What Guys Look For in Patek Philippe and Other Luxury Watches

Women are often at a loss when trying to pick the perfect gift for men. While there are certain luxury items men appreciate such as men’s jewelry, cuff links, and neckties, Patek Philippe and other luxury watches are gifts men will treasure for a lifetime. Women have a few advantages over men when it comes to fashion. Let’s face it: Women understand fashion better, they know their jewelry, and they certainly can accessorize smartly. Still, there are still certain concerns that men have when looking for the perfect Patek Philippe watch. For women who are thinking of buying just the right Patek Philippe gift for their men, here are a few helpful tips that you need to know.

Men are concerned about how big their Patek Philippe watch would look on their wrist. Some big guys will be surprised to know that there are some very large watches around that can suit him. While there are men who prefer larger Patek Philippe or other luxury watches, most would prefer a more conservative style. Knowing the personality of the guy you are giving the Patek Philippe watch to will certainly be helpful.

Men are particular about the colors of their Patek Philippe watches. While some luxury watches sport red, gray, blue, and black, most men will go for muted colors such as earth tones – the blues, blacks, and browns. Some guys are bold enough to try many bold-colored watches though. The deep blues will always be a favorite among men.

Most men won’t worry about the price of the Patek Philippe or luxury watch you will give him. Remember, it’s the thought that counts. As long as you put your heart and soul in picking the perfect Patek Philippe watch for your guy, he will definitely appreciate it. With this in mind, it is alright to buy luxury watches that are on sale. Who knows? Guys might appreciate your frugality after all. As a last note, keep in mind that the price may send a message to your guy, so spend the right amount for your guy and your relationship.

These are helpful tips to help you decide what type of Patek Philippe watch to buy for your man. However, the most important factor in buying a luxury watch is your guy’s own personality. He may be open to something different in the end. Ask around and search for the perfect Patek Philippe gift for your loved ones.

What Makes Patek Philippe Watches Worth the Price

Luxury watches such as those manufactured by Patek Philippe and other Swiss brands are very expensive, which is why collectors make these Patek Philippe watches their ultimate investments. Suggested retail prices are usually higher than what customers actually have to pay for. Deals and steals on Patek Philippe luxury watches are still available but buyers should be wary of fakes and scams. For the curious collector, here are some factors that make Patek Philippe watches truly a collector’s item.

1. Movement – The Patek Philippe brand is well-known for pioneering such movements as the perpetual calendar, split-second hands, chronograph, and minute repeater. These movements are often the most expensive luxury watches and when these features are combined, they will certainly cost more. Minute repeaters almost always command a 6-figure price while tourbillions usually start at $80,000.

2. Materials – Swiss watches are among the best watches in the world. Patek Philippe luxury watches offer luxury watches made from a variety of materials. The materials from which Patek Philippe watches are made of affect the price of the watches. Patek Philippe lovers can choose from stainless steel, gold plating, gold, yellow or rose, white gold, and platinum luxury watches. For example, Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Chronograph featuring a sapphire crystal caseback also has a platinum case, increasing its price in the watch market. Other watches use materials such as base metals, plastics, resins, and other synthetic materials which consumers will not likely find in a luxury Swiss watch.

3. Production scale – Some Patek Philippe watches are handmade, which increases their value. The smaller the number of production, the more expensive the Patek Philippe watch will be. There are series produced in limited number and especially expensive are custom-made luxury watches.

4. Diamonds and jewels – An increasing trend in luxury watch design nowadays is the use of diamonds and other jewels for aesthetic purposes. The bigger jewels and higher karats will definitely command a higher price in Patek Philippe watches. The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 is a ladies watch that boasts a case and a strap made of 18kt white gold set with diamonds as well as a pave-set diamond dial.

5. Brand – We’ve all heard that the name itself makes the luxury watch expensive. This is especially true with Patek Philippe watches as they are known for being at the apex of the Swiss watch industry. With over 90 patents to its name, Patek Philippe commands the highest place in watchmaking.

Why Luxury Watches Make Perfect Wedding Day Gifts

Giving gifts to your soon-to-be lifetime partner on the biggest event of your lives go as far back as the Victorian era. It is a custom practiced by many and unlike any other occasion, this gift has to be utterly perfect. Why? Because it is a gift to commemorate your wedding day, a gift that when seen or worn, would whisk you both back to that special day you decided to swap I do’s.

Luxury watches such as Patek Philippe, IWC, Tag Heuer, and the like make a perfect wedding day gift. Here’s why: 

A wedding is an investment – an investment on your feelings. You choose to wholeheartedly cherish and love one another until your dying days. Similarly, a luxury watch like a Patek Philippe, Omega, etc. is well worth the investment. These timepieces boast of impeccable quality. The skill and horological expertise combined with its history are what makes luxury watches above the rest.

