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Does anyone like vintage Patek?

ubi

Known Member
9/9/19
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Just wanted to share some of my long term projects; vintage PPCo has a special place in my heart :)

48717676336_a357fc6b49_b.jpg


48717676366_89a2209962_b.jpg


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Thanks for looking! :)

//ubi
 

BIONONE

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28/4/17
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Just wanted to share some of my long term projects; vintage PPCo has a special place in my heart :)

48717676336_a357fc6b49_b.jpg


Thanks for looking! :)

//ubi

That is gorgeous! Please tell us something about those pieces! Or even some more pictures of your work ;)

Was recently thinking about a custom build of a vintage chronograph using a Lemania/Venus with a custom finish to the parts to get closer to the impeccable appearance of the gen counterpart...
 

pdx7

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Those look very cool. I wish more modders would build franken pateks like this
 

ubi

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9/9/19
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Thanks kindly! I’m a little particular to the Pateks from the 40’s and 50’s… Just something about that era for me. These builds are rather small by today’s standards; 35mm to 36mm in size, though for their time, they were considered oversized. All are handwind, and cases are neither water nor dust proof; as such, the dials are champlevé enameled for sake of longevity to the elements.

I’ve built most of the Sport Rolex models from the 60’s/70’s, and while some can be a challenge to get the right parts, they are pretty easy and elementary compared to Patek builds. Parts rarely come up for Pateks of this era, and when they do, they’re usually priced appropriately. I’ve managed to build three examples; I have parts to start another 2 or 3 more, but came to the decision that a lot of these parts may be more valuable to me for spares.

This chronograph build is a reference 130, and has a genuine dial, genuine hands, genuine (unsigned and period correct) crown and a Valjoux 23, which is the ebauche that the caliber 13-130 was based on. No movement shot, as the V23 is not much to look at. I keep thinking about doing the V23 to 13-130 conversion, but have not gotten around to it.
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The 570 is a classic time only watch, that is understated and yet elegant all at once. This build has a genuine dial, genuine hands, genuine crown (unsigned and period correct) and caliber 27SC (movement serial has been obfuscated).
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This 570 build has a genuine dial, genuine hands, genuine crown (unsigned and period correct) and caliber 12-120 (movement serial has been obfuscated).
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And some period correct steel buckles on modern Patek (Camille Fournet) straps…
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These builds have definitely been a labor of love; think I started them in 2011, and have been slowly working on them since, updating things as I find them :) The dials have been some of the most difficult items to source... I don't think I've seen a dial in as clean of condition for my ref 130 as the one I have fitted. I've seen a lot of refinished and completely new fabricated examples, but there's something about an original example that has lived life for 70+ years that can't be duplicated.

Thanks for looking!

//ubi
 

mech500

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Love the work and thanks for sharing.

But in answer to your question, no, I do not like vintage Pateks....not at gen price point anyway. Just not to my taste.


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Revolper

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Very refreshing. Gorgeous collection!
 

lepetitamericain

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ubi I have already lusted over your beautiful builds on RWG and wrote you a PM there. I’m preparing a 130 / 530 (still undecided) build myself. :)
 

Malik321

You're Saying I Can Sell?
8/2/19
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Pakistan
Very beautiful and classic and impressive.
special place for the chronograph 130, love it.
Thank you
 

Rawbe

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Holy shit. How long did it take you to source parts like dial/hands?
 

ubi

Known Member
9/9/19
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Thank you all for the very kind words :) Much appreciated!

Rawbe- Dials, hands and the sort can take a long time to source, especially if you have a particular dial type you are after. There aren't many of these things out there, mostly because these watches were not high production in the 1940's and 1950's. For example, I believe there are a little less than 1,500 total ref 130 produced over the course of 30 years; that breaks down to an average of ~50 pieces manufactured per year in the various metal types (white/yellow/pink gold, stainless steel, etc).


What's been even more challenging is to find an actual period correct movement that is running correctly. The 27SC was a bit easier to source... But on both the 27SC and the 12-120, I had to purchase two of each to net one properly working example of both.

I still actively look for dials, hands and movements, but there has not been a lot out there that's worthwhile, unfortunately :(
 

Malik321

You're Saying I Can Sell?
8/2/19
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Pakistan
I had to re-read twice, again, to get that this is purely utterly love and passion, nothing less.
Since 2011, amazing is not justified (please pardon my limited language skill)
much respect and ofcourse gratitude for sharing
 

Malik321

You're Saying I Can Sell?
8/2/19
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0
Pakistan
Please pardon me twice:
1) for reposting (not asking in previous post)
2) for in-appropriate/rude question, if it is of me

But may I please wonder, what price bracket would one have to think in his mind, if one has to put approximate price tag.

I know it's very silly question, because of too many reasons, like:
it's near impossible to source parts of such antiquity , in such perfect condition, considering the time it took, taking into account the passion behind such a project and many more aspect that a newbie like myself can't even begin to understand

Would you be kind to shed some light please.

Please do ignore my silly enquiry, if its rude of me to ask such thing.

Once again, really really delighted and impressed with your achievement.

Thank you
 

ubi

Known Member
9/9/19
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Malik321- Not a rude question at all :) I think in the 130, I have somewhere around $9k USD invested into this piece all said and done. Seems like a lot, but when you consider that 1) genuine 130s in steel hammer at auction in the $100k -$200k range and 2) that $9k figure is spread out over time, it's not so bad.

The 570's have a little more invested in each; $12,500 for the 27SC and $13,200 for the 12-120. But that's because I had to purchase multiple movements for each in order to put together a single working movement per project. For ref 570, the gens are usually moving in the $30k - $40k range, so I'm under 50% cost-to-gen ratio on these.

I have seen some sellers offering 130/530 dials (that's just the dial) now in the $15k range; that's crazy.

I will say that the biggest downside to these projects (aside from cost) was by far the uncertainty; there were a couple times throughout each build where I wasn't certain if a project could be completed, simply because a part I needed just wasn't turning up after several months long searches. Kind of a sobering and gutting feeling when you are considering abandoning a project with $6k invested. This is part of the reason why they are long term builds... If these projects have taught me anything, it's the value of patience. Seems that the parts that were needed always turned up when and where I least expected. Thankfully, the days of trying to find the difficult parts to these is long behind me... Not really much to do on them now, but when something comes along that can improve upon the build turns up, I try not to hesitate :)
 

XLR8R

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Phong sells gold PP 1518 and PP 2499 for 21.5k
also he said PP 530 , PP 1463 & 1579 for 18.5k
 

ubi

Known Member
9/9/19
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Thought I'd post this fun one, too. Same era, but different manufacturer (plus, the Vacheron section seems a bit slower, though I'll post some pics of this one there, too).

Genuine dial, genuine hands, caliber V454.
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jm_brc_7057

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Thought I'd post this fun one, too. Same era, but different manufacturer (plus, the Vacheron section seems a bit slower, though I'll post some pics of this one there, too).

Genuine dial, genuine hands, caliber V454.
48723564517_f15df52801_b.jpg


​​​​

Fantastic projects... It's amazing what you are achieving and at the prices. The gens are astronomical prices on some of these rare vintage Patek models. What about the cases mate? Are they gen, rep or how do you get ahold of these?
 

ubi

Known Member
9/9/19
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Thanks sir :) Much appreciated!

They are still fairly pricey to put together, but nowhere near the cost to buy gen for sure :)

The cases were custom fabricated. Getting these done were a process in their own right. But the results are (IMHO) worth the effort. At least I am reassured of that sentiment everytime I hold one in my hand and put one on my wrist ;)

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