You’re not alone. When it’s a calculated business decision, it’s hard to have an emotional response. “ Making only steel watches, like a lot of people have been asking for with the Nautilus and other lines, is dangerous because the price average will be too low, and this could put my whole business in danger,” he explained. “This Nautilus is white gold because I had to raise the average price a little bit. Not just to make more money to be happy, but to make more money for my shareholders..”
It's tricky with luxury; a business is a business but we're solidly in the era of mass luxury even at higher price points. I'm nostalgic a bit for the old days where real luxury was the exclusive purview of aristos and robber barons but I guess that came with other problems ;)
There is an air of malaise around luxury watches and Patek in particular right now. It almost feels like the 5711 was the Avengers Endgame of hype watches and now we have to be sold on anything that follows it.
Agreed, when the news hit I wasn’t too fussed but golly I’m rather swooning at the prospect of a 5990/1A.
I’ve got a 5170G and a 36mm Rose gold DayDate (of course with a President bracelet - but to top it off with a Tahitian black MOP dial) - so I see this falling nicely in place should the powers that be at Plan-les-Ouates decide in my favour. Most likely it won’t happen, but that’s alright. I’ll probably look towards a used Datograph or some such. Let’s see.
You’re not alone. When it’s a calculated business decision, it’s hard to have an emotional response. “ Making only steel watches, like a lot of people have been asking for with the Nautilus and other lines, is dangerous because the price average will be too low, and this could put my whole business in danger,” he explained. “This Nautilus is white gold because I had to raise the average price a little bit. Not just to make more money to be happy, but to make more money for my shareholders..”
It's tricky with luxury; a business is a business but we're solidly in the era of mass luxury even at higher price points. I'm nostalgic a bit for the old days where real luxury was the exclusive purview of aristos and robber barons but I guess that came with other problems ;)
There is an air of malaise around luxury watches and Patek in particular right now. It almost feels like the 5711 was the Avengers Endgame of hype watches and now we have to be sold on anything that follows it.
HAH apt analogy.
Agreed, when the news hit I wasn’t too fussed but golly I’m rather swooning at the prospect of a 5990/1A.
I’ve got a 5170G and a 36mm Rose gold DayDate (of course with a President bracelet - but to top it off with a Tahitian black MOP dial) - so I see this falling nicely in place should the powers that be at Plan-les-Ouates decide in my favour. Most likely it won’t happen, but that’s alright. I’ll probably look towards a used Datograph or some such. Let’s see.
Great read
Great stuff.
All calculation, no emotion these days. I want to want a Patek. But what I want to want is no longer there.
Jack. Can I a pitch that you record yourself reading these for voice-over?
"Hey, Split Seconds..." :)