Watches from the Nautilus collection of Patek Philippe experience in 2023 - as in recent years - a huge demand. No wonder, since the Nautilus models are among the best-known and most popular luxury watches of the sporty type. But how does the value development of the watches, which inspire collectors around the world? How much are different Nautilus versions worth and what factors influence them? These questions and the corresponding answers are the focus of the following article.
Important information about the Patek Philippe Nautilus
Headquartered in Geneva, watchmaker Patek Philippe has been writing its success story for nearly 200 years. The Patek Philippe Nautilus timepieces definitely take the place of an important chapter in it. When the first Nautilus model was released in the legendary design by Gérald Genta, the watch was immediately the talk of the town. The reason for this was certainly not only the sporty, elegant look or the impeccable functionality of the timepiece. The fact that this high-end watch was not made of white gold or platinum, but of "plain" stainless steel, was also a talking point. Especially since the prices were set high nonetheless. A decision that Thierry Stern - president of the brand - did not have to regret. On the contrary, a real hype arose around the Nautilus watches, which has hardly lost its intensity and topicality to this day.
Probably the most sought-after Nautilus model is the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 / 1A 010, which is characterized by a bar dial in blue. When talking about the Nautilus watches, scene connoisseurs not infrequently immediately have the Nautilus 5711 in mind, even though in total there are about 140 variants in the Nautilus Collection. In direct comparison, no other model comes close to the legendary image of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 as a sporty status watch. Nevertheless, you have to expect waiting lists for other models as well if you want to call an original your own.
Patek Philippe Nautilus price development
Time to take a closer look at the price development of Patek Philippe Nautilus products on the market:
Current Price
It seems like everything from the Nautilus series is worth its weight in gold - even if it's "only" made of steel. After the production of the Nautilus 5711 was discontinued, the price level reached new heights, with waiting periods of up to ten years. The list price for the last batch of Nautilus 5711 1A watches is €30,400 - a hefty sum for a watch made of steel. In addition, the list price does not necessarily correspond to the market price, of course. Since the demand for Nautilus steel timepieces far exceeds the supply, the models are traded on the open market sometimes significantly more expensive. And because they are no longer available through the manufacturer, there is no use in the future to put up with long waiting periods to get hold of the items at the list price. So there is no question that you have to dig deep into your pocket for a Stahl Nautilus 5711 1A 010.
The new Nautilus 5811 1G - i.e. the successor - is much cheaper to get. The manufacturer's price for this white gold watch is just under €70,000, although the future performance of the model naturally leaves room for speculation.
Historical increase in value
As mentioned earlier, the value of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 1A went through the roof when it was announced at the end of 2020 that the timepieces would no longer be produced. The hype that had begun long before reached a new peak. While the watch could still be snatched up for under €60,000 with a bit of luck at the beginning of 2020, its price at times exceeded €200,000 at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021. A historic increase in value that is unparalleled. As a reminder, we are still talking about watches with steel cases, the prices of which go beyond what is conceivable and expected - certainly also on the part of the manufacture itself.
However, other Patek Philippe Nautilus models also saw immense increases in value between early 2018 and early 2022. Prices for these watches also skyrocketed by over 400%:
3700
3712
5164
5712
5990
If you invested in one of these Patek Philippe models years ago, you had an extremely good nose.
Price development in the coming years
Since the prices for the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711 1A 010 exploded, some time has passed and the market has calmed down a bit. An original reference 5711 1A 010 is now available again for under €170,000, depending on condition. This is still record-breaking for a steel sports watch, but in comparison it is almost humane again.
Statements about how the value and prices of Patek Philippe timepieces will develop in the future are, of course, entirely in the realm of speculation. However, if you look at the performance of the Stahl Nautilus, it seems reasonable to think that the successor could also see drastic price jumps. In any case, a further drop in prices for the Nautilus 5711 is not foreseeable.
Resale value
The Patek Philippe steel Nautilus models promise a high resale value, considering the history of their value development. Anyone who has not purchased such a watch at the highest prices set in 2020, of all times, should expect to make a hefty profit on the sale in the future as well.
How the resale value of the successor models will develop is, of course, still written in the stars. However, there is much to suggest that these Patek Philippe white gold models will also experience increases in value.
What influences the value of a Patek Philippe Nautilus?
Of particular interest are the factors that influence the value of a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch. First and foremost, these aspects should be mentioned:
Case material
The material of the watch plays a central role. For example, the list prices for the products with white gold case are set higher than it was the case for the steel models. But: in terms of market value, the Nautilus timepieces are the best example of the fact that the material is a factor that does not necessarily have to be decisive.
Material of the bracelet
In addition, the material of the bracelet affects the value. Now, one might assume that bracelets made of high-priced, metallic materials would drive up the price of the watch. However, the reality shows the opposite in the analysis: especially the Patek Philippe Nautilus models with non-steel bracelets increased in value particularly strongly.
List price vs. market price
At this point, it should be emphasized once again that the list price and the market price can diverge widely. Due to the always too scarce supply of Nautilus products directly from the manufacture, market prices can be expected to exceed the list prices many times over, almost regardless of the model.
The price development of other Patek Philippe watches
Now, the assortment of the manufacturer Patek Philippe naturally goes far beyond the Nautilus series. However, to go into detail about the price development of all models would go beyond the scope of this article. Instead, we will limit ourselves to a statement that applies to very many watches from the house of Patek Philippe: The market prices are higher than the list prices. Only with a lot of patience, luck and nerves it is possible to get luxury watches of the brand significantly cheaper. This is true at least for products in good condition. For collectors and investors, this means that a Patek Philippe watch is a promising investment in almost every case.
SUMMARY
A blue dial, a steel case, and a design that, according to legend, was once hastily sketched by Gérald Genta in a restaurant: the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 4711 1A 010 looks quite unimpressive at first, layman's glance. And yet it has experienced an increase in value that has left many a watch enthusiast speechless. Even if the time of absolute top prices seems to be over, at least for the time being, the steel watches are still traded extremely far above list price. An original Nautilus 5711 is therefore not for bargain hunters, but rather an attractive investment for passionate - and financially strong - watch collectors.