Defining the pinnacle of fine watchmaking craftsmanship, Patek Philippe released the first Nautilus watch in 1976. Designed by Gérald Genta, the stainless steel timepiece has had immense success.
Nautilus
Inquire about Patek Philippe Nautilus
First released in 1976, the Patek Philippe Nautilus is the most coveted steel luxury sports watch. With over 45 years of existence, the timepiece has become immensely popular among watch enthusiasts and collectors alike. So much so that the wristwatch has a waiting period of as long as eight years.
When the whole watch industry was dealing with the quartz crisis in the 1970s, Patek Philipe decided to develop an innovative watch design. Gérald Genta, the Swiss designer known for his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak work, also designed the Nautilus. As a result, you might find some similarities between the Patek Nautilus and the Royal Oak.
At the time of its release, the legendary Patek Nautilus stood out from the pack with its oversized design, hefty price tag, and the stainless steel material. Interestingly enough, the watch design that has been referred to as the best in horology was designed in 5 minutes. In 2009, Genta revealed in an interview that he created the design for the Nautilus sitting in a restaurant at the 1976 Basel Fair.
Genta noticed Patek Philippe executives at the other side of the room. He used a pen and paper to start sketching a rough design. He knew the Sterns, owners of Patek Philippe were avid fans of sailing. So, he based the design on a porthole of a transatlantic liner. The ears on the Nautilus watch were inspired by the oversized hinges of the watertight windows.
Patek Philippe Nautilus took its name from a Jules Verne classic novel called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The novel’s lead character Captain Nemo invented a submarine called Nautilus. The armor-plated submarine was so strong that it could sink any ship.
It equipped a 12,000-volume library and an art collection. The submarine did not only inspire Patek Philippe’s Nautilus but also the first commissioned submarine of the US Navy.
The design and the idea behind Patek Philippe Nautilus watches were enough to leave watch enthusiasts impressed. However, there was tough competition in the watch market at the time. Instead of going with an affordable price, Patek took the risk and put a steep price tag on the Nautilus.
It worked in their favor. One of the Nautilus’ earliest ads even boasted, “one of the world’s costliest watches is made of steel.” At a time when the Rolex Daytona was selling for around $1,000, the Patek Philippe Nautilus was priced at $3,100. It attracted a lot of affluent customers and ultimately made the Nautilus a desirable watch among watch enthusiasts and collectors.
While the Nautilus was initially released as a steel sports watch, it did not take long for Patek to add more variants to the collection. In the 1980s, Patek introduced yellow gold and two-tone models of the Nautilus. The Genevan luxury watch manufacturer released a full white gold Nautilus in 2004.
As a part of its 40-year anniversary celebration, Patek even brought a Platinum version of the watch along with a limited edition white gold version.
Patek Philippe Nautilus watch has reached a point where it is a fan favorite and is desired by every watch enthusiast. The now-discontinued model came with a retail price tag of $30,000 (roughly AED 110,200). The demand for the watch was so intense that the waiting period to get one from the authorized dealership was as long as eight years.
With that being said, people who really wanted to get their hands on the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 were ready to pay as much as double the retail price in the secondary market. This makes it a prominent luxury sports watch.
Everything mentioned about the Nautilus 5711 above might have hyped up your expectations about the watch. But, it is just a watch that is made of stainless steel and it does not even have any complications other than a date. Then what makes it so valuable?
Here are the key points that have made the Nautilus 5711 so popular:
It is not the 5711 that has made the Patek Philippe Nautilus so desirable among enthusiasts. Instead, the watch collection was already a luxury icon. The thing that makes the 5711 so special is that it closely resembles the first Nautilus, the 3700.
While Patek Philippe does not disclose its production numbers, reports have suggested that they produce only around 60,000 timepieces in a year. This is distributed around 140 different models, 5711 being one of those. Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, said in an interview that they are meeting only 10 percent of the demand for the 5711.
“For us, this is not a race to make more money,” Sten said in the interview. He also added, “It is a race for beauty for the long term and for greater choice in our collection.”
Most of the sports watches have a beefier case than usual. That is not the case with the Nautilus 5711. The Patek Nautilus 5711’s case and the bracelet are both very thin and sleek. That combined with the legible blue gradient dial makes the watch go well with any outfit. Besides a stunning design, the timepiece also features a water resistance of 120 meters.
Patek Philippe Nautilus currently has around 27 models in its catalog in 2022. While some of these watches are just three-hand watches with a date indicator, some of them even come with a month indicator. Furthermore, there are models that feature a moon phase gauge. There are a few Nautilus models that even get a power reserve indicator and a Seconds sub-dial. Lastly, there are watches with chronograph functionality.
It is not only the features where you get the options. Even though started with stainless steel, the Nautilus collection is also available in other precious metal materials now. The timepiece is available in Rose Gold, White Gold, Stainless Steel or a combination of Rose Gold and Stainless Steel. There are even variants that are iced out with diamonds.
As for the bracelets, most of the watch models have bracelets of matching material with the case. But, there is an option to get it with an Alligator strap.
Patek Philippe Nautilus is one of the most desirable timepieces among watch enthusiasts. If you also have been wanting to get one for your collection, WatchMaestro can help you with buy, sell or trade option. You cannot just buy watches from us but also sell them to us. With our watch trade option, one can even get a wristwatch exchanged easily.
Here are the options available at WatchMaestro:
At WatchMaestro, you can get any Patek Philippe Nautilus model. Even if the particular model that you have been looking for is not available, we can source it for you. With our connections in the watch industry, we will be able to arrange the watch in a matter of few days.
We will not only bring you the watch that you want but also ensure that you get the best deal possible. Most of the watches that we sell are in brand-new condition and they come in the original box along with all the paperwork.
Patek Philippe Nautilus is known for holding its value. Instead, most of the Nautilus models sell above their retail pieces in the secondary market. This is due to the fact that these watches have huge waitlists. So, you can sell Patek Nautilus to make some profit now. You can either sell the watch directly to us or you can consign it with us.
If you are just willing to get another watch in exchange for your current Nautilus watch, you can even do that with our watch trade option. This option lets you trade your Nautilus for another luxury watch or vice versa.
Patek Philippe Nautilus is a luxury sports watch that needs servicing from time to time. If you have been using your watch for a few years now, chances are that it is asking for service. With WatchMaestro’s watch service, you can get not just get regular service done but also get all kinds of repairs. These are handled by our professional team and we take utmost care of all the watches.
Yes, the iconic Patek Philippe 5711 Nautilus has been discontinued. It was and is still a favorite among watch enthusiasts and collectors alike. In case you are looking for one, WatchMaestro can source it for you.
Patek Philippe Nautilus is designed in such a way that its production takes longer than other watches. This results in a lower inventory and the higher demand make the prices shoot up.
The best place to shop for a Patek Philippe Nautilus is WatchMaestro. We not only offer unbeatable prices but also ensure you get the best deal overall.
Absolutely. You can sell your Patek Philippe Nautilus or any other Patek watch at WatchMaestro completely hassle-free.
Find a watch you own
Browse our catalogue
