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Rarity? For me, not so much...
I don't expect to ever be playing in the land of exotic and rare complications. And if PP makes (let's say) 20,000 or so mechanical watches per year, not so rare. There are dive watch brands competing in the USD 500 marketplace that are a lot more rare (but somewhat less desirable, perhaps 
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While searching for a nice gold dress watch at a variety of price points, the 5296R (opaline dial) just called out to me in a way that I didn't know was possible. There are certainly much less costly watches of that general type, but I was able to get them off of my wrist without a problem. I can not tell you what is so magical about that watch, other than to say I am still completely bewitched by it. So, of the ca 20,000 mechanical PPs per year, even if half of them were the identical watch - it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. Rarity has nothing to do with it, for me.
I think, that if we are going to be honest with ourselves, the PP name does have something to do with being willing to pay the prices that these things command (well, perhaps not so much after three price increases or so in 2011; or discovering that there is a Stern jet!).
💰1729 Marketplace Listings for Patek Philippe›Patek Philippe Calatrava · 2 for sale · 8371 discussions›
Why we do love Patek Philippe watches, chapter one, rarity!
Well well well ! Patek Philippe is certainly not one of the most loved watch brands for nothing. I'm not here to try to convince die hard fans with marketing arguments but there are reasons! Let's discuss them! Some of these reasons may please us a lot an...
Do I love PP watches in general? No!
Are there watches from PP which I love? Yes! Rarity is like one spice for the meal, nothing more nothing less. First of all a watch has to please me and my wrist. Oliver
When I bought my 3712 and not 5712
the main reason was rarity and the second was originality. Rarity again is related with individuality but also with value. The reason acquiring a Patek is always a very complex matter. Choosing any Patek is nearly always a costlier affair than selecting a...
Cant fight them,then join them....
Hi, I Love the brand because of their family roots and love some of their models too. But hate the rarity in nature that make them envy of many..... So.....all in all,if you cant fight them then just join them,as to say. They never ask you to follow and m...
Rarity? For me, not so much...
I don't expect to ever be playing in the land of exotic and rare complications. And if PP makes (let's say) 20,000 or so mechanical watches per year, not so rare. There are dive watch brands competing in the USD 500 marketplace that are a lot more rare (b...
I'm not sure if...
Pateks are all THAT rare. Watchtime had them at 42,000 pieces a year or so ago. By comparison, JLC made 50,000, but 8,000 of those were Atmos clocks (and there are more JLC models, limiting the actual number of pieces for one metal/dial/band configuration...
production figures
Hi Dean, of the 42 K produced, nearly 20 K are quartz jeweled twenty -4 ladies watches. cheers,dreamer
Interesting topic, Jerome. A bit provocative, though.
As it will provide some provocative answers... Do I love Patek as a brand? No. I feel very far from the common Patek customer, who sometimes keeps his watch " double sealed " rather than living with it ( his wife must not be the happiest wife, by the way,...
Rarity
The Patek Philippe watch is developed and manufactured to be an exclusive creation. The company's combined production over the past 170 years is less than 1% of the Swiss watchmaking industry's current production in one year. And enthusiasts the world ove...
Rarity is ...
.. .. smooth way to profit ... not that I have anything against it ... On other hand art have intrinsic characteristic of rarity so if you making objects of artistic value not arguing that Patek doesn't they have to be rare otherwise they'll be Swatch but...
I am delighted to see this post. I believe it will
reveal thoughts about this subject from many different viewpoints. Until the interest in Patek spiked in the late '80's and early '90's, I really don't know if the issue of rarity was as significant as it is today. The term seemed to have surfaced when th...
Rarity or exclusivity?
Rarity is not important to me, exclusivity however is. There are many, many watches that are far rarer than the majority of Patek's production but they don't have that exclusivity which is largely created by the high price. In my experience very few of th...
I think you're right.
Exclusive is a better descriptive term than rare, particularly for pieces made within the past 20 years or so. And, I think you are right, assuming you have the where with all, almost any piece could be had. Granted, the application process makes the acqu...
5959
Well, I also love the 5959 because it is beautiful, has a lot going on in a very small package, is extremely difficult to build, and is very,very RARE. Rarity is important to me if it's associated with quality, beauty, and the highest craftsmanship. The 5...
I love PP as a brand but am not sure rarity has
anything to do with it. Exclusivity possibly, snob value maybe. I collect vintage and in those days I think PP was a different entity. I loved their design, yes sure some models were slightly rarer than others but that is not makes them desirable in my ey...
Timeless and understated elegance, beauty and quality...
My love for PP occured over a time period, not because of their ads or existing fans. I regularly wear my timeless classic 5140G. It is a joy to look at, very functional yet elegant, does not shout out its presence. Frankly, some newer PP models started t...
Patek is a watchmaking myth ...
The rarety is the cherry on the cake in my sense of view, not only for Patek Philippe. If this is not the case, the collector of watches is not a Hunter, just a stroller. The interest is sometimes in difficulty IMO. Best Patrice
Yes, it it important.......but
Maybe not the most important but important it is for sure. And not only for Patek. I think today almost every brand makes limited editions. Of course immediately we think about Audemars Piguet and Panerai. Sometimes I have a feeling that AP makes more lim...
I appreciate the rarity of quality that Patek offers
I am impressed by a great number of their pieces and find their crafstmanship excuisite. I especially like the elegance they offer to both complicated and simple watches. This to me is rare. Rarity in numbers is very subjective. The Rolex submariner is no...
There are a few that I can dream of owning...
.. but I can live without them. Rarity? I don't know about that. Ken
Rarity! Hmmm
Great brand marketing and status symbol. Keeping it conservative makes it a timeless timepiece and brand!
What means rare, if you have a million rare items to choose from?
It's like in the classic car scene: every car is promoted as rare, unique, etc, etc... What means rare, if you have a million rare items to choose from?
Rarity??!! A unscientific study comparing VC and PP
I am using just data set from a popular and reputable sales website chrono24 . The fabled rarity of the 5970 and there are 31 pieces for sale there, some sealed. Here's just a cross section list of popular current references and the number available for s...
Rarity in my watch case, yes. In the greater world, no.
I have one Patek - just one out of my 100 watches. So it's a rare watch in my household. But then I have just one Rolex - that doesn't mean Rolex is rare in the watch universe. Using the automotive analogy as others have, Porsche 911s are "relatively rare...
Love it Horo,,,,
Great post indeed, love the "unlimited number of limited editions" so true! Is Patek so rare?? Don't think so, below that's rare for example! only 1 on this planet. Cheers Francois...
Thank you very much all for your very interesting comments!
Thank you all for your very interesting comments and informations. I've been really pleased by the civilian tone. I've been more than pleased and interested by the many arguments and informations I've read. Seemingly rarity is not the thing we look for in...
at that price point rarity would certainly be a consideration for me....
contrawise, I Have no problem buying a Seiko Diver--at that price point its popularity would not be an issue for me..... J
Rarity is a relative matter
I apologize for replying so late, I wanted to take part on this interesting thread. Indeed, I hope as soon as possible to give my contribution also to the other four themes suggested by our moderator, Jéròme, to whom we must address a big thank ...