The Patek Philippe Nautilus: A Tribute to a Legend

There’s no doubt that Patek Philippe’s Nautilus has become a cultural sensation. Released in 1976, just a few years after Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak, the Nautilus was designed by the Maestro himself, Gerald Genta. With the original reference, the 3700, the Nautilus challenged conventional conceptions of what a luxury watch should and could look like. Initially received with tentative enthusiasm, its place in the watch industry has shifted drastically. Once considered novel and revolutionary, the Nautilus (alongside its genetic sibling the Royal Oak) has become the progenitor to an entire class of integrated bracelet sports watches perceived in a luxury context. And today, it surely is an icon.

With the recent release of Patek’s Cubitus (which takes many design points from the Nautilus), the limelight has once again been cast on the Nautilus. Today, we have decided to take a look at some of our favorite Nautilus models at EWC in tribute to an icon. 

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-014

The reference 5711 was the watch that truly set the Nautilus trend firing. Prized for its comfort, simple design, and modern proportions, the 5711 adapted the styling of the 3700 for a contemporary audience. While most collectors know the 5711 with a blue dial, this variant, the 5711/1A-014, is the blue 5711’s rarer sibling. When Patek leadership announced the discontinuation of the Nautilus, they simultaneously released a final 5711 one year production capstone— the 5711/1A-014 pictured.

Read our review of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-014 here.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G

Born in 2022 following the discontinuation of the 5711, the 5811 is the current production simplest men’s Nautilus on the market. Revered for its beautiful blue dial, 41mm white gold case, and subsequent heft on the wrist, the 5811 is the go-to Nautilus for the modern collector looking for the classic orientation of the watch. While the 5711 was certainly the reference that started the Nautilus explosion, the 5811 has built on that consumer enthusiasm, and carries the Nautilus torch forward in its purest format. 

Read our review of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G here.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 3710

Moving ever so mildly up in the complication department, the reference 3710 adds a power reserve to the basic Nautilus framework. But this isn’t the only notable attribute of this watch. Interestingly, the 3710 “Comet” replaces the classic tub indexes and teak deck dial of the classic Nautilus with a grained flat dial and applied Roman numeral indexes. This model never got the same attention as the flashier 5711 or 5811 models, but it is an excellent way to get a slightly different flavor of the Nautilus design language for a fantastic value. 

Read our review of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 3710 here.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712

The 5712 has always been a popular favorite in the Nautilus family. Prized for its whimsically formatted dial, the 5712 displays the time, subsidiary seconds, pointer date, moonphase, and power reserve, all integrated into the standard Nautilus layout and sized 40mm. To sweeten the deal, this model has been made in a whole host of awesome configurations, from precious metal strapped variants, to the more common integrated bracelet stainless steel model pictured. It’s all around a great watch and an interesting stylistic departure from symmetrical dials.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5740

Perhaps the ultimate Patek Nautilus compilation, the 5740 represents the best of what the Nautilus can be. Large in presence, but comfortable in proportion at the same 40mm with a sub 8.5mm thickness, the 5740 quite frankly would be the marriage of a 5711 and a 3940. A perpetual calendar with a caliber 240Q micro rotor movement, the 5740 effortlessly walks the line between being both a sporty departure from the classic Patek reputation, and the precise representation of Patek’s complicated watchmaking prowess. In other words, it is arguably the most classically Patek Philippe Nautilus.