Patek Philippe Nautilus
Gerald Genta sketched the original Patek Philippe Nautilus on a napkin at the 1974 Basel Fair, with the watch launching as the 3700/1 "Jumbo" in 1976. The porthole-inspired case, the horizontally embossed dial and the integrated steel bracelet redefined what a luxury sports watch could be. Almost fifty years later, the Nautilus is the most-requested Patek Philippe of the modern era, and the retail pipeline cannot keep up with demand. The pre-owned market is where most serious buyers end up. Time 4 Diamonds stocks pre-owned and bespoke Nautilus watches across the 5711, 5712, 5811, 5980, 5990 and 7118 references, with options spanning steel, rose gold, white gold and diamond-set examples.
Current Patek Philippe Nautilus references
The Nautilus is a family rather than a single watch. Knowing which reference does what is the fastest way to narrow a search. The table below covers the models most frequently traded on the pre-owned market today.
| Reference | Complication | Case | Case Size | Production Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5711/1A | Date, centre seconds | Stainless steel | 40mm | Discontinued 2021 |
| 5711/1R, 5711/1G, 5711/1P | Date, centre seconds | Rose, white, platinum | 40mm | Discontinued |
| 5811/1G-001 | Date, centre seconds | White gold | 41mm | In production (launched 2022) |
| 5712 | Moon phase, power reserve, pointer date | Rose gold, white gold (steel discontinued 2025) | 40mm | Partial production |
| 5980 | Flyback chronograph | White gold (steel and rose gold discontinued) | 40.5mm | In production (5980/60G launched 2024) |
| 5990 | Travel time, flyback chronograph | Steel or rose gold | 40.5mm | In production |
| 7118 | Date, centre seconds (ladies) | Steel, rose gold, diamond-set | 35.2mm | In production |
The 5711 and what replaced it
Patek Philippe ended production of the steel Nautilus 5711/1A in 2021, closing what was probably the most coveted production watch of the last two decades. The farewell was staged in two acts: the olive green dial 5711/1A-014 released in April 2021, and the 170-piece Tiffany & Co. co-signed 5711/1A-018 released that December to mark the brand partnership's 170th year. One Tiffany-dial example sold for 6.5 million US dollars at auction in late 2021. In October 2022, Patek Philippe launched the 5811/1G-001 as the successor: 41mm in white gold, with a revised two-part case construction and an updated clasp. It is not a steel watch. The steel 5711 era is over, and the pre-owned market is where clean, full-set examples continue to trade. Our editorial on why the Nautilus is so hard to get right now covers the market dynamics in more depth.
Bespoke Patek Philippe Nautilus watches
Our workshop has customised Nautilus references across the full range. The bespoke work on our current stock includes Tiffany-blue custom dials on the 5711, emerald-set bezels on the 5711 Green Emerald, ruby and sapphire bezels with matching dials, black PVD case and bracelet finishing, baguette diamond sets on the 5712R and 5711/1R and full micro-pavé diamond paved dials. Every piece is built in-house by our watchmakers, stress-tested and returned with Time 4 Diamonds papers and a twelve-month warranty. The full portfolio sits on our bespoke watches collection, and new commissions go through our customise your watch service.
Nautilus dials and servicing
The Nautilus uses a proprietary case and bracelet system that should only be serviced by trained watchmakers. We supply custom and replacement Patek Philippe dials cut to the correct tolerances for the 5711, 5712, 5980 and 5990 cases, and we handle full servicing, regulation and parts replacement in-house through our Patek Philippe servicing team.
Sourcing a Patek Philippe Nautilus
If the specific Nautilus reference, dial colour or configuration you want is not in our current listings, our watch sourcing service operates globally. We track pieces for UK, European and Middle East clients and vet every example for authenticity before it ships. You can also reach us directly on WhatsApp at +44 7957 111038 or by phone on +44 20 7043 2598.
Patek Philippe Nautilus FAQs
Is the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 discontinued?
Yes. Patek Philippe announced the end of the steel 5711/1A in January 2021. The olive green 5711/1A-014 (April 2021) and the 170-piece Tiffany & Co. 5711/1A-018 (December 2021) were the final production runs. Precious-metal 5711 variants have also wound down.
What replaced the Nautilus 5711?
The Nautilus 5811/1G-001, launched in October 2022. It is a white gold watch with a 41mm case (1mm larger than the 5711), a redesigned two-part case construction and an updated clasp. It is not produced in steel.
How much is a pre-owned Patek Philippe Nautilus?
Pricing varies enormously by reference, condition and provenance. Clean full-set steel 5711/1A examples have traded well above original retail since 2021. Tiffany dial 5711/1A-018 pieces sit in the seven-figure range. Precious-metal 5711, 5712, 5980 and 5990 references move within their own tiers. For a current quote on any specific reference, contact our team directly.
What is the difference between the Nautilus 5711 and 5712?
The 5711 is a time and date model with a centre-seconds hand. The 5712 is a more complicated reference carrying a moon phase and pointer date combined at seven o'clock, a power reserve indicator at ten and a small seconds sub-dial at four. Both share the same 40mm case silhouette but the 5712 runs the ultra-thin micro-rotor calibre 240 PS IRM C LU and has a distinctive asymmetric dial layout.
