What We Anticipate From The Successor to the Patek Nautilus 5711

It began as a hearsay, again in January 2021. We heard that Patek Philippe was about to discontinue its most emblematic sports activities watch, the time-and-date Nautilus 5711 (which is, coincidentally, one of the crucial sought-after watches on the pre-owned market). And the hearsay was certainly true, as Thierry Stern introduced stopping the manufacturing of the mannequin launched in 2006, the blue dial 5711/1A-001. However afterwards, two issues occurred. First, the model launched a one-year-only farewell version, the Olive Inexperienced Nautilus 5711. And, after all, there was the Tiffany Blue 5711, made in 170 items solely. And now, we all know that the Nautilus 5711 is certainly gone and discontinued. This will’t be the top of the story for the time-and-date Patek Philippe Nautilus. Will there be a watch to maintain the legend alive…? We imagine so, and right here’s what we’d prefer to see within the new Patek Philippe Nautilus – let’s name it 6711 for now. 

The best way Patek Philippe and its President Thierry Stern have been speaking lately has been largely by means of interviews given to Neuen Zürcher Zeitung or the New York Instances. Initially, in February 2021, Mr Stern introduced stopping the manufacturing of the traditional blue dial Nautilus 5711/1A-001, the watch launched in 2006 because the Thirtieth-anniversary mannequin and that walks within the footstep of the first-ever Nautilus, the reference 3700. Within the interview, Stern gave a number of causes for the discontinuation of the Blue 5711, together with the truth that he didn’t “desire a single mannequin to abruptly make up 50% or extra of our assortment and dominate Patek’s picture.” Then including that “It’s not sufficient to take advantage of lovely watches on this planet. I additionally should ensure that they maintain their worth, and rarity is among the keys to that. For the shoppers who put money into Patek, that’s vital.”

On this identical interview, Mr Stern additionally indicated that the model was planning on releasing “a bit of shock. There’ll subsequently be a farewell sequence of the 5711, which will probably be a bit of totally different.” And that shock took the form of the Olive Inexperienced dial Nautilus 5711/1A-014, a watch that has been produced for lower than a 12 months, from April 2021 to early 2022.

A watch produced in low portions, dealing with extraordinarily excessive demand, this example solely elevated the recognition of the Nautilus (all colors) and made the costs on the second-hand market skyrocketing. Stern was conscious of this example, explaining earlier than releasing it that “this will probably be one other nightmare when it comes to demand.” However the worse wasn’t unveiled but. And this took the form of the Tiffany Blue 5711, a watch made in collaboration with the NY-based retailer and jeweller to rejoice its one hundred and seventieth anniversary, and launched in a restricted run of 170 items solely. We anticipated the watch to grow to be an public sale breaker, however definitely to not the purpose of reaching multi-million {dollars}. And as soon as once more, Thierry Stern was absolutely conscious of the problems linked to such a launch, saying to the NYT that “I’m unsure it’s a present for them. It could be a giant downside. They might not understand how tough it’s going to be to decide on the shoppers.”

The scenario concerning Patek’s icon has been clarified lately. Certainly, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 is not any extra. Merely, the watch doesn’t exist anymore in any respect, as all potential references have been faraway from the model’s web site. No extra blue model, no extra inexperienced mannequin or rose gold 5711R and the white dial model is long-gone anyway.

A watch that actually must be changed…

Some stated that the Tiffany Blue and Olive Inexperienced variations of the Nautilus have been the final of their type… And by that, they meant not the final of the 5711 (which is understood to be a actuality now) however the final of the time-and-date Patek Philippe Nautilus. Interval! Nicely, let’s make clear the scenario a bit of. In the identical interview Mr Stern gave to the New York Instances when he introduced the top of the Blue 5711 and the discharge of the Inexperienced mannequin, the President of Patek Philippe additionally stated “we’ve a plan. The alternative to the Ref. 5711 will probably be fairly main. It will likely be higher than the Ref. 5711. However I cannot say immediately in what steel or if it is going to be in metal. It will likely be one thing else, very shut, and logical.”

Not solely did the model’s President announce that there will probably be a alternative, however we inevitably put the query on the desk right here at MONOCHROME. And it’s clear for us that Patek merely can’t kill the traditional time-and-date Nautilus. This watch, which has been launched in 1976, represents an vital a part of the model’s trendy historical past. It’s the watch that allowed Patek Philippe to enter new markets, to draw a distinct viewers. It was the model’s entry to modernity, to informal sports activities watches. It has since grow to be a real icon of watchmaking. If not for industrial causes, there needs to be a alternative to the Nautilus 5711 for heritage causes. This watch is, as stated by Stern, a tough product. “Stopping the Nautilus was an vital resolution,” he stated, including additionally that “there was a lot noise round this Nautilus. (…) We can not put a single watch on high of our pyramid.” However he is also conscious that he “won’t ever have the ability to provide sufficient watches for all of the individuals on the lists.”

