FabR
[Senior Patek Moderator]
26166
Yep, especially at a time when the watch market goes crazy over nothing, an added signature (to the otherwise exact same watch, as you noted) can go a long way... Not for me, but certainly enough other collectors are interested ;-)
An astonishing recent example (way beyond Tiffany) was that of a 2523 with the double-signature of a historic Italian AD, which technically made it "unique"....because of this, in Fall of 2019, the watch sold for over $8M.
Now think that this didn't bring any good luck to the AD, since earlier this month it suddenly (well, almost) lost its Patek license...So maybe the new owner will be able to resell that 2523 for $20M? 
No matter where people stand on this issue, I guess everybody agrees that it's a very, very crazy secondary market! ;-)
This is how good it is :)
Today the famous blog/commercial AD released a collaboration of Tag Heuer Dato....limited to 250 and of course, sold out not sure within how long because I wasn't interested. This one is a vintage tribute which I don't know about and interesting to see a ...
I like the design
Price was definitely a little steep but I thought about it. I find it really cool. About the business of professional flippers, I won't comment much - this is just an extreme version of what has happened in the grey market for a while. It would be good if...
Overall aesthetics are quite good...
White metal and Black dial always work well, imho.
To my eyes the date window and sub-dial make are trying to run away from the crown & pushers...
...trying to run away as fast as possible.
Clueless_Collector is now our resident WatchProSite Lexicographer
Lexicographer is the title for someone who invents/defines words.
Wow! You're really good at this job! Thank you for reminding me about the definition of resident!
I see you're on track to a promotion!
Damn....better ROIs and profit than most investments
This is really making this hobby uninteresting...
What goes up must come down.....all the recent years of hype is because the water level is so high...every boat (good or bad) is riding high.
When the fast and hot $$$ is gone, I cannot imagine what it is like with so much inventory made during these flourishing years flooding the market
Thanks for the clarification...even at 250 it is not a lot considering their supporters...
I really have a problem with the never ending celebration of a 160th year which is so odd for celebrating...165th, 170th?
They were actually on Tag's website for almost 2 hours later in the morning giving others opportunities to buy.
I like that approach by Hodinkee because when the scalpers leave Hodinkee, they assume they are gone. Word got out in enthusiasts circles about Tag's site - don't know how many they sold, but when I visited the page after learning of it on Rolex Forums, I...
It's now gone as well...but they did mention Half of the 250 is available somewhere....
which again is still not a lot for the world. Maybe I'm being too critical, not a lot of scalpers after all P
As a "purist" I simply find these business collaborations of no horological interest, *regardless* of whether a given watch is nice or not...
But as usual no surprise on the outcome and all the flipping that follows, for as long as thousands of people are interested and each of these endless, limited editions are in the hundreds...;-)
That's true....but .... don't we love Patek Philippe + Tiffany :)P
Bucherer and many watch brands has many....I suspect WoS will be next since they are getting so Big now...oh wait, I think they did some recently too. Car + Watches, Wine + Watches, Food + Watches, all Purist stuff, haha...
This is definitely a good point, in fact for many people the extra T signature doesn't even add any value to the watch.
Personally, I don't have any issue with this long-standing partnership, given its really deep historical roots and the importance Tiffany has had since Patek came to America (we are going back to the 1800's here). It's actually an important part of Patek'...
I don't object to the partnership. That's all fine and good. Tiffany, Beyer, etc...all good. I just don't get the price obsession over having the name on a dial...
or the expectation that I'm supposed to fawn over the same Aquanaut (or whatever Patek) with a tiny 7-letter word printed in white on the dial. The price obsession makes the 7-letter word a turn-off, and I'd therefore rather not even have it there. And th...
Yep, especially at a time when the watch market goes crazy over nothing, an added signature (to the otherwise exact same watch, as you noted) can go a long way... Not for me, but certainly enough other collectors are interested ;-)
An astonishing recent example (way beyond Tiffany) was that of a 2523 with the double-signature of a historic Italian AD, which technically made it "unique"....because of this, in Fall of 2019, the watch sold for over $8M. Now think that this didn't bring...
Yes, exactly 😀
And I had no idea of that $8M sale! Crazy. The vintage ones don’t seem to bother me as much as the modern ones, though.
The Patek-Tiffany collaboration (meaning, Tiffany is allowed to add its signature on some of the watches it sells as an AD) is really different on multiple levels, frankly there's just no relation here ;-)
Patek has allowed select ADs to add their signatures for decades, and is continuing this tradition with Tiffany to this day, which has very deep historical roots. It has nothing to do with contriving a partnership with a watch blog (or a car maker, a fash...
True...and I agree. See, that's why we love Patek Philippe right?
I have more respect for them after the recent discontinuation of the 5711. This is huge difference between a conglomerate vs family business, even both are making similar products...aka watches.
Precisely the family factor, in the end that's a key difference that can hardly be overcome. Planning for the long term is simply inconsistent with pleasing stakeholders every quarter (and hiring managers who will only stay on for a few years)...
That's the reality, for good or for bad ;-) I do hope we'll always have not only Patek as a family business in the watch world, but at least a few other large independent brands for people to choose from (Rolex, AP, even Chopard, etc.). Hard to predict th...
Transparently absurd artificial, fabricated and temporary value IMO
The great things is we don’t have to buy these collaborative marketing pieces. For passionate enthusiasts like most of us I don’t like the lack of availability of some of the finest of pieces from the big five (I won’t state them to avoid controversy and ...
Marketing has become so essential, unfortunately in this business or any businesses....
As in my recent post about GP vs GF. We cannot control others but we can control ourselves. Totally two sides of the story with most cases. I agree the hype is making this hobby less interesting, and in fact, a little frustrating.
Still don't like the labelling of "Hodinkee" on the watch...
And while the Blancpain collaboration was enticing I couldn't stand the engraved "Hodinkee" on the rear. I just don't see a situation in 50 years that this brand name will have a lasting legacy or brand like a Tiffany. I could be totally wrong and Hodinke...
They are really getting bigger with the recent funding and acquisition of preowned platform C&C...
I have to say that they are making their mark in this business and seed investors happy....and I respect that. Yes and if someone like some of us don’t like it, we look away....always something for everyone.
Good points...
But I do always ask the question - what exactly is proprietary for Hodinkee that enables them to build a lasting brand? With watches and other fine collectibles there is plenty of design and engineering related innovation at varying degrees and levels. Ho...
They are not creating a brand ....
They (not just them) and some ADs are capitalizing on the fact that collectors love “limited” and “sought after” pieces, and these pieces have gone up in value so “specollectors” love them ) They don’t need to spend resources hiring watch makers and start...
There are a number of reasons why some may want the new one instead...
1- New movement with 80-hour PR 2- More serviceability 3- Warranty 4- 250 pieces
No doubt. Most new watches are overpriced these days.
That's because the typical audience seems to be able to afford them.
The prices of really nice new watches are pushing me more towards vintage sleepers as far as value goes. Conversely, #1 purchase consideration is always "do I like it"?
Too much profit oriented market hype is always a turn off .. with anything, not just watches.
Not just the pros
I did some recreational scalping of tickets when I was a student and used the proceeds to pay for my trip to the event. Truthfully, if you have the time, have the means and are into watches, it is tempting to flip of few Hodinkee specials and use the proc...
That is true and honestly ...
Who doesn’t want to make a few bucks and use that to fund your favorite watch? Hmmm....oops, now might have one more competition 😅