Patek Philippe Nautilus 50th Anniversary
Collection

Patek Philippe Nautilus 50th Anniversary

By patrick_y · Apr 9, 2026 · 27 replies
patrick_y
WPS member · Patek Philippe forum
27 replies1915 views1 photos
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patrick_y celebrates 50 years of the Patek Philippe Nautilus, sharing his personal journey with the reference 5712/1A. His post invites fellow collectors to reflect on their own Nautilus experiences and favorite variants, highlighting the watch's enduring appeal and versatility.

The Nautilus has been bringing joy to human wrists for 50 years since 1976!  The Nautilus was the first timepiece I ever bought for myself around 2010 (before they became extremely popular).  And I wore it as my primary daily watch for about a decade.  It's been a wonderful companion!  

When I first saw the Nautilus, as a teenager, I thought it was a strange watch.  I remarked, "it has ears" and in my mind I thought it was much too expensive.  I always expected to acquire a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso as my first watch.  But, seeing it at a store display and seeing it on your wrist are two very different things.  Several years later as a young adult, I finally I put the Nautilus on my wrist, I realized I was wrong - it was a masterpiece and out came my pocketbook!  Plus, who could resist that beautiful movement!

Mine is the 5712/1A variant and has been an absolute delight to own.  I chose the 5712 over the 5711 because I really enjoy the 240 caliber with its micro rotor.  It's been reliable and accurate.  It's been comfortable.  It's thin enough to be worn under French-cuffed shirts, always elegant, and very versatile to be dressed up with a tuxedo and dressed down for a short sleeve polo shirt.  Patek Philippe made a wonderful watch!  I've gotten a lot of use out of mine and it has been a wonderful companion!  

Now that I've bored you with my Nautilus story, please share your favorite Nautilus experiences as we celebrate 50 years of Nautilus!  And do you have a favorite variant of the Nautilus?  

Here's mine: 

Taken at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (a Natural History Museum), a nautilus cephalopod, meets a Nautilus wristwatch.  The cephalopod sea creature has been roaming the Planet Earth for the past 500 million years - well before the age of the dinosaurs (it is estimated Dinos roamed the earth about 250 million years ago and started going extinct roughly 60 million years ago).  Another ancient "Nautilus" in popular culture was Le Nautilus, a craft featured in a Jules Verne novel that was published around 1870!  The Patek Philippe "Nautilus-model" wristwatch has only started celebrating its 50th birthday!  

Watch by Patek Philippe, 5712, Nautilus

Photo by Patrick_y taken approximately 2015, titled "nautilus meets Nautilus" 


My favorite variants of the Nautilus are the 5712/1A and the 3700/1A as I really enjoy the lack of a seconds hand - I find it adds a lot of elegance to the dial. 

Looking forward to reading your thoughts about the Nautilus!  And please tell us, which Nautilus model is your favorite?  

About the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711

The Patek Philippe reference 5711/1A-011, part of the Complications collection, is distinguished by its white dial, offering a different aesthetic compared to other dial variations within the 5711 series. This particular configuration provides a clean and legible presentation, appealing to collectors who prefer a more understated yet refined look. It represents a specific iteration of a well-known Patek Philippe model, recognized for its integrated design.

The watch features a 40mm stainless steel case, housing the self-winding Caliber 26-330 SC movement. This movement provides a power reserve of 45 hours. The case is fitted with a sapphire crystal, contributing to its water resistance of 120 meters. The fixed bezel and integrated bracelet are characteristic elements of its construction.

This reference appeals to collectors interested in the evolution of Patek Philippe's offerings, particularly those seeking specific dial colors within established model lines. Its production run from 2019 to 2021 marks it as a relatively recent, yet now discontinued, variant. The watch's specifications align with Patek Philippe's standards for mechanical timepieces.

Specifications

Caliber
Cal.26-330 SC
Case
Stainless Steel
Diameter
40mm
Dial
White
Water Resist.
120m
Crystal
Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
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nasseriq
Apr 9, 2026

I have had two, the latter being the 5711 and the former the comet (3710/1A-001). The comet had a Matt dial which I did not get on with. They were both bought from the Geneva Salon for now relatively modest sums. The slim case, integrated bracelet, blue hue dial and water resistance appealed to me before they became mainstream. And they both had dates! Patek 30 years ago was more under the radar than today. That’s marketing for you. I gave the 5711 to my father when the hype made the 5711 a liab

WA
watch-guy.com
Apr 9, 2026

I was offered a ref 3700 at an extraaordinary price of around 25kpounds. I knew nothing about the different dials and I still do not know if that watch was all original or had a service dial. BuI met M Stanga and my education began I learned all about the different dial available, I learnt that there were many watches out there with service dials . But I never came across another 370 until Iwas going to Paris . There is a stunning collector there called Teddy who seems to always have the best re

GA
gary_g
Apr 9, 2026

You know I share your love for 5712. It’s one of my favorite references of tue nautilus model. Although they are all wonderful IMHO.

PA
patrick_y
Apr 9, 2026

Thank you so much for sharing your touching story! Didn't like the comet? That's okay. I find the comet a little strange too; how when you wind it the sub-dial moves and when the power reserve elapses, he hand moves but the sub-dial remains constant. Kind of strange and whimsical. I'm looking forward to seeing how Patek celebrates the Nautilus 50th anniversary! Looking forward to the announcements!

PA
patrick_y
Apr 9, 2026

But I have to admit, as confusing and confounding the 3710 can be, it is undeniably a very handsome and under appreciated Nautilus! I really like your 3800 - with the matching color date disc. Sharp looking piece - but looking at your wrist size, I think the 3710 looks great on your wrist - and I prefer the 3710 over the 3800 on your wrist. I'm so glad you made a point to educate yourself about this watch before plunging both feet in!

PA
patrick_y
Apr 9, 2026

I generally prefer all the thinner Nautilus models myself. But admittedly, I especially like the 5980 Nautilus models!

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