With this in thoughts, stopping the manufacturing of the Nautilus 5711 has definitely been a fancy resolution, but in addition one which opens the door to one thing else. One thing totally different, but one thing equivalent – no less than to us, the brand new Nautilus, which might effectively be unveiled at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022, will retain a lot of the components that made the success of the Nautilus since 1976. However the BIG query stays the fabric.

What we’d prefer to see within the (potential) Nautilus 6711

What we’re about to debate will probably be a mixture of expectations primarily based on earlier statements made by the model’s President, but in addition our personal evaluation (and needs too). A supply of inspiration for the evolution of the time-and-date Nautilus might be seen in what Audemars Piguet has accomplished with its Royal Oak Jumbo Further-Skinny, below the brand new reference 16202ST. In brief, AP launched a brand new reference of its most iconic watch that appears 99% equivalent, with solely the motion being the true novelty to be mentioned. Certainly, visually, the brand new AP RO Jumbo is (virtually) completely equivalent to the earlier technology, thus retaining the emblematic look of the watch and pleasing long-term house owners. As such, the worth (sentimental and monetary) of the earlier fashions could be retained, and on the identical time, the evolution of the mechanics justifies the introduction of a brand new reference.

What we count on Patek Philippe to do with the alternative to the Nautilus 5711 – the potential Nautilus 6711 – would go in the identical path, to the one distinction that we take note of the concept that PP will probably be a bit bolder and can create a deeper evolution. Visually, a brand new Nautilus time-and-date by some means needs to be in line with the earlier generations. The 5711, when launched in 2006, was solely marginally renewing the design of the unique reference 3700 of 1976 – the obvious distinction being the rounded hinges on the aspect of the case. Mechanically, nevertheless, the introduction of the calibre 324 made an enormous distinction in comparison with the previous JLC-based motion, and it additionally launched a central second. However between 1976 and 2006, manufacturing strategies and motion design have drastically modified. Not a lot, nevertheless, between 2006 and 2022.

Again to the potential Nautilus 6711. What we count on is a watch that will probably be solely marginally totally different from the 5711, no less than when it comes to design. The form and proportions of the lately discontinued mannequin have been close to good, and there’s no motive to alter them drastically. We will possibly rely on a number of tenths of a millimetre right here and there, however total the potential 6711 could be a watch with out many transformations. No less than, that is what we’d prefer to see.

Now comes the query of the fabric, which has been on the centre of most discussions. Certainly, Mr Stern himself is behind this subject, after his assertion. Will the brand new Nautilus be solely accessible in valuable metals? Will we see a brand new titanium case, providing a watch visually near a metal model, but bringing extra consolation and resistance? That is the principle interrogation we’ve concerning the alternative to the Nautilus 5711. We by some means want it to stay metal, but titanium could be a shocking choice too. However it’s not likely in Patek’s custom and a white gold watch is another that needs to be thought of too.

Now, what we want to see. First, as you may see within the illustrations we’ve created (and so they definitely aren’t made to be correct, however extra of a base for dialogue), we’d like to see a gradient blue dial, including some enjoyable to the watch. We all know Patek to be moderately good at such dégradé dials, even on the Nautilus – suppose Annual Calendar 5726. We’d just like the body date window of the Olive Inexperienced mannequin to be retained too. Relating to the habillage, because the case is already waterproof to 120m, there’s no want for modifications, however we’d just like the low profile of about 8mm to stay true. What might be added to the package deal is an evolution of the bracelet, doubtlessly with a micro-adjustment (or consolation extension) on the clasp, in addition to an interchangeability system to supply various straps.

The primary evolution we’d prefer to see within the alternative to the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 has to do with the motion. The final editions of the 5711 have been geared up with the in-house Calibre 26-330 S C (which changed the 324 in 2019), geared up with stop-seconds. This motion was already effectively geared up, with the Gyromax stability and Spiromax stability spring (product of Silinvar, a silicon-based materials). Nonetheless, this motion is understood for its brief energy reserve, as rated by the model at “min. 35 hours – max. 45 hours.” In 2022, we definitely can count on a model like Patek Philippe to have the ability to supply one thing higher, with out compromising the thinness of the motion and of the watch to deal with it. As such, we’d just like the potential Nautilus 6711 to be geared up with a self-winding motion boasting about 60 to 70 hours of energy reserve (if AP has accomplished it with the calibre 7121, Patek can certainly do it too).

If Patek Philippe is releasing a brand new model of the Nautilus time-and-date, there’s one attribute of the watch that we are able to inform you prematurely with absolute certainty… And that has to do with availability. Don’t count on this potential Nautilus 6711 to be a look ahead to the plenty. It received’t. Interval!

Tell us within the feedback under what you count on from a potential new model of the Nautilus, what you’d like to see up to date, retained, modified.