The replacement for the infamous Nautilus 5711 has finally been revealed! Patek Philippe just announced the release of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G, let’s take a look at it.
An Improved Nautilus 5711
When Patek Philippe discontinued the 5711/1A in 2021, it was received with mixed reviews. Thierry Stern came out and exclaimed he did not want a single watch – the 5711 – to define Patek Philippe. This was a polarizing statement given the fondness many had for this model.
However, many also welcomed this decision as a potential signal for Patek Philippe’s return to their roots of creating complicated watches, as Patek Philippe is arguably the King Of Complications in the watch industry.
The Rise and Fall of the Nautilus 5711
The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A was released in 2006 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the original Nautilus – the 3700 which was originally designed by Gerald Genta.
In-depth: History of the Patek Philippe Nautilus
This featured a number of new upgrades including a larger case size, running seconds, a new blue dial, and overall just a more modern design. For years, the 5711 received little to no love from the collecting community until the last 5 years when the Nautilus – and steel sports watches in general – exploded in price and popularity.
What was a watch you could once get discounted from retail eventually reached a peak on the Grey Market of over $180,000. That’s a crazy price considering it retailed for $30,200.
However, many criticized the 5711 for a few reasons. Firstly it was an incredibly light watch on the wrist weighing only 131 grams. Secondly was the movement which was old and featured a short power reserve and no hacking seconds.
Patek updated the original 315 movement to the 324 in 2008 and eventually to the 330SC in 2019 which added a hacking seconds feature. Patek also updated the clasp which was a big criticism for the watch given its lack of adjustment and a rather cheap feel. However, these updates were short-lived as the 5711 was discontinued only 2 years later in 2021.
Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G
Fast forward 1 year and Patek Philippe announces their latest release of the 5811/1G, the heir apparent to the 5711.
The Case
The watch features a 41mm case in white gold with an integrated white gold bracelet and a case thickness of 8.3mm.
This represents an increase in case size of 1mm for the new Nautilus while also having it in white gold to increase the heft of the watch, a long-standing criticism of Nautilus owners who felt the watch was simply too light on the wrist. The case and bracelet feature both brushed and polished finishings and polished bevels are present along the bezel, case flanks, and flanks of the bracelet.
The Dial
The dial features a gradient blue hue to it that I’m sure will be absolutely stunning to see in person. Patek also goes the extra mile to include applied white gold indices and hands along with a frame around the date window. The blue of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G feels much richer and darker as opposed to the blue we became used to from the 5711. It features the same horizontal patterned texture which is very subtle, but adds depth to the dial.
The Movement
The movement powering the watch is the Caliber 26-330SC which is an in-house movement from Patek Philippe bearing Patek’s in-house seal and features 30 jewels and 212 overall components. The watch has a power reserve of 35-45 hours. The watch runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour or 4Hz and features a Gyromax balance and Spiromax balance spring to improve overall efficiency and resistance to magnetism.
The movement of this watch in my opinion is quite disappointing considering we are seeing a greater number of watchmaking companies feature new in-house movements boasting longer power reserves. Patek essentially took the same movement that powered the later generation of 5711 models and simply added it to the new 5811/1G.
The Price
Lastly comes the price. The 5711/1A had an original retail price of $30,200. This new Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G now carries a retail price of €69,200, more than double the original MSRP of the 5711/1A. It even represents a $10,000 premium to the original retail price of the 5711/1R which was $59,140 prior to its being discontinued.
Is this a release that will be another cherished gem for Patek Philippe or will fans and collectors of the brand feel uneasy that Patek Philippe released basically the same watch in white gold for more than double the price? This remains to be seen.
See also: How Much Does a Patek Philippe Nautilus cost?
Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G Specifications
| Case Diameter: | 41mm |
| Case Thickness: | 8.3mm |
| Case Metal: | Brushed and Polished White Gold |
| Bracelet Metal: | Brushed and Polished White Gold |
| Dial: | Gradient blue dial with applied white gold lume-filled hands and indices and framed date window |
| Movement: | Calibre 26-330SC (in-house movement stamped with Patek Philippe’s Seal – 30 Jewels, 212 components) |
| Power Reserve: | 35-45 hours |
| Complications: | Hours, minutes, seconds, and date |
| Price: | €69,200 Euros ≅ $69,000 USD (currency exchange as of the date of release) |
See the complete list of watches released by Patek Philippe in 2022 or read up on each in-depth:
Nautilus 5712/1R
Nautilus Joaillerie 7118/1300R
Nautilus 5990/1A
Patek Philippe 5204G
Patek Philippe 5373P
Patek Philippe 5935A
Aquanaut Luce 7968/300R
