Elite Traveler Summer 2023

Clockwise Patek Philippe

Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph watch in stainless steel, $68,600

PATEK PHILIPPE This legendary brand, founded in 1839, is one of the ‘Holy Grail’ brands, revered by collectors for its superb watchmaking prowess, unparalleled craftsmanship and inherent sense of style. The independent, family-owned company boasts the clever motto: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” Naturally, when holding your brand to the highest standards, you have certain collections that also rise to the top. Patek Philippe has several, but easily one of the most iconic collections in its lineup is the Nautilus, an immediately identi fi able sporty-chic watch that one would be hard-pressed to fi nd right now due to the steep demand. The Nautilus was originally conceived in 1976 by one of the greatest watch designers of all time: Gérald Genta. (Genta also designed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and redesigned the IWC Ingenieur.) Inspired by a ship’s porthole, Genta endowed the watch with gentle curves and a sharp octagonal bezel. He created a special dial motif featuring horizontal lines recalling a ship’s deck. The watch, Ref. 3700, was to be Patek Philippe’s fi rst stainless steel sports watch. It was powered by a Jaeger LeCoultre ultra-thin automatic movement and retailed for $3,100. It was a radical departure for Patek Philippe, the majority of whose timepieces were classic in design. The Nautilus had a bold sporty aesthetic and fi lled a gap for the brand. Luckily, it wowed the watch-collecting world, and subsequent evolutions have all been right on target, making

the watches in this series some of the most sought-after in theworld. The integrated bracelet, the octagonal case and bezel — along with the distinctive dial design — never grow old. And Patek Philippe infuses the series with new dial colors anddi ff erent case materials, including 18-karat gold and even two-tone gold versions. The line has evolved from a technical standpoint too, so that models include simple three-hand watches, as well as complications ranging from a date and moonphase model, to an annual calendar with moonphase, a chronograph with date, a perpetual calendar and more. All of the watches are powered by in-house-made mechanical movements. One of the recent releases, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5990/1A-011, is a Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph watch crafted in stainless steel. It boasts a new blue dial that has an almost blue/gray gradient hue that deepens to black near the outer edges of the dial. The 40.5mm watch is powered by the brand’s self-winding caliber that o ff ersa fl yback chronograph, a two-time-zone indication (using a separate hour hand for the second zone), and a date indication at 12 o’clock that is synchronized to home time. The 370-movement components include high-tech proprietary materials like a Gyromax balance and Spiromax balance spring (that reduce friction and wear on the movement) and carry the Patek Philippe Seal. patek.com

Original Patek Philippe Nautilus designed by Gérald Genta and introduced in 1976

Photos Patek Philippe