Patek Philippe Dials

Patek Philippe dials are the single most requested customisation on the Nautilus and Aquanaut at our London workshop. Stock and bespoke builds cover factory replacement dials, full diamond pavé, baguette gem-set work and bespoke colourways in the same family of blues, greens, browns and Tiffany-style turquoises that built the modern Nautilus market.

Patek Philippe dials we stock

Our Patek Philippe dial work concentrates on the references buyers actually customise, with three categories accounting for almost all orders.

Factory Patek dials. Original Patek Philippe dials sourced through our trade network and matched by reference to the case and calibre. Used for refinishing tired pieces, correcting damage or changing colour without a full bespoke build. Most factory stock is for the 40mm Nautilus 5711, 5712 and Twenty~4 ladies references.

Custom Patek dials. Dials built to specification in our workshop on a factory base blank. Options include custom colourways, gradient finishes, applied markers, diamond-set indices, pavé bases and baguette gem-set hour markers. Custom is the route most buyers take when the look they want is not something Patek Philippe offers at retail.

Diamond and pavé conversions. A significant share of our Patek dial orders are diamond conversions, particularly on the Nautilus 5711, 5980 and Twenty~4. Standard formats run from single-row diamond hour markers to full pavé bases with baguette indices and gem-set subdials.

Horizontal embossed Nautilus and checkerboard Aquanaut dials

Patek Philippe's two integrated sports lines use very different dial textures. Both are signature design codes and neither is interchangeable across the other case.

The Nautilus dial, used across the 5711, 5712, 5980, 5990 and 7118 families, carries a horizontal embossed pattern that breaks light into bands across the surface. Most steel and gold Nautilus dials also use a sunburst grain underneath the embossing, giving the gradient perimeter that defines references like the steel blue 5711/1A and the rose gold brown 5711/1R. Patek discontinued the steel 5711/1A in 2021, and the surge of bespoke work on existing pieces dates from that point.

The Aquanaut uses a separate embossed checkerboard pattern, often called the grenade motif, with applied Arabic numerals rather than batons. The dial pattern runs from the 1997 original through the modern 5167, 5168, 5267 Luce and 5968 Chronograph references. Aquanaut dials cannot be fitted to Nautilus cases or the reverse. Feet positions, hand heights and dial diameter differ.

Diamond and gem-set Patek Philippe dials

Diamond-set Patek dial work ranges from single-row hour markers through full pavé. Standard options include VS1 round brilliant markers, fully diamond-paved base dials, mother-of-pearl bases with diamond indices and baguette-cut markers for higher-end bespoke builds. Setting and finishing is done in-house alongside the watchmaker who carries out the fit, which avoids the tolerance and refit problems that come up when dial work is outsourced.

For the Nautilus 5711, 5712 and 5980, the most requested specifications are full pavé bases, blue gradient with baguette diamond indices and matched diamond-set bezel and dial combinations. For the Twenty~4 ladies models, factory diamond dials with cream, grey and slate bases are the most common stock format.

Tiffany blue and bespoke colourways

Tiffany-style turquoise Patek dials are one of our most-briefed custom builds, driven by the 2021 Tiffany & Co Nautilus 5711/1A-018 that sold at auction for $6.5 million in December 2021 and made the colour a watch market reference point in its own right. Our workshop builds Tiffany-blue Nautilus dials on factory base blanks, with options including applied white gold markers, diamond-set indices, full pavé or baguette diamond hour markers. Buyers can also brief matching Tiffany-style dials and bezel sets for Aquanaut and Twenty~4 pieces.

Other recurring bespoke briefs include emerald green Nautilus dials in the style of the 5711/1A-014, salmon and chocolate gradient finishes, mother-of-pearl bases and full rainbow baguette indices.

How the order process works

Dial pricing on individual product listings includes the part and fitting. Our watchmakers dismantle the watch, fit the new dial, reassemble, test for timekeeping accuracy and water resistance where relevant, then return the piece ready to wear. Turnaround on standard fits is typically five to ten working days. Bespoke diamond and gem-set builds take longer and are quoted on brief. The same workshop handles a full Patek Philippe service alongside the dial fit where the piece needs one.

UK next-day delivery is included on outbound shipping. International shipping runs via FedEx. Middle East clients typically brief over WhatsApp; UK buyers over email or in person at our London showroom on More London Riverside.

For anything outside the dial work above, including full case and bezel customisation or sourcing a base Patek Philippe to build on, brief the piece through the banner below. We also stock Patek Philippe watches for buyers building a new piece from base, and full bespoke watches for unrestricted briefs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dial pattern on a Patek Philippe Nautilus?

The Nautilus uses a horizontal embossed pattern across all references, paired with a sunburst grain on most steel and gold variants. The combination produces the gradient effect that defines the 5711, 5712 and 5980 dials. The pattern is not used on the Aquanaut, which carries an embossed checkerboard motif instead.

Can I get a Tiffany blue dial for my Patek Nautilus?

Yes. Tiffany-style turquoise is one of the most-requested custom Nautilus dial briefs we handle, on the 5711, 5712 and 5980. Build options include plain applied markers, diamond-set indices and full pavé bases. Brief the base reference, marker format and any matching bezel work required.

Do you stock factory or custom Patek Philippe dials?

Both. Factory dials are original Patek parts sourced through our trade network. Custom dials are built on factory base blanks then refinished, diamond-set or gem-set in our London workshop. Every listing states which format it is.

Can I fit a Nautilus dial to an Aquanaut case?

No. Dial diameter, feet positions and hand heights differ between the Nautilus and Aquanaut families, and between references within each line. Each dial must match its intended case and calibre. Our listings are categorised by compatible reference.

Does fitting a custom dial affect my Patek Philippe warranty?

Any modification to an original Patek Philippe watch will typically void the remaining manufacturer warranty. Time 4 Diamonds provides a 12 month warranty on the dial, fitting and movement timing post-service. Buyers who intend to maintain a factory warranty should not modify the watch.

How much does a Patek Philippe dial cost?

Factory and custom dials on the Nautilus and Twenty~4 typically sit in the low to mid four figures including fitting. Diamond-set and pavé Patek dials scale into the mid and upper four figures, with full baguette gem-set builds quoted case by case depending on stone grade and quantity. Individual listings carry current pricing.