Nautilus
Patek Philippe's sports-luxury watch family, designed by Gérald Genta in 1976. Reference 5711/1A was the most-recognised Patek of the modern era and the most-traded watch in the secondary market through 2021-2022.
The Nautilus is Patek Philippe's sports-luxury watch family, designed by Gérald Genta in 1976. Reference 5711/1A was the most-recognised Patek of the modern era and the most-traded watch in the secondary market through 2021-2022.
Design
Genta's brief was a sports watch that fit Patek's luxury positioning. The Nautilus case, modelled on a ship's porthole, features an integrated bracelet, horizontal-ribbed dial, rounded octagonal bezel, and lateral hinges that allow the case-back to be opened without disturbing the bracelet attachment.
Key references
Three-handed (the iconic shape):
- 3700/1A: original 1976 reference, "Jumbo" 42 mm.
- 5711/1A: 2006-2021 successor. Discontinued in 2021 with limited last-edition runs.
- 5811/1G: 2023 successor in white gold, 41 mm.
Moonphase / pointer date / power reserve:
- 5712/1A: moon phase, pointer date sub-dial, power reserve indicator, small seconds. Not an annual calendar.
Annual Calendar:
- 5726/1A: full annual calendar (day, date, month, moon phase) on a classic Nautilus dial.
Chronograph:
- 5980/1A: single-pusher flyback chronograph, discontinued.
- 5990/1A: travel-time chronograph (dual time zone), current.
Other complications:
- 5740/1G: perpetual calendar.
- 5719/10G: full diamond setting.
Market history
The 5711/1A discontinuation (2021) compressed years of speculative demand into a final-year auction frenzy. The 5711/1A-014 (olive-green dial, 2021-2022 only) traded at €150,000+ at peak. Prices retraced sharply in 2023-2024 with the broader luxury watch market correction.
The 5712/1A (moonphase / pointer date / power reserve) maintained a roughly 2-3x retail premium through the cycle and remains the standard reference for dealers looking for sports-luxury Patek at a more accessible secondary-market price.
Authentication notes
Genuine Nautilus pieces have specific dial-printing characteristics, bracelet construction details (integrated polished centre links, brushed outer links), and case-back stamping. Counterfeits have been getting better; reference-level authentication is the dealer norm.
Related: patek-philippe, chronograph, perpetual-calendar.