whit
558
Not quite 300 years, more like 171 years but still a long
time.
Creativity? Don't think I would agree on that point.
Independent? Yes.
Going strong financially? Absolutely...for now.
I do believe it is very clear the past twenty-five years has been very kind to Patek, not only financially but the awareness and demand of the product, which has pushed them to levels which they have never experienced. This has come with some baggage, QC problems, applications to buy certain pieces, ability to change dials and hands....restrictions. Now it seems they are evolving to a more mass produced "high-end" watch which may open the door for another firm to fill the gap that Patek has chosen to abandon. It's happened with automobiles and, watches are no different.
When money is involved and when we are talking about the type of money that Patek has captured recently, being able to adapt and maintain all the "expected" inherent qualities and services of quieter times is an incredible challenge that I would dare say, not many firms (not just watchmaking or automotive) have been successful.
The car/watch associations are interesting but when I saw them, I realized that my relationships of the two products was influenced by historical reputation and maybe really good marketing. My personal experiences show quite a different mix of associations from those posted. Maybe a different thought would be, if you had to choose just one watch and one car that you had absolute confidence regarding reliability over all others. What would they be?
Watch VS Car
IMO I would say.... Patek=Ferrari Audemars Piguet=Lamborghini A.Lange & Sohne=Porsche Rolex=Mercedes-Benz Panerai=BMW This week I have visited 3 Patek AD's, the interest thing was a Patek sales person always mention or says owning a Patek is like owning a...
AD talk can be quite lame, at times ...
...NOT to spoil this thread, as it might be an interesting comparison for some watch fellows here, but one AD told me recently that PP will become the next Rolex ! Sounds odd, but was ment with this was the incrising popularity of PP. To be utterly honest...
(Patek) Watch VS Car
A very interesting analogy indeed. Some would equate Patek VS Rolls (especially PP5102 etc) & AP vs Ferrari. Lange VS BMW. Henry Hoe.
I have given this too much thought, but
Panerai: Range rover- due to it's size, interesting and unique shape, and somewhat iffy repair record. Rolex: BMW: they are ubiquitous, high resale value, good repair record, moderately priced Omega: Audi: always fighting to get BMW sales and notoriety, b...
My take on the list...
My take on the list (and I have looked at the brands listed at the top of this page and felt free to add some): Patek=Rolls Royce (sorry, Ferrari is too fancy for Patek Jaeger leCoultre=Aston Martin (why: a distinguished gentleman's brand) Breguet=Bentley...
Poor AD!
It shows a distinct lack of knowledge about the car market. Patek is more like Rolls Royce for it's use of modern technology, hand construction and traditional materials. Lange is more like Bristol - very traditional but with really high tech materials in...
Interesting comparisons
I am like the Count, in that I am not that into cars. For me a car is something to get me where I need to go, purely functional. I grew up with a father who always had car magazines around ( a Jaguar enthusiast ), and I never understood the interest. I th...
Even better than a Toyota ...
... the Count does not have ANY car ! I can afford not to have .... ;-) ! Regards Moritz
"Patek is like owning a ferrari" Maybe they thought about ...
maintenance costs, order transactions for "interesting" models, ... Oliver
Patek vs. Car
For me--I drive an Audi S 5 Cab and my sports car is a Porsche 1996 993 Turbo--last of the hand made air cooled turbos--with only 10k miles on it! For me I wear a 5960P and 5146P and having owned a Ferrari in the past would never buy one again! Anyone who...
humbly disagree
i think Pateks are more mercedes-like, but more like in this "order" calatravas and gondolos- C class aquanauts - SLK nautilus - CLKs annual calenders - E class travel watches - M class perpetual calenders - CLS chronographs - S class tourbillons - SL cel...
I don't think so
That's completely incongruous to associate a Patek with a Ferrari. Patek is conservative, high quality, and expensive which just screams Rolls Royce. Richard Mille is not conservative, exotic, and expensive, which just screams Ferrari. I'd say: Richard Mi...
Car will never be the same as Watch
In 10 years time, most cars will become electric, or at least hybrid, so what do we compare.... Patek starts making battery quartz watch to save the environment??? And so are the rest of the watch brands... all become Casio? I hope they'll stay mechanical...
Not quite 300 years, more like 171 years but still a long
time. Creativity? Don't think I would agree on that point. Independent? Yes. Going strong financially? Absolutely...for now. I do believe it is very clear the past twenty-five years has been very kind to Patek, not only financially but the awareness and d...
VERY right ! ...
... what you are saying regarding PP : as I mentioned in my answer here: an AD has the impression as if PP will be the next Rolex. Also right about the QC issues: I have seen, quite a few, PP watches with impairment at various ADs: marks on the dial, NOT ...
In general terms...
Members of the general public are much more familiar with cars than watches. So I guess it makes some sense, as a starting point, for a salesman to equate watch brands (many of which are unknown to much of the public) to car brands, even if only to accoun...
i agree pateks are more mercedes
as below : i think Pateks are more mercedes-like, but more like in this "order" calatravas and gondolos- C class aquanauts - SLK nautilus - CLKs annual calenders - E class travel watches - M class perpetual calenders - CLS chronographs - S class tourbillo...
I like your "order" ...
... somehow. Especially - annual calendar : E class; both are representatives of business class Just one more thought: What happenes with the order when WISs spend more money for watches, than for cars? E.g. driving E class station wagon and owning severa...
I throughly enjoyed reading this light hearted thread......
And the comparisons made between the watch and the car. I tend to agree that Patek is equal to a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Mercedes. The rest I am not so sure about, so I shall leave to the experts.
I agree.
I remember telling a colleague that PP was the Rolls Royce of watches, to which she replied, "...so what does that make Rolex, the toyota of watches?".
Very interesting....
I would agree with this order.... And, as PP, several models of Mercedes are highly collectible..... Cheers
Just between Ferrari and Patek......couple things in common
1. Pricey 2. Reputable 3. History 4. Heritage 5. Garage queen and Safe queen 6. Rarity 7. Design and function 8. popularity Again these are just my Opinions Cheers Robert
i humbly agree and disagree
i agree with most of the above factors you raised, but i isagree on some. PP does not have a low production, contrary to popular belief. range from a low 10000 to as high as 40000 pieces a year, including quartz pieces, basis several discussion on other f...
6000G - Ferrari
There's only one Patek that's inspired by the instrument panel of a race car..
lange
personally i thought a lange & sohne was a maybach. both german, both very luxurious and not sporty..
I love this type of thing...
For me..... Patek is about discretion....that is not exactly Ferrari. No, for me Patek is more Aston than Ferrari. Audemars ...yes, i'd go with the Lambo. Rolex.... uhm, no i'd say that was the Porsche. It is a super-car but at the same time usable and ve...
I wear BOTH PP and AP and I drive a Ferrari ;-D
I dont think the watch/car analogy holds that well. I do have a Rolex President though where the manual has a picture of a Rolls Royce on it. I think watches, like cars express a bit of the personality of the buyer but exist in their own right. Its fun to...