Baselworld 2010: Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Ref. 5980/1A and 5980R

Basel 2010. Yesterday we took a look at the Nautilus Annual Calendar Ref. 5726A that Patek Philippe announced at Baselworld 2010. While that watch is notable since it is the first calendar watch in a Nautilus case, we felt that the sporting nature of the Nautilus did not seem to fit well with the calendar complication. For those similarly minded, Patek Philippe did not disappoint. It released two new chronograph Nautilus watches.

Ref. 5980/1A

Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph. The first is a is a blacked dialed model of the blue dialed one it released in 2006. More interesting is the release of the same watch in Rose Gold with a brown leather strap, the Ref. 5980R. Both cases, whether in stainless steel or gold are rated for water resistance up to 120 meters.

Ref. 5980R

The watch has a squarish case with a diameter of 40.5mm, measuring from the 10 o'clock to 4 o'clock positions. The watch is powered by the self-winding Caliber CH 28-520 C chronograph movement which has a date display at the 3 o'clock and the distinctive monocounter.


At the 6 o'clock position is the chronograph monocounter sub-dial. Most chronographs have have a sub-dial to display intervals of 30 minutes, and another for measuring a period of up to 12 hours. The Ref. 5980 has a single sub-dial that totalizes the minutes from 0 to 30 and from 30 to 60 on separate scales, while the innermost scale shows elapsed hours from 1 to 12.

The Caliber CH 28-520 C chronograph movement has a 55 hour power reserve and the movement can be viewed from a sapphire crystal case back. While I have never been too keen on the Nautilus line, I am drawn to the Ref. 5980R. It is the first Nautilus I want to own.

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.