The Watch Appreciation Thread - Page 1206

Quote:

Originally Posted by bboysdontcryy 


Who's the maker of the strap?

http://www.natostrap.com/Home/Custom_Handmade_Straps/Custom_Handmade_Straps.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belligero 

On second thought, "wow" is right. That thing's completely untouched. I'd still take one with a PN dial over it, but it's insane cash for those.

Ah yes.  One of my trusted dealers showed me a PN Daytona a few weeks ago for a modest price of $55,000.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belligero 


Definitely nice, but this is the vintage Daytona to have:




Photo: Dr. Strong

Make mine the one with the black bezel, please!

Oi, Belligero you find the best collages.  It's like you have a thing for aesthetics and balance or something.  What is up with that? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirbya 

Thanks. That's good information. I was curious whose movement they use. I'm just concerned $11k is a little overpriced for this watch. I saw that a similar piece sold at auction in 2009 for $6,000. Love the classic elegance, though. This style of watch is right up my alley.

This Chopard Perpetual Calendar was another recent acquisition. It uses a JLC base movement, also.

I am in love with the aesthetics of perpetual calendars.  How does that Chopard feel on your wrist?  Does it wear slightly tall or does it slip into your cuff fairly easily?  Obviously this depends on the shirt you're wearing...

I've been to some auctions and my concern is always provenance and quality.  Sure, pieces might clear for what seems to be an outrageously low price (although sometimes they clear for outrageously high prices, haha), but then you have to verify quality and where it came from, etc. I guess that's what I pay dealers for, to guarantee said provenance and quality with a 1 or 2-year warranty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino944 


Within the last month, prices on all of their gold watches were reduced. Not sure if prices on their platinum pieces were also reduced. Prices on steel watches remain unchanged.

Yes, definitely gold.  Unsure about platinum.  I want to say it was only about a week ago, but rumors had been floating around for at least a month.

Quote:

Originally Posted by no frills 

 

AP's recent decision to slash prices for their precious metal pieces by anywhere from 15 to 30% isn't going to help brand perception (and I'm glad I didn't purchase a precious metal AP over the last year, otherwise I'd be fuming and demanding a small refund), but perhaps it can pave the way for others to enjoy the superb quality that this watchmaker does offer.

IIRC, the true drop is 17%.  Some people have then tried figuring if the got a discount based on the new price, how much they might have saved...but most got large discount on the gold pieces.  Its my understanding, the cost on APs to dealers have gone up by 10% so with a drop in MSRP, it will cut the deep discounting on gold models.  Also, AP is doing what Cartier and Rolex did in the last few years and is closing many smaller/deep discouting ADs world wide.  

As for brand perception, it probably won't have much affect.  They have tremendous brand loyalty among customers(maybe more so than any other brand other than Rolex, with many owners owning several APs). Not sure if anyone here on SF was following AP about 4-5 years ago, but anyone that did may remember they had price reduction on steel watches in 2009.  For example all the sudden the RO chronograph dropped from about $19,400 to $16,000+/-.  Within 2 years prices on all steel APs were nearly at the pre-price drop level and by last year all prices had greatly exceeded it, and the RO chronographs were around $23,000.  Most people don't even remember the price drop.  If someone had to sell a watch immediately after the price drop it sucked for them, but if they held on to the watch for a few years it became irrelevant as prices rebounded. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by no frills 

 

Yes, definitely gold.  Unsure about platinum.  I want to say it was only about a week ago, but rumors had been floating around for at least a month.

 Quick research I saw said its only on gold models, and not on any limited editions.  Rumors began in January, but were confirmed by the last week of January.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirbya 


Thanks. That's good information. I was curious whose movement they use. I'm just concerned $11k is a little overpriced for this watch. I saw that a similar piece sold at auction in 2009 for $6,000. Love the classic elegance, though. This style of watch is right up my alley.

This Chopard Perpetual Calendar was another recent acquisition. It uses a JLC base movement, also.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

 That is a beautiful Chopard!  Very cool retrograde date too! 

I think you need to try to do more research regarding the price of the AP Dual Time.  I don't see them come up for sale too often, but a single auction result from 3-4 years ago doesn't really give much guidance.  Auction results can help with setting some parameters, but items can often sell for less than their real market value if a seller is in a hurry and the right buyer isn't at that auction, or a piece can sell for far more than its worth if a few buyers get worked up into a frenzy over the same piece.  

I think $11,000 might be a bit high, but $6,000 is probably quite low.  I'm far from an expert but I'd hazzard a guess that you should be able to negotiate it for a price of maybe $8,000-9,000. 

A quick check on eBay and I found 2 examples of the AP Dual Time dress watch from the 90s.  One for $9,000 OBO, the other for $9,700 OBO. 

So with some negotiating I would think in the $8-9K range is not unreasonable for a top quality watch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by no frills 

 

I am in love with the aesthetics of perpetual calendars.

Really? I wonder what the little voices in your head might be telling you...