Patek Philippe

whit
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My response is to everyone, I just didn't know where to put it, but

the fact is that many people, regardless whether they like the piece or not, buy for that reason (rarity) and pursue watches which are hard to find, again for that reason. It just seems that people are dancing around this subject. It's a factor and can be an overwhelming factor for some in the decision making of owning one piece vs another.

I'm certainly guilty of it. I love the 3960 ($9500 for yellow and $16,500 for platinum when introduced in 1989) and recently had an opportunity of buying a yellow gold version but then a platinum model surfaced for four times the price of the yellow gold version. I certainly would have been satisfied with either but I now look on my wrist daily knowing that there are only 49 other folks in the world who own such a piece.

Maybe most folks here wouldn't buy them for their rarity but there are those who do. Rarity is the sizzle which can help stir the emotions to part with a larger to huge sum of money.

Until 1985 or so (when the 3940 replaced the 3450), production figures for the 3450 were pretty well known, I believe 281 pieces if I'm not mistaken. During its production years, its popularity was not very high at all ... but look at it now. Most folks here, if offered a 3450 or a 3940 for similar prices, I would suspect would opt for a 3450 in a flash but in 1985, everyone I showed both to opted for the 3940 for its appearance. The fact is that the 3450 commands a premium over the 3940 because of its rarity. The 3450 is one of many references which share this "rarity" factor because prior to 1989, so few pieces like this were produced. Just look at the past issues of the Patek magazines and see the models sold at auction, Patek themselves, are marketing this rarity and perceived value because they know we all want to see that these pieces are bringing huge sums. It makes us feel good about our purchase... and it does for me.

Other than specific limited production pieces, anything is apt to make it back in production or certainly a variation so just because it's not currently in production doesn't mean it can't make it back sometime down the road.