Nautilus watches have been and will remain at the top of watch lovers’ preferences. I think it goes without saying that the Patek Philippe masterpieces are my favorite watches as well. And I’m writing today’s article not because I love this brand like crazy (although I really do). In fact, I thought I’d make a summary of everything the Nautilus collection is all about. And that’s because many of you, the readers of AAAreplica, don’t stop asking me which model is newer, what is the difference between the models, and which of all the Nautilus watches is better.
Accordingly, I have concluded that many watch lovers are somehow confused when it comes to the Nautilus collection. In this article, I will put this topic in order. Everything has a beginning and an end. In this context, I will cover all the modern Nautilus replica watches that have appeared in the industry since 2006 until now. My goal is that at the end of the article, you will have a clear view of the differences between Nautilus watches. Last but not least, I hope I can help you to find your soul Nautilus replica watch, based on the guide in this article.
Why will I start with Nautilus watches from 2006 to the present?
Surely you know that the history of Patek Philippe began more than a century ago. And you are probably wondering why I am going to rely mainly on the models from 2006 onwards. The answer to this question lies in the fact that in 2006, Patek Philippe celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus collection. For me, this collection is divided up into the period before and after 2006.
The turning point was when Patek Philippe relaunched the “Jumbo Steel” model which marked a new era for the collection. In this article, I will address the 5711, 5900, and 5980 models, and not only. With the return of the “Jumbo Steel” model in 2006, the Patek Philippe brand seems to have gained a new inspiration and a new force of creativity. Starting from that year, the Nautilus collection experienced a diversity never seen before. The brand dared to experiment with precious stones, models for women, and complex functionality. All these aspects have found their place in the Nautilus collection, fitting perfectly into the concept of the line.
It all began with the 3070 model…
The exceptional legend of the Nautilus collection began with the 3070 model. With time, this watch turned into a real collection. Patek Philippe experimented with proportions, waltzing from larger models to smaller sizes. We cannot omit the importance of the 3700 model. But at the same time, we have to admit that in 2006, Patek Philippe made an iconic move. Instead of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus with a limited edition, the brand presented the public with a New Collection.
Of course, the collection targeted older models known until 2006. Yet, each model had come with an absolutely new, evolutionary, and revolutionary spirit. Since 2006, we’ve only watched captivating progress in the Nautilus collection. On the 40th anniversary of the collection in 2016, Patek Philippe has once again demonstrated its horological capabilities. I can’t wait to see what the brand will delight us with in 2026 when the Nautilus collection will be 50 years old.
What are the 2006 Nautilus models?
I know it’s easy to get lost in the multitude of Nautilus replica watches available. From now on, know that Patek released four basic models in 2006 year, just as it celebrated 30 years of its epic collection. These are the following models:
-Nautilus 5711/1A. This watch benefits from the time and date function.
-Nautilus 5712/1A. This model benefits from the date and moon function.
-Nautilus 5980/1A. This model benefits from the Chronograph function.
-Nautilus 5800/1A. This model comes as an alternative of different sizes compared to the other models.
Matter-of-factly…
These models are the basic watches that found their place in the new collection presented in 2006. Most of the watches were not exactly new. These were presented as retouched versions of the previous models. For example, the 5712 watch with moon and date function is actually a retouch of the 3712 model. Also, the 5800 model was an extension of the previous 3800 model. Accordingly, when you are looking for your next Nautilus replica watch, I hope you already know that these four models refer to the collection that was presented with the 30th anniversary of the line.
Steel Jumbo: the revival of 2006. The old 3700 and the new 5711
Without a doubt, the four new models generated positive reactions, emotions, and discussions at an international level. Even though the public knew of Patek’s horological capabilities, the anniversary release stunned the community with its expressiveness.
But, the main focus of the 2006 launch was the revival of the Steel Jumbo model. If until that year, the public knew it as reference 3700, starting from 2006 it gained a new reference: 5711. Nautilus 5711 has come to embody all the expectations of the most pedantic critics.
The watch came together with a sporty and bold charisma, in a stainless steel case, and with a deep blue dial. It seemed to be the same description as for the previous 3700. However, the new model revealed a stronger imprint of the Gerald Genta design. The changes that the designer implemented were hidden in details hardly noticeable at first glance. But watch hobbyists immediately detected the evolutionary spirit of the new model, which came with a more modern expression.
