The Most Popular Patek Philippe Watches On Wristcheck

Founded in 1839 in Geneva, Patek Philippe is celebrated for its innovative designs, exceptional craftsmanship, and complicated watch movements. It is one of the few remaining family-owned watch companies, and its watches are often considered among the finest in the world, with models like the Calatrava and Nautilus being particularly sought after. The brand's commitment to quality and tradition has made it a symbol of status and excellence in horology. For many collectors, if they were to collect only one brand for the rest of their lives, they would choose Patek Philippe.
 

Whether you're new to luxury watches or a seasoned collector, Patek Philippe represents the ultimate in sophistication and timeless elegance. Let’s take a look at the most popular Patek Philippe watches on our platform.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711

The second most iconic watch design by Gerald Genta is the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Launched in 1976, the story goes that Genta famously sketched the watch in five minutes while dining near a table of Patek Philippe executives. The inspiration for the rounded octagonal shape of the Nautilus came from the hermetically sealed portholes on transatlantic ocean liners. 
 

The most sought-after version of the Nautilus remains the reference 5711/1A in stainless steel with a blue dial, which was introduced in 2006 and discontinued in 2021. It's the perfect blend of elegance and sportiness with and overall more rounded design which feels less brutal than its counter-part, the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet. Its successor, the reference 5811/1G introduced at the end of 2022, perpetuates the lineage of the Nautilus but in white gold and adds some upgrades such as a slightly larger 41mm case, a much needed fold-over clasp with micro adjustments, and a deeper shade of blue for the dial. 

 

If the combination of a stainless steel case paired with a blue dial seems too simple, many other versions were made of the 5711. A crowd favorite is the rose gold iteration with a brown dial, but if you are looking for special editions of the 5711, look no further than the 5711 in Platinum in the anniversary and non-anniversary versions, the last version made in stainless steel with an olive green dial, or examples with Tiffany & Co double signature.

Expect to pay between US$95,000 and US$120,000 for an example in stainless steel. The price will vary depending on condition, year of purchase and accessories given with the watch.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Moonphases Ref. 5712

Released the same year as the reference 5711, the Nautilus with moonphase and power reserve ref. 5712 adds a few complications to the base Nautilus line. On this model, you will find a power reserve indicator at the 10 o’clock position, a small seconds subdial at the 4 o’clock position, and finally the date and moonphase indications at 7 o’clock. With the Patek Philippe branding being moved to the top right part of the dial, this ensemble creates an asymmetric dial design that splits the collector base. Either you love it, or you hate it; but one thing is for sure, it’s definitely among some of the most popular models Patek Philippe has ever released.

 

Between the stainless steel, rose gold and white gold version, there will be plenty of options available for anyone looking for one in the market. For those seeking a more distinctive aesthetic, the two-tone Nautilus Ref. 5712 offers a compelling alternative, and to go the extra mile some versions even offer a touch of bling.

 

The stainless steel version of the 5712 was just discontinued, and this has obviously had an effect on pricing in the market. A recently dated example of the 5712/1A in brand new condition would run you around US$140,000-150,000. Expect to go down from there for any older dated and used examples.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G

Rounding up the Nautilus selection, we have what many would consider the ultimate Nautilus. We’re talking about the Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar ref. 5740G/1G-001. Using a recognizable perpetual calendar layout showing the month, day, date, leap year, moonphase, and 24-hour cycle, Patek Philippe was able to fit all that information in a 40mm case while still keeping the thickness to to 8.32mm. Released in 2018, it still remains one of the most elusive Patek Philippe Nautilus models.

 

A grail among the Nautilus collection, this model is of course highly sought-after by collectors. Expect to pay somewhere close to US$220,000-225,000 for a new example. 

Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 6119

2021 was a bit of a crazy year for the watch industry. With the Covid-19 pandemic in full swing and the watch market completely exploding, collectors were focusing on trying to acquire hard-to-get steel sports watches. It’s during that year that Patek Philippe decided to introduce the Calatrava ref. 6119 with a beautiful “Clous de Paris” bezel. Calatrava models have historically been available in more restrained sizes, but Patek Philippe came out with a new case size of 39mm for this reference, and an all new caliber that takes advantage of the larger case of this Calatrava. Two versions are available, one in rose gold with a silver-grained dial, and a white gold version with a gray-black brushed dial.

 

The two versions of the 6119 have been quite stable and actually go for around the same price on the secondary market. You can typically expect to pay around US$28,000-30,000 for them.

Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Launched in 1997, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut is the younger sibling to the Nautilus. The Aquanaut went through several iterations until the current reference 5167A-001 was launched in 2007. A simple time and date timepiece in stainless steel with a rubber strap, and 40mm case, was the perfect formula to make this watch the entry-level Patek Philippe watch that could be worn in any circumstances. As years went by, the popularity of this model grew immensely and Patek Philippe slowly added more variations of this model to its catalogue. The base model in stainless steel and black dial will always remain a popular model but you can now acquire an Aquanaut in white gold with either a green or blue dial, in rose gold, with a full steel bracelet, with a chronograph, with a travel-time complication or an annual calendar. Needless to say that there should be an Aquanaut for any tastes out there.

In production since 2007, there are plenty of options for anyone looking to acquire an Aquanaut. Expect the price to be around US$77,000, give or take, for a fairly recent example in stainless steel.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Ladies

One collection that has been gaining momentum is the Nautilus collection for ladies. With its compact 35mm diameter, the watch will fit a wide range of feminine wrists. The selection of models range from stainless steel with blue or grey dials, or rose gold models with silver and champagne dials. Gem-set versions are also available to choose.

 

The version in stainless steel with grey dial, which seems to be the most popular version, can be found for around US$73,000.

Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph

Patek Philippe has a long history of pairing complications inside of their watches, and they do it with such harmony, that it has become part of their brand. The reference 5905 represents a balanced mix of elegance, complications and sportiness by combining two of the most popular complications in the watch industry, the self-winding flyback chronograph and the annual calendar. The steel example with its beautiful sunburst olive green dial is a fan favorite among collectors. For those looking for a bit more presence on the wrist, Patek Philippe also has the same timepiece in rose gold with a sunburst blue dial.

 

A fan-favorite for anyone looking for a daily sporty Patek Philippe watch, it also represents great value with a secondary market price around US$53,000.

Patek Philippe remains to this day one of the brands that enthusiasts must own, and represents a milestone in any watch collectors’ journey. With a yearly production of just over 70,000 pieces, demand will always outstrip supply. The selection provided here is only a small sample of what Patek Philippe has to offer but there is enough variety in their collection for all sorts of taste. Don’t hesitate to browse our full selection of Patek Philippe watches available on our website.

Finding the right watch on the secondary market takes time and research. We recommend to always purchase from a trusted source like Wristcheck, where our stringent authentication process gives total peace of mind to our buyers. Our Professional Services team has over 10 years of experience in the watch industry and thoroughly inspects all of our watches by looking at the dials, hands, case, movement, and any accessories that come with the watch. We also provide a detailed condition report and a 1-year warranty with any purchase.

 

Feel free to contact us via any of the channels listed on our website, and as always see you at Wristcheck!