The Patek Philippe Nautilus is the steel sports watch that set the template for the category, and since the 5711 was discontinued it has become one of the most talked-about watches on the pre-owned market. This guide explains where the Nautilus came from, which references are current and which have gone, how the complicated models differ from the time-and-date pieces, and what to check before you buy a Patek Philippe Nautilus pre-owned.
What the Nautilus is, in one paragraph
Designed by Gérald Genta and launched in 1976 as the ref. 3700, the Nautilus took its shape from a ship's porthole: a rounded-octagonal bezel with two distinctive "ears" at the side of the case, a horizontally embossed dial and an integrated bracelet. It was a steel luxury sports watch from a maker known for gold dress watches and grand complications, and it was expensive for steel at the time. Almost fifty years later the same design language runs through every Nautilus reference.
The 5711: why everyone still talks about it
The Nautilus 5711/1A was the steel time-and-date model from 2006 until Patek Philippe discontinued it in 2021, closing the line with a green-dial version and a small run with a Tiffany-blue dial. For most of its life it was the most requested watch in the Patek catalogue, and its discontinuation is the main reason the pre-owned Nautilus market looks the way it does today. Its successor as the time-and-date Nautilus is the 5811/1G, in white gold rather than steel.
If a 5711 is the watch you want, it is now a pre-owned-only purchase. Tell our watch sourcing team the dial and year you are looking for and we will find the right example.
The Nautilus references worth knowing
Beyond the time-and-date models, the Nautilus family runs from practical complications to high jewellery. These are the ones you will meet most often.
5726/1A — Annual Calendar Moon Phase
The Nautilus 5726/1A is the steel complication most buyers overlook, and many end up preferring. It adds an annual calendar, which needs correcting only once a year at the end of February, and a moon phase, in a 40.5mm steel case. It wears slightly larger than the 5711 and gives you more watch for the money.
5712/1R — power reserve, moon phase and date
The 5712 has a distinctive asymmetric dial with sub-dials for power reserve, moon phase and date, and a slimmer profile than you might expect from the complications. The 5712/1R is the rose-gold version on a matching integrated bracelet.
5980R — flyback chronograph
The Nautilus chronograph uses Patek Philippe's in-house flyback movement, with a single sub-dial that combines the 60-minute and 12-hour counters. The 5980R in rose gold is one of the most complete sports chronographs Patek makes.
Nautilus or Aquanaut?
The Aquanaut was introduced in 1997 as the younger, more casual sibling. It shares the rounded-octagonal case but has a chequered "tropical" dial and, on most references, a composite strap rather than a bracelet. It is lighter, sportier and generally more accessible than a comparable Nautilus.
- The Aquanaut 5167/1A is the steel time-and-date model on a steel bracelet, the Aquanaut closest in spirit to a 5711.
- The Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A is the steel flyback chronograph, typically on a composite strap.
If you like the Nautilus shape but plan to wear the watch every day, including at the weekend, the Aquanaut is worth trying on before you decide.
Steel, rose gold or white gold?
The metal changes the character of a Nautilus more than you might expect. Steel is the original and remains the most sought after, because the whole idea of the watch was a luxury sports watch in steel. Rose gold reads warmer and dressier, and suits the complicated references particularly well. White gold, now the metal of the time-and-date 5811/1G, looks like steel at a glance but is noticeably heavier on the wrist. None is objectively better. If you plan to wear the watch every day, try the steel and gold versions of the same reference back to back; the weight difference on an integrated bracelet is the thing most people notice first.
Sizing and wearing a Nautilus
The Nautilus case is slim for a sports watch, and the ears at either side make it wear wider than its stated diameter. Most current references measure around 40mm, but the integrated bracelet means there are no lugs in the conventional sense, so the watch sits flat and hugs the wrist. Bracelet fit matters more than on most watches: an integrated Nautilus bracelet is adjusted by removing links, and a correctly sized bracelet is what makes the watch comfortable. When you buy pre-owned, ask whether all the original links are supplied, because replacements are costly and a missing link limits who can wear the watch.
How much is a Patek Philippe Nautilus?
The Nautilus is priced at a level where the reference, metal and set matter more than anything else. As an indicative guide from the pre-owned market in September 2026, steel complicated references such as the 5726/1A start from around £80,000, and gold and chronograph models sit above that. The rarest configurations, including gem-set and limited pieces, are usually priced on application. Every listing in our Patek Philippe collection carries its exact price or enquiry option, and that is the figure to rely on.
A note on value. The Nautilus has been in strong demand for years and that demand is well documented. It is a market observation, not a forecast, and we would never suggest buying a Nautilus for any reason other than wanting to wear one.
What to check before you buy a Patek Philippe Nautilus
- Certificate of Origin. Patek Philippe watches are supplied with a Certificate of Origin. Check that the movement and case numbers match the watch.
- Extract from the Archives. For older or vintage pieces, Patek Philippe can issue an Extract from the Archives confirming the original specification and date of sale.
- Bracelet condition. The integrated Nautilus bracelet is complex and expensive to restore. Check for stretch, and check the fold-over clasp closes securely.
- Finishing and polishing. The Nautilus case alternates brushed and polished surfaces. Over-polishing softens those transitions, and on this watch it is easy to see and hard to undo.
- Dial. The horizontal embossing should be crisp and even, and the luminous markers consistent in colour.
Every watch we sell is authenticated and inspected before it is listed. The Oakbury Assurance explains exactly what that covers.
Which Nautilus should you buy?
A simple way to decide:
- You want the icon: a 5711/1A, sourced pre-owned.
- You want steel and a complication: the 5726/1A.
- You want gold and something distinctive on the dial: the 5712/1R.
- You want a chronograph: the 5980 in gold, or the Aquanaut 5968A in steel.
- You want the shape but a more casual watch: the Aquanaut 5167.
Where to buy a Patek Philippe Nautilus in the UK
At this level you should see the watch before you buy it. Oakbury's showrooms in Lichfield, London, Brighton and Liverpool are by appointment, and we can arrange to show you a Nautilus alongside an Aquanaut so you can compare them on the wrist.
Browse the current Patek Philippe Nautilus stock in our collection, or ask our watch sourcing team to find a specific reference. If you have a watch to trade in, start with sell or part-exchange.
Comparing the Nautilus with Rolex's sports watches? Our Rolex Daytona buying guide and Rolex Submariner buying guide cover the two most common alternatives.