At The Second Hand Club, we are proud to have this iconic Patek Philippe 5711/11-1A with a white dial, coming with its original box and papers dated from 2017.
Wire transfer payments are eligible for a 3% discount on all of our watches.
About the brand
Patek Philippe is a watchmaking brand that has long represented excellence in craftsmanship and design. Founded in the 19th century by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Adrien Philippe, the company has a rich history of innovation, with over 100 patents to its name.
Over the years, Patek Philippe has supplied timepieces to royalty and aristocrats, and has filed patents for a range of innovations, including a precision regulator and perpetual calendar mechanisms for pocket watches. Some of the brand's most iconic timepieces were created during this period, including the first complicated ladies' wristwatch with a five-minute repeater in 1916 and the first wristwatch with a perpetual calendar in 1925.
In 2001, Patek Philippe opened the Patek Philippe Museum, widely regarded as one of the world's foremost horology museums. Housing over five centuries of watchmaking history, including an antique collection featuring timepieces dating back to the 16th century, the museum is a true "Temple to Watchmaking."
About the Nautilus
The history of the Patek Philippe Nautilus is closely linked to the history of another iconic timepiece, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, whose creation in 1972 defined a whole new category of luxury wristwatches in stainless steel.
Following the growing success of the Royal Oak, Patek Philippe decided that it was time to also develop an exclusive sport watch with finishes of the highest quality.
For Patek Philippe, this new model had a key role in its overall marketing strategy as it had to refresh the brand image while perpetuating the tradition. The target was represented by dynamic business managers of the new generations.
The inspiring idea was the shape of a porthole, like those that could be found on transatlantic liners. The patented case was formed by a solid back case/middle case monobloc and the distinctive octagonal bezel secured to it by four lateral screws to ensure water resistance. Each of the eight sides of the bezel were subtly curved to trace a perfect arc of a circle, a subtle detail making a big difference from a design point of view.
The name of the watch was taken from Jules Verne's novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" where Nautilus is the submariner used by Captain Nemo. It was a lucky choice although the new watch was not actually a professional diver even if it offered a water resistance of 120 meters thanks to the particular structure of the case. In fact, the combination of the wide lugs with the lateral ears provided uniform compression on a rubber gasket that allowed the case to become more resistant to penetration as the water pressure increased.
The watch
The Patek Philippe Nautilus is a luxurious sport watch that has stood the test of time and remains a coveted timepiece for collectors and connoisseurs of fine watchmaking. Its creation in 1976 was inspired by the success of another iconic stainless steel wristwatch, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, which defined a whole new category of luxury watches.
Gerald Genta, the designer behind the Royal Oak, was entrusted with the task of creating the Nautilus for Patek Philippe. In an interview from 2009, Genta recalled designing the watch at a hotel restaurant during the Basel Trade Fair, saying "I designed the Nautilus while observing the people from Patek eating!" The inspiration for the watch was the shape of a porthole, like those found on transatlantic liners, and the patented case was formed by a solid monobloc with an octagonal bezel secured by four lateral screws for water-resistance.
The black dial of the Nautilus is characterized by horizontal embossed bars with hints of blue, and features applied luminous white gold baton hour markers, luminous hands, and a date window at 3 o'clock. The watch is completed by a fully integrated bracelet with a folding clasp.
The name "Nautilus" was taken from Jules Verne's novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," where the submariner used by Captain Nemo was called Nautilus. While not a professional diver's watch, the Nautilus does offer a water resistance of 120 meters thanks to its unique case structure.
Patek Philippe used the automatic calibre 28-255 C, based on Jaeger-LeCoultre's caliber 920, to power the Nautilus. This movement was also used in the first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Vacheron Constantin 222.
In 1978, Patek Philippe created a prototype of the Nautilus with a ribbed white dial, which was sold at Sotheby's Geneva for a staggering CHF 250,000 in 2015. It wasn't until 2012 that Patek Philippe added white dial versions of the Nautilus to its catalogue. In 1980, Patek Philippe released the Nautilus for ladies (reference 4700) and in 1981, the mid-size version (reference 3800) was introduced.
Over the years, the Patek Philippe Nautilus has undergone several updates and variations, but its iconic porthole design and attention to detail have remained constant, solidifying its place as a timeless classic in the world of luxury watches.
Specifications
| Movement | Self Winding |
|---|---|
| Calibre |
Caliber 324-SC
|
| Dial | White |
| Case size | 40 mm |
| Material | Stainless |
| Bracelet | Stainless |
| Glass | Sapphire |
| Condition | New |
| Box & Papers | Complete, 2017 dated papers, Full set |