Today, Patek Philippe unveiled the horological equivalent of an October surprise by releasing eight significant new timepieces.
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These watches focus on the legendary Nautilus collection and highlight the brand’s mastery of the chronograph, or stopwatch.
Ref. 5711A, a steel watch with a blue dial in the Patek Philippe Nautilus collection, became a cult icon.
It had decade-long wait lists and commanded astronomical six and seven figure prices at auction and in the secondary market. Patek Philippe discontinued the watch in 2021.
President Thierry Stern has said he was tired of the hype surrounding a single steel watch when the brand has 150 watches, many with impressive complications and métiers d’art.
Then Patek Philippe Nautilus released two limited editions as a sort of swan song to one of the most famous watches of all time. Ref. 5711A disappeared from the company’s website, and that was that.
Nautilus Ref. 5811/1G-001
Although it might have seemed as if the watch was gone forever, many collectors said there was simply no way that any company would permanently retire one of its bestselling products without offering a replacement.
The watch community has been waiting to see what that might be, and today, Patek Philippe Nautilus unveils the follow-up: Ref. 5811/1G-001.
At first glance, it looks exactly like the discontinued Nautilus, but there are several key differences. Most notably, it’s made of 18K white gold, not stainless steel.
It retails for $69,785, which is more than double the retail price of the steel model.
Such an expensive barrier of entry will most likely cool down the watch’s retail frenzy, letting actual collectors acquire watches at retail prices instead of losing out to people who just want to flip them for a quick profit.
It’s also slightly larger, measuring 41mm (1.6 inches) in diameter instead of 40mm.
The bracelet has been improved with a secured fold-over clasp with four catches, and you can now adjust the length of the bracelet by 2mm or 4mm by using a new lockable adjustment system.
Rose-Gold Nautilus Models
In addition to Ref. 5811/1G-001, Patek Philippe also unveiled two rose-gold Nautilus watches. The first, Ref. 7118/1300R-001, a jewelry model with multicolored spessartite on the bezel in an autumn-inspired ombré motif and an automatic movement. The second is the complicated Ref. 5712/1R-001 with small seconds, date, moon phase, and power-reserve indicator. They both retail for $82,796.
The five other releases are all impressive chronographs, featuring a timer complication that Patek Philippe spent almost two decades perfecting with a series of in-house movements ranging from the simple to the incredibly complex.
The first is sure to excite its collectors and lefties around the world.