A wedding is a momentous event that when remembered, it brings you back to the day in your life where you felt extreme joy. You always want you keep those memories close to your heart. A Patek Philippe watch or any similar luxury watch is something personal. You wear it with you all the time, constantly very close to you. Every time you see this perfection in a timepiece on your wrist, you are instantly reminded of that one perfect day in your life.

A wedding is only the beginning of a journey towards marital bliss. As the years pass by, your companionship only goes deeper and deeper, adding irreplaceable value into your marriage. Luxury watches, similarly, do not grow old. A Patek Philippe watch, for example, increases in value as time passes by. The real value of these luxury watches is its lasting value, making it a perfect symbolical gift for your better half.

Collecting Patek Philippe and Other Luxury Watches? Here’s What You Need to Know

Luxury watches from brands such as Patek Philippe, Omega, and Breguet are not inexpensive. The process of buying one can take weeks, or sometimes even months, because of the planning that goes into making a purchase of one. If you’re planning to collect timepieces from Patek Philippe or other luxury brands, here are some tips to get you started:

A. Lange & Söhne - Datograph Perpetual

1. When in search of contemporary watches, look for those with complicated models in limited production numbers. Watchmakers such as Patek Philippe are known for pioneering a number of innovations such as the perpetual calendar, split-second hands, and the chronograph. Breguet made their mark with the tourbillon movement and A. Lange & Söhne is known for producing the first timepiece with a wearable 31-day power reserve, while Omega was the first to successfully incorporate the co-axial escapement.

2. Just like jewelry, vintage watches are scarce, which makes them that much more expensive and worth the investment. Patek Philippe and Rolex watches are known to increase in value as time passes. Patek Philippe luxury watches have long been worn by royalty and political leaders, and have consequently become a status symbol for most watch collectors. Among the most popular timepieces are the Annual Calendar Chronograph, Calatrava, Nautilus, and Aquanaut.

3. According to Michael Ashton, a Patek Philippe and Rolex specialist, Patek Philippe timepieces from the 1940s and 1950s are good investments because, ironically, they weren’t popular during that time and thus had very limited production runs. For example, the 1943 J Chronograph features a hand sewn Patek Philippe crocodile and engravings on the crown.

4. Keep all paperwork, especially the original documentation of your luxury watch. Accessories should be intact and well taken care of. Replacing or restoring them will bring down the value of your watch.

5. Buy what your heart wants and not what the fashion world dictates. Because these luxury watches are expensive, it’s best to check out what’s available and choose what kind of movement and brand best fits your style, personality, and lifestyle. For men, watches are just one of the two or three accessories worn on a daily basis, so they should be the perfect one for you.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek Lists Most Expensive Watches of 2010

2010 means that more diamonds, gold, platinum, chronographs and tourbillions are set to make their mark in the world of chronology. Combine them and you have the elements that make up the most expensive watches of 2010. The world’s most prestigious and renowned watchmakers have submitted their picks for the most expensive watches of the year, based on aesthetics and technical functions. Here’s a few that made the list:

• Tag Heuer’s Monaco V4 is priced at $80,000, but despite that relatively exorbitant price tag, it’s probably one of the cheaper ones on this list. The world’s first and only belt-driven timepiece was inspired by maker Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s (LVMH) love for cars. Though only 150 pieces were manufactured, the Monaco V4 is highly durable and requires less maintenance because of the belts and micro ball bearings.

• The L'Astronomo Luminor Tourbillion 1950 Equation of Time pays tribute to Galileo Galilei, as each piece is engraved with the client’s hometown, located on the back near the rotating sky chart of the city. Cast in rose gold and priced $235,000 each, only 30 of these limited edition luxury watches will be produced.

• Although Swiss watchmaker IWC’s Grande Complication was first launched 20 years ago, it continues to makes its mark in the world of watchmaking. Featuring a perpetual calendar with a moon phase, minute repeater, and chronograph with automatic movement, only about 50 pieces are manufactured annually. The platinum version is priced at $318,000 while the Portuguese-style case costs $220, 567.

• With a price of $508,000, Chopard’s Secret luxury watch features a pave-set diamond dial and a frame adorned with 19 carat diamonds in brilliant, baguette, and square cuts. Only two Secret watches have been produced so far.

• From Breguet comes the Classique 5349 Grande Complication at the price of $755,000. With twin tourbillons rotating in a platinum case lined with diamonds, this piece has more than 570 parts and is protected by three patents for its “superior precision and technological mastery”.

• For approximately $1,091,869, watch collectors can own Patek Philippe’s Sky Moon Tourbillon. The first double-faced watch has a nocturnal sky with the stars, moon, moon phases and sidereal time. The ultimate luxury watch also has a perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and a minute repeater.

• The title of most expensive watch belongs to Louis Moinet’s Meteoris, priced at an astonishing $4,599,487. With a set of four tourbillon watches, each made from a different material such as a meteorite from Mars, the moon, an asteroid, and the “Rosetta Stone”, the Meteoris comes with a planetarium that makes its price worth paying for.