In 1976,Cheap Patek Philippe Replica released the very first sports watch in the Swiss brand’s 137-year history, the Patek Philippe Nautilus. This year, that now-iconic timepiece marks its 40th year in production, and Patek is commemorating it in style, with two new limited-edition Nautilus models — one a platinum-cased tribute to the 1970s original, the other a flyback chronograph patterned after the model’s most recent redesign in 2006.
The original Nautilus, commissioned by Patek’s father-son ownership and management team of Henri and Patek Philippe Replica and designed by watch world legend Gérald Genta, was 42 mm in diameter — huge by the standards of the day — and had an unusually shaped, exceptionally water-resistant steel case with two unusual, ear-like projections on either side. But the most notable feature of Reference 3700, as the first Nautilus was designated, was its price: $2,350. At the time, steel luxury watches were still a rarity. For Cheap Replica Watches, up to then known exclusively for its precious-metal dress watches, a chunky, steel sports watch with an eye-popping price tag was news indeed. The watch was not an immediate hit, but later became one, earning the nickname “Jumbo” among collectors and spawning a slew of other versions over the subsequent decades.
The Patek Philippe China Nautilus Anniversary Limited Edition, limited to 700 pieces, is a modern version of the “Jumbo” with a few notable differences. The case is 44 mm in diameter and made of 950 platinum rather than steel. Platinum is very challenging to machine, with a tough, ductile consistency that abrades drill bits, milling heads, files, and polishing tools much more severely than gold or steel. Both the three-part case and the link bracelet are machined from this material, and both boast a host of high-end finishes, including chamfering, satin-finishing, sandblasting, and mirror polishing. As is tradition with Cheap Patek Philippe Replica platinum watches, the Nautilus Ref. 5711/1P is fitted with a flawless rare white Top Wesselton diamond in the bezel above the lugs at 6 o’clock.
The second anniversary piece is even more “Jumbo.” Ref. 5976, a self-winding flyback chronograph, has an 18K white gold case that measures 49.25 mm wide — 3.6 mm wider than its predecessor, Ref. 5980, the flagship model of the redesigned Nautilus collection from 2006. The model retains the original’s bilateral case bulges, with both chronograph pushers integrated into the sides for easy operation. Top-notch hand finishing abounds, including a vertical satin finish and shiny chamfers on the bezel and alternating matte and mirror polishing on the bracelet links. Moreover, the crisp legibility of the chronograph functions was further optimized.
