Shaped + dres...
Great post as usual, Emmanuel.
These are quite attractive, but non-round watches don't sit well on my wrist.
Fantastic job!
That's the Patek I like. Give me a 5940 (that I like even more) and I don't need anything else.
Exactly! I agree that the 5940 is a stunner too.
It’s just that the perpetual calendar chronograph complication is very iconic and quintessential for PP. Thanks for the kind words. Best, Emmanuel
Huge thank you for sharing
Wish I could save this thread on WPS, but a bookmark works as well. Have a good weekend.
A very nice model the 5030!
I just wish there was no date. Just my personal feeling of course.
Absolute grail watch, especially in yellow gold...
...ironic that one of the reasons it's so valuable is because it was unloved upon release...
Emmanuel, another incredibly detailed and pictorially beautiful report on the relatively rare Patek 5020! While it would seem highly improbable that there would be so many variants
of this very low production and initially decidedly unpopular watch your report shows the error of thinking that way. I remember how during it’s run it was thought of as being an “ugly duckling” by most. Initially, I felt that way too. About the time its ...
Dear Patekova, thank you for sharing this photo of the 5020P which was once yours.
Thank you also for sharing your knowledge about the yellow/blue moon disc of the early versions: it’s a detail I didn’t know at all. I definitely like the design of this watch: no tachymeter scale, Breguet numerals and hands, cushion-shaped case: it’s ver...
Thank you Emmanuel for your reply and also posting the additional images. From my research and my general impression
while I don’t know the numbers definitively, I would go along with HA’s assessment.. Best, Patekova
Emmanuel, I think perhaps you may be not giving the 1518 its rightful due in referring to it being a little less sought after than 2499, 3970 and 5970..
I guess it also depends on how you define “less sought after” and who might be seeking it. There are certainly more collectors of modern Pateks than vintage but the demand among big time vintage Patek collectors for 1518 is intense and this can easily be ...
Thank you for correcting my statement
with such eloquent numbers. Putting the 1518 together with the 5270 was a bad idea indeed and I will modify my statement. As for the 5270, I couldn’t agree more with you and will post about my recent brief hands on experience with it tomorrow: when I trie...
Emmanuel, in a literal sense I think your original statement about 1518 IS correct. More people are looking to buy 3970/5970.
That said I think the 1518 is a much more important watch historically and extremely rare to find especially in mint condition. I have seen many. My impression is that only a relatively small percentage are in unpolished mint condition. I very much look f...
Thanks for this
I really enjoyed all the various versions Like you I like the regular versions best with the breguet numerals and hands. I do like cushion shaped cases eg radiomirs, heuer camaros but here I do struggle with how the lugs just blend into the case.. like so...
I understand your point, even if I personally like the 'one piece' design.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Best, Emmanuel
A great, sorta quirky Patek, quattro.
Amazing variety... If I could, I'd opt for this reference on a bracelet.