Patek Philippe - 5102 Celestial Have $180k for a Christmas present?

If you showed me that watch and told me you paid $15,000 I would still think that is to much. I guess just for the Patek name? I just have a tough time understanding why a watch like that is so much, I mean a platnium rolex covered in diamonds makes sense to cost a lot.

 

http://www.tourbillon-watches.com/tourbillon.asp?pg=editorial/2003/patek.htm&house=50

 

Uhhh, no.

I'm certain a cell phone applet could be written to do the same exact thing, downloaded into the phone via {major phone service provider} for only $10.

 

One of my all-time favorites.

 

A photograph of a woman is superior in every way to the Mona Lisa except one - artistic value.

I'll take the Mona Lisa over your holiday snaps to hang in my hallway though

 

Same. When I see reference to that watch, I always think of good ol' Atherd, he was the first one I remember talking about it here on FC.

 

How much is too much?

It's all subjective.

 

Didn't we have a thread on a high-price watch a few days ago? I agree with you. It's no different than a $220,000 Ferrari. If someone makes that kind of dough, than cost is not relative.

 

For a Patek to be so expensive as this one relies on 2 different areas one being exclusivity ie how many were made and secondly on the amount of complications it contains.

 

Can I just say that the price of this watch is quite absurd? Seriously.

Sure, the Mona Lisa costs a fortune...NOW. If you tried to buy it a couple of days after it was painted, 2 sheep and a cow in trade would have done it .

Certain works of art cost fortunes now, because in retrospect, they are great and defined an artistic era.

A watch, which was JUST made, selling for 200,000$ retail...is absurd. But, someone will pony up for it.

A watch is nothing like a ferrari. An apples to oranges comparison.

You want a hand made watch? Buy a rolex. Its plenty expensive enough to let your friends know you spent money, its relatively rare, and tells time .

The materials in a Patek are not 10x those of a rolex. Neither is the complexity. Pricing isw hatever the market will bear...

 

It's one of my favorite watches. The only way I'd pay that much for it is if I made $50 million a year, which will never happen. There's only one Rolex I like--Daytona. The Submariner is nice, too, but the Daytona is just awesome. I'm not crazy about the rest, but I don't think I've seen them all.

 

That's not super expensive for a Patek

Many other repeaters, tourbillons, grand complications, etc... from them go for A LOT more.

 

Why? I would venture that this watch will be worth more at a later date than it is now.


I would hardly consider most Rolexes artwork or handmade. I've owned a stainless submariner, nice watch, one of my all time favorites even if it's ubiquitous. In side by side comparison to my stainless Ulysse Nardin marine diver the submariner loses its luster pretty fast. In looking at both closely, the UN is to my eye far more of a piece of art. I wouldn't consider either handmade though, as both Rolex and UN are relatively mass produced watches.

I didn't really "get" the obsession with high-end Pateks until I was able to fondle a friends Patek minute repeater. The attention to detail and the intricacy of the movements is breathtaking. Pictures, no matter how high res, don't begin to do these watches justice. The way the light dances on the timepieces and the feel of it in your hand are difficult to accurately describe. The way your eyes strain as you focus, harder, then again, even harder still trying to find a flaw and even as your eyes are strained to their limit, the details are so crystal clear it makes you want to break out a microscope...

In short, yeah, I'd be that guy who pops a cool quarter for a watch if I could justify it. I can't, so it's moot, but I understand the addiction.

 

I love the UN Marine Diver. I had a Marine Perpetual Calendar for a while, with white dial. Amazing watch.

A friend of mine is looking to get into watches, he wants his first to be in the 3-5k range. I fully suggested the Marine Diver White Dial with Rubber Strap. He seems excited and should be picking one up soon.

Great choice!

 

Thanks! I love it. I like the Maxi too, but the dial didn't look quite right to me in the slightly larger size.

IMO, the white is the way to go. I prefer the stainless bracelet though. For a strapped diver I'd get the blue surf.

Here's a crappy pic of mine today. Funny thing, the highly polished finish has been VERY durable, much more so than I expected.
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Yeah it's def. a tought watch. In another forum they were asking for a good watch to take some punishment. I suggested the UN.

I love the gold ball effect of the white dial too

I'm actually watchless today. Just sold my Big Pilot. AP ROO next I guess

 

How is a $200,000 car different than a $200,000 watch? Rolex is highly mass-produced. People spend money on what they like.