Patek Philippe is one of the best watch manufacturers around the world – No doubt about It. And when you ask around a crowd of people interested in horology about Patek, the logical – and most common term associated with Patek is “Nautilus”.
But for a watch that consists of stainless steel and with no other obstacle other than a date with three hands and a date display watch, Many still ask the question: why is Patek Philippe Nautilus so expensive? What makes the Nautilus so special that people are willing to spend six figures on it? Is There a Nautilus Bubble? Let’s take a closer look.
Why Patek Philippe Nautilus is so expensive
Patek Philippe Nautilus is a real gem, by all means. If you are asking Patek Philippe nautilus why so expensive, the answer is quite simple, This watch represents luxury, versatility, value, and quality, as well as the hype and so on, Let’s take a closer look at why are Patek Philippe nautilus so expensive. Here are 7 reasons below
- Quality
Why is Nautilus so expensive, this is the most obvious one, by all means. The Patek Philippe name speaks quality. Both in design and structure. You know that professionals have spent months, occasionally years, making this watch. The quality control standards are outstanding. The quality control standards are exceptional. Every watch has a searchable ‘extract’ available at the Patek Philippe archives. This applies to every model as nearly no other watch brand can offer that confidence level.
- Prestige
It’s hard to overstate the appeal of the Patek Philippe brand name. The general consensus is that it is the most prestigious luxury watch brand in the world. The name is a harbinger of good taste. It signals the refinement and sophistication of its owner.
- Versatility
Many would approve that if you could have one watch only, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711/1A would be the ideal choice. This is a timepiece that you can wear anywhere for any occasion.
Wear it to court, the office, heck, wear it with shorts to the beach. The case is waterproof to 120m, and the black/blue dial looks superb in the water. It started life as a luxury sports watch,
Yet, the Nautilus is now a recognizable icon. It’s adored by celebrities, sports stars, and successful businessmen and women all over the world.
- Investment Value
Investment is usually seen as a filthy word by many watch collectors. After all, buying a watch should come from enjoying wearing it, not because it may go up in price. The truth is entirely distinct.
Patek Philippe luxury watch brands show an invariant capacity to hold their worth.
- Hype
It’s official. The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711 has become the most hyped watch on the planet. You can’t deny that hype is playing a massive role in supercharging the value of the Ref 5711. How long this will last is anyone’s guess.
- Scarcity
Patek Philippe’s precise annual production numbers are a guarded secret. Estimates put them at between 50,000 – 70,000 watches. Of that, about 75% have mechanical movements (the remaining 25% are quartz). Production spans some 246 different models. That means that no single model is likely made in great quantities. As a result, there is a real sense of scarcity. Particularly for popular models like the Nautilus Ref 5711/1A. In the current market, you will never find one waiting for you to try on at your local AD. This is of course a deliberate strategy by Patek Philippe. One that has helped protect the inherent value of the brand for over a century.
- Significance
The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711/1A is the successor to the brand’s first luxury sports watch. A sports watch that birthed an entire collection. One that is now the brand’s most popular (rivalled only by Calatrava.) This will always be a significant watch, not only to the brand but also to watchmaking history. Low annual production numbers mean it will continue to increase in significance. Translation: it’s only going to go up in value.
These seven key factors help explain why is patek nautilus so expensive. One thing is for sure, the current demand for these watches is not showing any signs of abating.
How Long Is The Patek Philippe Nautilus Waitlist
Due to the small number of pieces that left the hallowed halls of the Patek manufacturer each year, the waitlist for the Patek Philippe Nautilus is lengthy, Patek simply doesn’t produce enough watches to meet demand. It’s difficult for this family-run business to scale because so many of these watches are built by hand. For that reason alone it’ll always be difficult to buy this watch new. And it was near impossible to acquire a Nautilus at the official list price. Waiting eight to ten years was the norm at Patek retailers.
Does The Nautilus Hold Its Value
Value retention for the Nautilus collection is very strong. Because demand greatly exceeded the availability of the watch in official retail shops, many collectors and watch enthusiasts began to hunt on the open market. In accordance with the rules of supply and demand, prices here have always been higher than the list price, but tend to fall within a normal range.
The stainless steel references can quadruple in value in the pre-owned market and the gold references always sell for more than MSRP. A great example of the Patek Philippe Nautilus rising in value is the 5711 stainless steel reference. Why is Patek Philippe nautilus so expensive? Two years ago, in August 2020, the average price was already over $60,000. When Patek president Thierry Stern announced at the end of 2020 that the 5711 would be discontinued, hysteria broke out in the watch world. Reports of record prices at auctions further stoked the frantic mood, and speculators who had identified the Nautilus as a lucrative investment with fantastic returns did the rest. Prices have been rising nonstop. As a result, prices on the open market climbed from one all-time high to the next, and soon enough the watch was traded at sums exceeding $200,000.The market has since calmed down again slightly. But with a market price of around $169,000, the 5711/1A-010 still costs almost six times its original list price.
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