Everything You Need to Know About the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010 

Since its inception in 1976, the Patek Philippe Nautilus has revolutionised the luxury steel sports watch segment. Gerald Genta’s brainchild and a vanguard of the luxury sports watch genre, the Nautilus has gone from being one of Patek’s most elegant creations to becoming one of the most coveted watches, not just within the brand but in the entire luxury watch world.

The current Nautilus collection includes a variety of models, from minimalist designs to highly complicated versions. But if there is one model that garners the most attention and admiration, it’s the iconic Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010.

If we were being completely and blatantly honest, this blog focuses on one simple question: What makes this steel Nautilus with blue dial persistently in high demand? Let’s give you an idea. Released in 2006, this non-limited watch was almost impossible to obtain new, and waitlists went up to 10 years. Secondary prices escalated to thrice the retail and beyond, eventually becoming a standard. What explains this?

Though Patek Philippe has always been a highly respected brand, and Nautilus is its flagship model, this particular Nautilus reference is in a league of its own, and here we’re to find the ‘what’ and ‘why’.

Let’s get started.

A Brief Introduction

Since its inception in 1976, the ‘Nautilus’ has been a point of reference in both the octagon and sports watch categories. It is exceptionally planned and executed like any potential dress watch, but it is more than that, too.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-010 follows in the same footsteps to achieve an indomitable status. Launched in 2006 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus collection, this particular reference became one of the most sought-after watches in the world, and it is instantly recognisable on the wrist. With a stainless steel construction, sturdy bracelet, and 120 metres of water resistance, this is the timepiece you could potentially wear with anything—with tie, no tie, business suit, or bathing suit. This watch is up for it, and it has over 40 years of provenance behind it to prove it. Be it in any attire or situation, this is the watch that gets the job done. It is the candidate to be your only watch.

Design Review: Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010

• Case

The Nautilus Reference 5711/1A-010 features a sleek 40mm stainless steel case that is far more complex than the Aquanaut’s, which is why the price difference between the two models is so distinct. The design inspiration for the case remains the same: the portholes of submarines and cruise liners.

This three-piece case is sophisticated and beautifully built with small and large bevels, creases, curves, polish, and satin. The hairline expression of the bezel gasket between the case and the bezel is visible. If you measure the watch side-to-side, it is about 43mm. The blend of polished and brushed finishes allows the light to play beautifully.

This sports watch is 8.5mm thick despite its water resistance and automatic winding. While it is a little bit bigger than it actually is across the wrist, thanks to the slimness of the case, it would fit a smaller wrist perfectly. Everything is beautifully executed.

• Bezel

The watch features a spectacular rounded octagonal bezel resembling boat portholes. It is quite slim in terms of thickness and comprises curves, facets, and polished and satin surfaces. The bezel makes a spectacular contrast and is beautifully composed between the taper of the bracelet’s top and bottom and the taper of the wings on its side.

• Dial

The horizontally embossed dial mimics the teak wood boat decks and has a gradient blue hue that made the 5711 a renowned reference. It is dark on the outside, almost to the point of turning black. You can see the dimples, minutes, and seconds track outboard and applied polished and fully luminescent white gold hour indices. Likewise, the hands are white gold, too. There’s a black-on-white date window at the 3 o’clock position with a quick change system for aptly correcting should the watch run down.

• Bracelet

The bracelet, one of the hallmarks of the Nautilus, is exactly what Gerald Genta envisioned. Gerald Genta was a master bracelet designer who seemed to know how to pair an exquisite dial with a sturdy bracelet. The steel construction of the bracelet prevents it from being overly pretentious.

You can really feel the taper more than the steps in the links. The step-down of the taper is extremely smooth and seamless. The bracelet’s finish is exquisite. The satin finish dominates here, and you can see the hairline polished bevel down the edge of each link. The centre links are beautifully polished, which makes a wonderful contrast with the satin finish.

The watch features a clam-shell-type clasp, which has been updated over the years to feature ceramic retaining pins, so there are actually small ceramic ball bearings in the clasp. This ensures that over time, the tolerance of the clasp remains just as crisp and doesn’t wear down. Also, unlike bulky sports watch clasps, it has a beautifully low profile. This won’t get battled or bruised.

Thanks to the relatively short 44mm lug-to-lug measurement, the watch has a slim profile. The lugs slope down to the integrated bracelet, which is a real pleasure to see and handle.

• Movement

Not only is this Nautilus given the finest construction, but it also equips the movement it deserves. The watch equips the finest non-complicated mechanical movement (324 SC), visible through the crystal sapphire case back. What makes the Calibre 324 SC so impressive is not limited to its high level of finishing. It is the movement’s thin profile, at just 3.3mm thickness.

The Nautilus 5711/1A-010 provides water resistance of 120 metres, sufficient for almost any endeavour, and the 21ct gold automatic rotor keeps the winding efficiency high. This movement operates at 4Hz (28,800 bph) with +3/-2 seconds/day accuracy, providing 45 hours of power reserve. It also features Patek’s in-house Gyromax balance wheel and Spiromax balance spring. On top of that, Patek Philippe adorns the surfaces with Côtes de Genève and delicate, refined sections of perlage.

The silicon spiromax hairspring makes the watch amagnetic, freeing it from the magnetism hazards that have plagued watchmakers and manufacturers for generations. It is an automatic unidirectional winding with ceramic bearings for the winding rotor. So, it ensures high-efficiency operation due to the ceramic and reduces the maintenance requirements of the winding system.

Investment Potential of the Nautilus

Not exaggerating though. The Patek Philippe steel Nautilus with blue dial is three times its worth in the aftermarket. When the company decided to discontinue the model in 2021, it was already running an 8+ year waiting list due to its unimaginable demand.

One of the strongest reasons behind the steep cost of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010 is the number of steps involved in manufacturing and polishing the case and bracelet of this piece. The process requires several specially trained employees and several hours.

Collectors and admirers view the iconic ‘Nautilus’ as a dependable investment because of its exclusivity and excellence. It has consistently demonstrated great performance on the pre-owned market and will continue to do so in the future.

The restricted availability of the Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5711/1A-010 has made it a prized collectable, boosting its attractiveness as an investment option. However, good luck with getting hold of this ‘grail’ watch.

End Note

To sum up, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-010 is a prime example of the model’s opulence, fine craftsmanship, and long-term investment potential. Its robust market desirability and resale value highlight its financial value. Aesthetically, the Nautilus is one of the most coveted, especially loved for its easily recognisable design, versatility, and premium construction.

The moment you wear the Nautilus on your wrist, you’ll know how perfectly made it is. This modern sports luxury watch is perfect for both men and women. If you’re lucky enough to own one, consider yourself part of an elite group of horologists and for those still dreaming of adding one to their collection – the Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-010 reminds us that some things are always worth the wait.