Patek Philippe

nothing but time
350

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Patek 5101 .. Fell into my lap..

So I've always admired Patek..  I first loved the 5110 World Time..  Couldn't afford that back when it retailed for about $16,000 in 2002.. Then I dreamt about the 5036 WG back when it was $22,000 (and out of reach for me) ..  I believe it was 2004 and I saw that one on Ashton Kutcher's wrist.. Figures because he was dating Demi (Moore) and Bruce Willis used to wear Patek's when she was with him.  Man I wanted that watch. So I hunkered down got to work..  had a few good years in my business..  Then in late 2006 I walked into my local Patek AD looking for a 5960 WG or PT and the sales lady (who had helped me select a nice diamond Twenty-four for my wife's birthday) told me she had just gotten a very special watch. She brought the cherrywood case from the vault and it was a 5970 WG..  I have to be honest I knew nothing about this watch at the time.  And my first impression was that it looked rather plain (the pictures in marketing were more vibrant than the piece in person)..  I really wanted the 5960 but bought the 5970 at her urging (well below list) and have never regretted it.. If you want a wound watch it is sure to please (and impress)..   I did part with that watch for 4 months after my daughter dropped it on a marble floor in our hotel on vacation and I had to send it to Patek for new crystal and rhodium replating..  (I highly recomend redoing rhodium plating if you own one of these as they scratch quickly and easily and the factory rhodium is quite thin compared with the ASC replate).

So my shiny 5970 is impressing conisseurs everywhere I go ..  but I'm still really craving the 5960 for it's automatic movement and flourescent hands (try checking the time on a 5970 in the dark.. pain in the a**  ..  and the constant winding is chaffing my fingertips..  you laugh, but you know it's true) .. So imagine my delight 2 weeks ago when Patek releases a batch of 5960's and I picked up my new watch just before Christmas... I am happy...  the sales lady is happy.. Life is good. 

2 days later sales lady who sold me both watches (all three if you count the wife's Twenty-four) tells me that Patek has a 5101p ..  they were going to ship it to an AD who tried to sell it on the gray market..  when Patek discovered this they pulled the watch and shipped it to 'my' AD instead.. and  do I want the watch?  (I have wanted this watch since seeing it on Bruce Wayne's wrist in "Batman Begins")..  I say "hell yeah"  .. So I have to fill in a form..  it goes to Patek..  they approve me (Thanks Thierry!!) .. and the watch arrives..  Certificate is made out in my name..  The case is gorgeous (and huge) and the watch case size is much larger than I imagined from the pictures..  Case nearly straddles my wrist-face and I'm not Asian.  Perversely, this watch is actually more of a daily wearer because nobody notices or cares..  it's so undertated..  I love that.

So after much backstory,  here's the question.  I paid about 25-30% below list on the 5960 and 70..  the 5101 is much closer to gray market price?  My AD is honest as the day is long and they told me they made very little on it.  Is the 5101p discontinuing or simply not in much demand, so the secondary market doesn't ask a premium?  Also..  can anyone reading this take a stab at the production volume on the 5101..  exactly how many of these exist?  Lastly .. does anyone know what the true list is on a 5013..  I've been dreaming about that watch since 2005 ..  My good fortune with these existing watches has built my courage and  i'd like to order a black dial 5013p from the same AD .. but because the piece is rare and production presumably low..  I'd like a price reference point to keep all parties honest.  Lastly any idea on production volume of the 5013?  

Thanks to all.