Spring Into Time: Patek Philippe Adds 5 New Editions To Its Nautilus Collection
More than four decades after its introduction, the Nautilus is more sought after than ever with a waiting list that doesn't abate. To mark the launch of the inaugural Nautilus model, Patek Philiippe's marketing tage line for the Ref. 3700/1A was "One of the world's costliest watches is made of steel."
The claim still holds true today for the timepiece, and how can it not? Debuting with a diameter of 42mm back in 1976, Patek has since released countless iterations of the Nautilus for men over the years, together with a model for ladies first introduced in 1980. At the 2019 Baselworld, Patek Philippe revisited its Nautilus Ref. 7118 collection for ladies to deliver five refreshed versions.
Bearing top design pedigree — showcasing a unique bezel that straddles a round and squarish form that echoes a ship's porthole, with softened angles and bevelled flanks; two long lateral lugs emulating the lock and hinges on portholes; embossed pattern mimicking gentle waves on the dial; and an integrated bracelet — the strong, sporty yet classy sensibility of the Nautilus is perfectly synergised and thoroughly unmistakable.
On closer inspection, the subtlety in play exhibited by the contrasting finishes on the bezel and case — the top boasting a satin finish while the flanks offer a mirror polish — perpetuates the timepiece's originality in construction. The bracelet also makes use of the juxtaposition in satin-brushed and polished finishes, similar to the concept reflected on the case finishing.
Launched in 2013, the existing Ref. 7118/1A in steel without diamond embellishment, which comprises three steel versions with various colour dials, has enjoyed incredible success with their casual-classy vibe. Now extended to include two new iterations, Ref. 7119/1R-001 and 7118/1R-010 come crafted in rose gold with silvery and golden brown opaline dials respectively.
Meanwhile, Ref. 7118/1200R-001 and Ref. 7118/1200R-010 in rose gold with diamond-set bezels were introduced in 2015. They are now joined by three new renditions in steel with diamond-set bezels: Ref. 7118/1200A-001, 7118/1200A-010 and 7118/1200A-011. Featuring dials in blue, silvery and grey (graduated to black) opaline that complements the sleek nuances of steel, the trio sparkle with the addition of 56 Top Wesselton Pure diamonds of approximately 0.67ct, employed to light up the bezel.
A practical update on the new ladies Nautilus is the bracelet which now comes with a new fold-over clasp that functions with the help of a straightforward push/pull adjustment mechanism. Thiis feature allows the bracelet to be lengthened by an extra 2mm to 4mm, to address the issue of comfort.
On the dial face, the applied numerals, hour markers and hands are rendered in rose gold for Ref. 7118/1R and white gold for Ref. 7118/1200R, with luminescent coating for optimum legibility in low-lighting instances. To enhance the date aperture at 6 o'clock, rose gold and white gold are respectively applied to the frame.
Ultra-refined and slim, these latest Nautilus for ladies have case measurements of 35.2mm in diameter and 8.62mm in thickness — the proportions of which are aligned to a more contemporary aesthetic that befits all occasions. They are powered by the automatic or self-winding caliber 324 SC movement, where the bridges with chamfered, polished edges and Geneva stripe decoration, rotor with circular Geneva stripes and engraved Calatrava Cross and so on, is visible from the exposed caseback. A 35-hour power reserve and water-resistance of 60m are added specifications.
As a product that attests to the supreme finishing, assembly and precision of Patek, all five of these new Nautilus for ladies bear the Patek Philippe Seal, an in-house standard that takes pride in exceeding the requirements of the Geneva Seal. Underscored by a die-hard fan base and popularity fuelled by aesthetic, rarity and investment value, it goes without saying that the Nautilus cuts a fine balance between its most-wanted "cult" status with the reputation of an icon.
First seen in the March 2020 issue of L'Officiel Singapore
