BASELWORLD 2018:

A Grand Debut: Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G-001


Since its storied debut in 1976, at the vanguard of the luxury sports-watch revolution, the original three-handed Patek Philippe Nautilus has grown and evolved into an entire collection, now counting among its portfolio models with chronographs, second-time-zone displays, and a patented annual calendar. But perhaps not even the Nautilus’s legendary designer, Gérald Genta, could have foreseen the heights of complication his porthole-inspired, octagonal-bezeled timepiece would achieve at this year’s Baselworld watch fair, as Patek Philippe unveiled the first-ever Nautilus equipped with a perpetual calendar, the ultra-complex Ref. 5740/1G-001.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar - soldier
The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5740/1G-001 is the brand’s thinnest perpetual calendar watch.

The Patek Philippe Ref. 5740/1G-001 Nautilus becomes not only the first “grand complication” in the Nautilus range, but also, somewhat surprisingly for one of the sportiest models in the overwhelmingly elegant Patek collection, the thinnest perpetual calendar currently produced by the manufacture. The 18k white gold case measures 40 mm in diameter (44.05 mm if you include the crown) and a mere 8.42 mm thick and features satin-finished surfaces contrasting with polished chamfers. The octagonal bezel frames a blue dial adorned with the raised horizontal embossed pattern emblematic of the Nautilus collection, and here also graced with the graduating sunburst pattern that marked the Nautilus 40th anniversary editions in 2016. The baton hands and white-gold applied hour markers, all treated with Super-LumiNova, are joined on the dial by three perpetual calendar subdials: month and leap-year at 3 o’clock, date and moon-phase at 6 o’clock, and day of the week and 24-hour display at 9 o’clock. A close examination reveals the date subdial is slightly larger than the other two, owing to the importance of that indication. The moon-phase display is ultra-precise, deviating from the actual position of the moon by only one day every 122 years.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G-001 - dial CU
The blue sunburst dial has the familiar Nautilus horizontal embossed pattern.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G-001 - side
The new white-gold bracelet is integrated into the case and has both brushed and polished finishes.

Inside the slim case ticks a similarly slender movement, Patek Philippe’s self-winding Caliber 240 Q, which is powered by s recessed microrotor made of 22k gold and engraved with the Patek Philippe Calatrava cross emblem and a côtes de Genève pattern. Visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback, the movement is just 3.88 mm thick — including the minuscule 1.35 mm height of the calendar module — and comprised of 275 parts, including 27 jewels. It stores a minimum power reserve of 38 hours, beats at a frequency of 21,600 vph, and boasts a host of exquisite finishes, including chamfered and polished edges on the bridges, that help earn the timepiece the in-house Patek Philippe Seal of quality.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G-001 - back
Patek Philippe’s manufacture Caliber 240 Q is powered by a gold microrotor.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G-001 - clasp
The white gold bracelet includes a new, patented foldover clasp.

The perpetual calendar indications are easily set and re-set with recessed correctors in the case flanks — day correction at 9 o’clock, date correction between 11 and 12 o’clock, month correction between 12 and 1 o’clock, moon-phase correction at 6 o’clock.The white gold link bracelet, which is elegantly integrated into the case, combines polished central links with satin-finished lateral links and features an all-new, patented foldover clasp design with four independent catches to make opening and closing the clasp easier and to prevent the accidental release of either of the two clasp segments.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar - front
The watch includes a moon-phase indication that is accurate for 122 years.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5740/1G-001 Perpetual Calendar will carry a suggested retail price of approximately $120,000. What do you think of Patek’s newest and sportiest grand complication? Let us know in the comments section below.

No Responses to “A Grand Debut: Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G-001”

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  1. Dr Harry Imber

    No sweep seconds hand.In my opinion this is a very significant deficiency.
    I would not buy it for this reason alone.

    Reply
  2. Joao Bosco, from webRelogio

    definitely, another Icon in the Patek history. Depending on the availability, as usual is going to be a long waiting list

    Reply
  3. socrates35

    No running seconds hand? A deal breaker for many I’ll bet…

    Reply
  4. socrates35

    No running seconds hand? Deal breaker for many I’ll bet.

    Reply
  5. Hernando Santacoloma

    Absolutely the best combination for my taste!
    Understated, sporty, complicated, any occasion non-eye catching (only an appreciating connoisseur) great color Nautilus. A brilliant addition to the collection.

    Reply
  6. Sunil Nanda

    As a devoted collector with a a couple of Royal Oaks and a Nautilus, I wonder if commercial priorities have driven this new addition to the Nautilus family? Should such a pure sports case be cluttered by filling the dial with so many indications just to “sell more watches”? It feels as if the Nautilus heritage and purity of design is being relegated to achive higher sales? A perpetual calendar does not need to be housed in a sports watch!

    Reply
  7. Robert

    A QP chronograph in steel would be nice, best with underglass turning bezel like IWC 3719 or some AP ROO.

    Reply
  8. Thomas Parisi

    Quite a watch for only 40mm, packed full of goodies, PP is,actually starting to change my mind about this brand with this watch, I think it’s time for a road trip to my local store in KCMO. I had thought I wanted a Rolex, but now. And then of course there’s always that JL Memovax Polaris that had caught my eye. Not an easy choice when your wife says one more watch, and don’t spend a lot of $$$. Lol I don’t think she really knows the price I paid for her Rolex with factory set diamonds. So now it is my turn. This is my past my midlife crisis, I want a few things in my watch, 1st and foremost it has to have super lume. And be something that now many others have as I don’t follow the normal crowd.

    Reply
  9. Juan A Gutierrez

    This watch has great presence and will be one of Patek Phillips icon annual calendar. At 120,000 it’s a little pricey but in the long run it will be worth a lot more.

    Reply
  10. Serhat

    To be honest it is a kind of a watch that everybody wants to own. Perpetual calender proportionad very well and suits the nautilus case perfectly. I think there will be at least 1-2 year of long waiting lists for this timepiece

    Reply
  11. Michael (le-chinois) Chang

    一見鍾情
    Love at first sight
    Coup de foudre

    Reply
  12. Ettinger David

    Beautiful. Well laid out dial. Perfect. Will probably be unavailable.

    Reply
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