Miranda[PuristSPro Moderator]
5904
The Conspiracy theories: Patek Nautilus
Aug 09, 2019,08:27 AM
Myth busting, the pretext is that Patek are deliberately withholding production of the stainless steel sports watches, both Nautilus and now Aquanaut.
A recent article on Hoodinkee highlighted that Thierry Stern will not increase his production of steel watches. But actually they missed the target completely. It’s not a restriction on steel sports Nautilus, it’s a planned production of all Nautilus and Aquanaut. Stern is not going to let Patek go the way of Audemars Piguet and in effect become the Royal Oak Company.
The reality is, that as hard as it is to get the 5711 1/A, the rose gold 5711 1/R is even harder. In fact Patek tell me the hardest piece to get is actually the 5980 1/R.
With the Nautilus in particular there are several reasons for the current dilemma. First one is actually the time it takes to produce these models. It’s not the movements that’s the issue. The case and bracelet is very labour intensive, requiring a tremendous amount of hand finishing. The time it takes to make one Nautilus case and bracelet you can produce probably two or three Calatrava cases. To increase production would necessitate a reduction in the production of other references, then your production ratio’s change and you are in danger of following the Royal Oak path.
Secondly, the demand has increased beyond imagination. But not from necessarily collectors. The Nautilus and Aquanaut are the new darlings of the sports personality, Hollywood and Bollywood celebs, musicians and powerful CEO’s and business Moghuls. Along with Richard Mille, unfortunately the Patek sports watches have become in part trophy watches.
Now you can’t blame them, the heritage and quality of the brand and its prestige at the high end of horology make them desirable. And Patek’s marketing and advertising has no doubt played a major role in increasing brand awareness. We should not of course forget us- the watch nerds, we want them too. Just look at all the owners of both the steel and the precious metal Nautilus.
Add it all up with fixed production numbers and you can see why demand outstrips supply.
Finally, for owners it’s a good thing that the production is not artificially ramped up. Whilst it’s totally frustrating for a potential owner, not succumbing to the lure of extra profit helps to maintain the brand values. One day the trophy hunters will offload their trophies. If there suddenly 100’s if not 1000’s of them on the market place, collectors, won’t be too happy.
Will this phenomenal demand last? I see it lasting a long while yet. Every premiership footballer wants one, or two or three. Then there’s La Liga, Seria A, Bundesliga, the NBA, NFL, boxers, actors and Ed Sheeran&Co. I don’t see a crash though, if demand wanes I see Patek discontinuing them. And we know what happens then- just look at the steel 5980 as an example. After the initial hype waned, you could buy them at list in from AD’s windows. Did Patek let the situation wallow- no, they got the chop. Same with the mid-size ref 5800, and the precious metals 5711 on leather straps.