Comparison between the two models
Comparing the two models, the basic concept remained identical: a case with an octagonal silhouette, a combination of polished and brushed finishes, the same blue color scheme, and an integrated bracelet. However, the modern Nautilus, i.e. 5711, reflects a more modern air and proposes a series of evolutionary details. Here are some of them:
- Lugs: One of the most obvious aesthetic changes between these two watches is the hinges. The 3700 original model had straight lugs. In contrast, the new version of the model offers more delicate ears, with a more curved silhouette.
- Proportions: The original 3700 featured 42mm cases. Instead, the new version proposes slightly larger proportions, 43 millimeters from lug to lug. However, the visual difference is practically zero. That’s because the newer model has a slightly smaller dial diameter and wider lugs while the old model has a slightly wider face and narrower lugs.
- Case: The initial construction of the 3700 model was available in monobloc form. The new version of the Nautilus came in a three-part case. The case includes the central container, the case back, and the bezel as three separate units assembled together. Another case difference between these two models concerns the back of the watch. The 5711 model has a transparent caseback, while the 3700 original model proposed a solid caseback.
Keep in mind that…
Manufacturers in the replica industry strive to reproduce Nautilus watches almost identically. For this reason, practically all replica factories integrate a transparent caseback for the 5711 replica models, while the caseback of the 3700 replica watches is preponderantly solid.
- Water Resistance Profile: Patek didn’t compromise on the water resistance profile. Accordingly, both the original 3700 model and the updated version 5711 benefit from a resistance of up to 120 m.
Keep in mind that…
Talking about the replica watch industry, each manufacturer produces watches with different water resistance profiles. Depending on the quality of the Nautilus, and its price, the replica watches can vary up to 50 m of water resistance, or they can be completely non-resistant. In this context, it would be good to talk to your dealer before making a purchase and determine whether the Nautilus watch is or not water resistant.
- Thickness: Patek has always strived to create watches as aesthetically pleasing as possible. In this sense, almost all Patek watches have a fairly decent thickness. Both the old and new Nautilus models are quite thin. However, the 5711 model came with a slightly higher height. If the original model had a height of 7.6 mm, the 5711 version has a height of 8.3 mm. The reason for this increase is hidden in the different construction of the case. As you already know, the Nautilus 5711 case involves the construction of three separate components.
Nautilus replica watches benefit from an identical height to the originals. I actually measured the heights of a few Nautilus replica watches from our catalog and found minimal errors of only about 0.01-0.03mm difference.
- Dial: As you already know, both watches feature a deep blue face. Patek decided to keep this color scheme for most Nautilus watches. Both models benefit from horizontal grooves. It would seem that not many changes have been made between the 5711 and the 3800 models.
However…
Differences exist even if they are very subtle. The blue dial of the Nautilus 5711 has a more electric hue in contrast to the calmer blue of the 3700. At the same time, the gradient finish of the 5711 watches is more expressive. In the same context, the horizontal grooves of the updated model are slightly wider and deeper in contrast to the 3700 model. Another difference between the models reflects in the indexes. If the indicators of the 3700 watch were flatter, the 5711 alternative has them more bouldery.
Now that you know the aesthetic difference between these two original models, you will know what to look for in Nautilus replica watches. If you want to buy a Nautilus 5711 replica watch, please pay attention to the details mentioned above. If you find a replica 5700 with thin and unexpressive grooves, or if the blue is more oceanic than electric, know that the watch is not very well executed.
- Bracelet: as you can see in the pictures, the bracelets of the two heroes differ in design. You will notice that the central links of the 3700 model are more round. On the other extreme, the 5711 watch benefits from flat central links. The bracelet of the new model looks sportier than the previous version. I notice evolutionary differences including the clasp, which uses a Triple Folding buckle system. The replica 3700 bracelet, which repeats the authentic construction identically, has a Double Folding Blade system.
Now that we already know the essential differences between the two models…
We can conclude that the 5711 watch is very loyal to its original model. At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that the 5711 model benefits from much more modern features than its predecessor.
