Purists,
I have a modest timepiece collection consisting of a 5170J manual 30-Minute chronograph in yellow gold, 5130R world time in rose gold, 5905P annual calendar 1-hour Chronograph, and an AP Royal Oak stainless steel blue dial 15400. These four watches are my entire collection and I am diligent about giving them equal wrist time in my collection - the Royal Oak is my weekend watch and the three Pateks are rotated each day during the work week. For the longest time, however, I have been enamored and in love with the spectacular 5270/1R perpetual calendar chronograph in rose gold on the full rose gold bracelet. This, to me, is a true grail. I would never spend $160,000 on a single Patek on its own, but over the years I’ve amassed my existing for watch collection (3 Pateks and 1 AP) with a current market value of about $160,000, so I’m at a point where a trade at least would make theoretical sense financially! I have been in touch with a respected dealer in New York who has a new and unworn sealed 5270/1R currently in stock and is willing to do a straight trade: my 5170J, 5130R, 5905P, and Royal Oak blue dial for the brand new 5270/1R. Variety is the spice of life and it’s enjoyable having a decent four watch rotation, but the 5270/1R is simply on a different level, a level where I would put it on my wrist and not ever want to rotate to something else. I am seriously considering this trade, but wanted to poll my fellow collectors and cognoscenti on your thoughts. I also just bought a 5124G Gondolo blue dial in white gold, so I would have this in addition to the 5270/1R if I did in fact do the trade. My assessment of the deal is I would be acquiring a perpetual calendar chronograph, which would negate the need for the 5170J’s chronograph and 5905P’s annual calendar, so big of those would be relatively duplicative of the 5270/1R, though the stainless Royal Oak and world time would not. While this is ultimately my decision, I sincerely value the mixed and varied most thoughtful views of my friends on here and would like your opinions on this trade deal and whether you would personally do it or not, and why. For reference, I am posting below a photo of the 5270/1R and then photos of all 4 watches in my collection that would be traded towards it. Thank you all.
5270/1R:
5170J:
5905P:
5130R:
AP Royal Oak blue dial: