Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5712/1A

Patek Philippe Nautilus. The Nautilus, introduced in 1976, is one of two lines of watches (the other being the Aquanaut) that fall in the category of what Patek Philippe calls their sports dress watches. According to Patek Philippe, the design of the Nautilus is supposed to resemble a porthole on a ship. But what really makes it more distinctive is the broad shoulders on both sides of the case.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5712/1A. The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5712/1A is one of the more complicated watches in the Nautilus line-up. Apart from displaying hours and minutes, the Ref. 5172/1A has a subsidiary seconds dial at 4 o’clock, a power-reserve indicator between 10 and 11 o'clock, and an analog date at 7 o’clock with an integrated moon-phase display. A moon-phase corrector push piece in the side of the case. While watches in the Nautilus line-up typically have a water resistance rating of 120 meters, the corrector limits the water resistance of the watch to 60 meters.

Movement. The Nautilus Ref. 5712/1A is powered the self-winding Patek Philippe caliber 240 PS IRM C LU movement which is merely 3.98 mm high, thanks to Patek's innovative minirotor designed which recessed in the main plate rather than behind it. This is the same rotor design they used in their ultra thin skeleton Ref. 5118 wristwatch.

The movement which produces 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) and has a 48 hour power reserve. The movement is visible through a clear case back, and the use of a 22K gold mini-rotor makes for a very interesting looking movement.

The Nautilus Ref. 5712/1 A has a 43mm x 38mm stainless steel case with an integrated stainless steel bracelet. The outer bracelet links are satin-finished and the middle links are polished.

About Patek Philippe. Patek Philippe & Co. was founded in Switzerland in 1851. The companies emblem, the Calatrava Cross, was adopted by it at the end of the 19th Century. It is acknowledged as one of the finest, if not the finest, watchmaker in the world.