Patek Philippe Nautilus price development

Watches from Patek Philippe's Nautilus collection will experience huge demand in 2023 - as they have in recent years. No wonder, since the Nautilus models are among the most famous and popular luxury watches of the sporty type. But how is the value of the watches that delight collectors all over the world developing? How much are different Nautilus versions worth and what factors influence this? These questions and the corresponding answers are the focus of the following article.

Important information about the Patek Philippe Nautilus

The watch manufacturer Patek Philippe, with headquarters in Geneva, has been writing its success story for almost 200 years. The Patek Philippe Nautilus timepieces definitely hold an important chapter in this. When the first Nautilus model was released in the legendary design by Gérald Genta, the watch was immediately on everyone's lips. The reason for this was certainly not just 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 "ordinary" stainless steel, also caused a lot of discussion. Especially since the prices were nevertheless set high. 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 any of its intensity and relevance to this day.

The most sought-after Nautilus model is the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 / 1A 010 , which is characterized by a blue bar dial. When Nautilus watches are mentioned, those in the know often immediately think of the Nautilus 5711, even though the Nautilus collection includes around 140 variants. 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 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 as if everything from the Nautilus series is worth its weight in gold - even if it is "only" made of steel. After production of the Nautilus 5711 was discontinued, the price level reached new heights, and this was with waiting times of up to ten years. The list price for the last batch of Nautilus 5711 1A watches is €30,400 - a proud sum for a steel watch. In addition, the list price does not necessarily correspond to the market price. Since the demand for Nautilus steel timepieces far exceeds the supply, the models are sometimes traded at a much higher price on the open market. And because they are no longer available from the manufacturer, there is no point in accepting long waiting times in order to get the items at the list price. So there is no question that you have to dig pretty deep into your pockets for a steel Nautilus 5711 1A 010.

The new Nautilus 5811 1G - the successor - is significantly cheaper. The manufacturer's price for this white gold watch is just under €70,000, although the future value of the model naturally leaves room for speculation.

Historical increase in value

As already mentioned, the value of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 1A skyrocketed 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 snapped up for under €60,000 with a bit of luck at the beginning of 2020, its price was temporarily over €200,000 at the end of 2020 and the 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 imaginable and expected - certainly also on the part of the manufacturer itself.

But other Patek Philippe Nautilus models also saw immense increases in value between the beginning of 2018 and the beginning of 2022. The prices of these watches also skyrocketed by over 400%:

• 3700

• 3712

• 5164

• 5712

• 5990

Anyone who invested in one of these Patek Philippe models years ago 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 its condition. That's still a record for a steel sports watch, but in comparison it's almost reasonable.

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 one looks at the development in value of the steel Nautilus, it is reasonable to think that the successor could also experience drastic price jumps. In any case, a further serious drop in prices for the Nautilus 5711 model is not foreseeable.

resale value

The Patek Philippe steel Nautilus models promise a high resale value given the history of their value development. Anyone who did not buy such a watch at the peak prices set in 2020 can expect to make a healthy profit when selling it in the future.

What the resale value of the successor models will be is of course still up in the air. However, there is much to suggest that these Patek Philippe models made of white gold 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. The most important aspects are:

case material

The material of the watch plays a central role. For example, the list prices for products with white gold cases are higher than for steel models. However, 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 the deciding factor.

material of the bracelet

The material of the strap also affects the value. One might assume that straps made of expensive, metallic materials drive up the price of the watch. However, the reality of the analysis shows the opposite: the Patek Philippe Nautilus models with non-steel straps in particular increased in value particularly sharply.

list price vs. market price

At this point, it should be emphasized again that the list price and the market price can differ considerably. Due to the ever-insufficient supply of Nautilus products directly from the manufacturer, market prices can be expected to be many times higher than the list price, almost regardless of the model.

The price development of other Patek Philippe watches

Of course, the range of Patek Philippe's watches goes far beyond the Nautilus series. However, going into the price development of all models in detail would go far beyond the scope of this article. Instead, we will limit ourselves to one observation that applies to many watches from Patek Philippe: the market prices are above the list prices. Only with a lot of patience, luck and nerves is it possible to get luxury watches from the brand significantly cheaper. This is at least true for products in good condition. For collectors and investors, this means that a Patek Philippe watch is a promising investment in almost every case.

Conclusion

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 appears quite inconspicuous at first glance. And yet it has experienced an increase in value that has left many a watch lover speechless. Even though the time of absolute top prices seems to be over, at least for now, the steel watches are still traded at extremely high prices. An original Nautilus 5711 is therefore not for bargain hunters, but rather an attractive investment for passionate - and financially strong - watch collectors.