Patek Philippe’s Nautilus collection comes of age

This year, Patek Philippe is celebrating forty years of its casually elegant maritime-themed collection with two limited-edition Nautilus 40th Anniversary models

It was in 1976 that the Nautilus Ref. 3700/1A, an innovative sports wristwatch, was launched for the first time in the 137-year history of the manufacture by Patek Philippe, working in close collaboration with Gérald Genta, one of the most gifted watch designers of the 20th century.

Nautilus Ref. 5711/1P 40th Anniversary Limited Edition
The Nautilus Ref. 5711/1P 40th Anniversary is a limited edition of 700 watches. With its platinum case and a width of 44 MM (including the crown), the new Ref. 5711 is a rather large watch, and reminiscent of the Ref. 3700/1A, so large in its time that it was nicknamed “Jumbo”.

The case is crafted from solid platinum 950 and is fitted with a flawless rare white Top Wesselton diamond (approx. 0.02 ct.) in the bezel above the lugs at 6 o'clock, resulting in a look unmatched by other timepieces.

The dial is 18K gold and features a dark blue hue with a bright/dark gradation from the inside to the outside and assures a superb contrast to the hour markers: 12 applied batons in 18K white gold with flawless Top Wesselton baguette diamonds with a total weight of approx. 0.34 ct.

The blue sunburst background features the Nautilus embossing with the bottom half of the dial carrying the discreet citations "40" and "1976–2016". The date aperture is located at 3 o'clock and set in a polished 18K white-gold frame. The daily rate deviation of merely -3 to +2 seconds, exceeding the official chronometer benchmark, is delivered by the self-winding caliber 324 S C movement.

Each watch comes in an anniversary box, an authentic replica of the stylish 1976 original that also contains the Certificate of Origin and an anniversary document.

Nautilus Chronograph Ref. 5976/1G 40th Anniversary Limited Edition
This self-winding flyback chronograph in 18K white gold is the second 40th anniversary model in a limited edition of 1,300 watches. With a width of 49.25 MM (3 to 9 o'clock, including screw-down crown), both chronograph pushers of the watch are harmoniously integrated in the design and conveniently operable. The watch highlights Nautilus-typical finissage techniques, all meticulously executed by hand. These lavish finishes complement the 18K white gold, while the dark blue dial adds contrast.

The applied hour markers – flawless Top Wesselton baguette and princess-cut diamonds – discreetly encircle the dial, which in the upper half, carries the anniversary citation "1976 – 40 – 2016". The proprietary chronograph movement CH 28-520 C, developed and crafted in-house, is wound automatically by a heavy 21K gold central rotor. The start/stop and flyback/reset chronograph functions are controlled by a classic column-wheel mechanism with a vertical disk clutch that handles the engagement and disengagement operations.

Each watch comes in an anniversary box, an authentic replica of the stylish 1976 original, and carries a Certificate of Origin and an anniversary document.