For a few days, I tried wearing a Patek Philippe Philippe Nautilus 5711 replica watch after which I changed it to the 3700 knockoff model. Speaking of sensations, I can say that I felt the 5711 watch to be firmer, more solid, and more “current”. I even found the legibility more eminent due to the more expressive indicators in comparison to the 3700 replica watch. In conclusion, I can confidently assume that the new Nautilus 5711 perfectly aligns with the requirements of the 21st century.
In the same context…
I am glad to see that the execution of the replica watch is very professional. I suppose the manufacturers had no difficulty reproducing the specific dial pattern. The ease with which they reproduced the watch is probably because the model is easy to assemble, considering that the watch is designed in three separate parts, instead of the monobloc typical of the 3700.
If you are as in love with the 5711 replica model as I am, know that you can find it in different options in the AAAreplicacollection. It is available with both 316 and 904-grade stainless steel bracelets. You can also choose one of the many dials. They can be blue, white, or chocolate. One of the very attractive models is the gold dial, which is currently not available. But the manufacturers promised me that they will release it soon.
Moon-and-date Nautilus: what changed from the 3712 references to the new 5712?
The 5712 watch made its appearance in 2006. The truth is, it wasn’t exactly a new watch. It came as a retouch or update of the 3712 model. Accordingly, if you meet these models in the replica industry, know that the 5712 model is actually a continuation of the older 3712 model. The new watch transmits a bit of messy air. But at the same time, it looks so charming. It is a feature-packed watch that visually shares many details with its ancestor. Let’s see together what’s left of the old model and what’s new with the 5712 watches.
- Case: the cases of the two moon and date models have not changed. Both cases feature a three-part construction and a transparent case back. Unlike the Nautilus 5711, the 5712 watch is more sensitive in terms of water resistance. Both 5712 and 3712 are resistant up to 60 m. But don’t forget that we are talking about the original models. If we talk about replica watches, they can be different from zero to 50 m of water resistance.
- Thickness: The difference between the thickness of the 5712 and 3712 watches is tiny. The old model had a thickness of 8.37mm, while the updated version has a height of 8.52 millimeters. Contrasting these parameters with the replica watches, the latter varies between 8.53 millimeters and 8.38 millimeters respectively. That is, the manufacturers produced an error of only 0,01 mm in the execution of the height of the replica watches.
- Dial: 5712 models share its predecessor’s horizontal grooves and blue gradient dial. The difference between the blue of these models is not as strong as it is in the Nautilus 5711 vs 3700 counterpart. Personally, I find it hard to notice the chromatic difference between the moon and date models. I find them almost identical. The most noticeable difference is not so much in the color as in the positioning of the sub-dials. Specifically, the moon and date sub-dial is slightly wider in the 5712 model in comparison to the 3712 model.
The Nautilus Rer. 5980: the hero who brought the first chronograph to the collection
In 2006, Patek Philippe presented a completely new watch. It is about the 5980 model that had integrated the first Chronograph from the Nautilus collection. Until then, Patek experimented with all kinds of functions, such as date, month, or power reserve. But the 5980 model came with an absolutely new mechanism, produced in-house, which was able to support a much more complex functionality. For its first Nautilus Chronograph, the brand opted for a reserved display without an annual calendar. What the model included was a simple date function at 3 o’clock.
Further on…
The design concept of the 5980 watch does not vary much compared to the 5711 and 5712 models. The only difference is a slightly larger case of 40.5 mm. Unlike the previous models, the Chronograph has two additional buttons next to the crown, with which the Chronograph functions are managed. Like the other models, the Chronograph features a sapphire caseback and a water resistance similar to the 5711, i.e. 120 meters. Replica 5980 watches do not have much water resistance. I have come across the maximum capacity for these replica watches is 50m.
The aesthetics of the watch are very similar to the previous models, keeping the same gradient pattern and horizontal grooves. A specific detail of this Chronograph is that it benefits from a single sub-dial. By comparison, most modern-day Chronographs offer at least two or three sub-dials. The original 5980 model benefits from a power reserve of 45 to 55 hours. On the other extreme, the 5980 replica watch lasts from 38 to 42 hours.