For Your Consideration: Patek Philippe Ref. 5726 Nautilus Annual Calendar
I think it’s probably fair to say that every serious watch enthusiast wants to have at least one Patek Philippe in their collection, I know I certainly do. Widely considered by many as the benchmark in the world of high-end mechanical watches, the brand’s limited annual production combined with the constant demand for their products means that even the world’s most affluent sometimes have to wait patiently for their opportunity to join the exclusive owner’s club.
Even for those of us who know we will probably never acquire one of the fabled rare references or uber-complicated pieces, the attraction remains just as strong. Why? Well, quite simply because Patek Philippe just makes exceptional timepieces, like the newly revised Ref. 5726 Nautilus Annual Calendar.
The Ref. 5726
The Nautilus collection has got to be one of my favorites from Patek Philippe. The late Gerald Genta designed case is distinctively masculine, with a commanding wrist presence that doesn’t rely on excessive size to draw attention. This particular version is presented in stainless steel with matching bracelet and Nautilus folding clasp.
The trademark Nautilus horizontal embossed dial is available in two color schemes, white and black, and is very thoughtfully laid out. In addition to displaying the hours, minutes and seconds, there are also apertures for the day and month just below 12 o’clock, as well as the date at 6 o’clock. The Ref. 5726 features an annual calendar complication, meaning that the date only needs to be manually corrected once each year during February. A moon-phase complication just above 6 o’clock, complete with a 24-hour indicator, rounds out the design and adds just enough color to draw the eye.
Behind the dial beats an automatic Patek Philippe Manufacture Caliber 324 S QA LU 24H, which has been stamped with the highly coveted Patek Philippe Seal. At just 5.78mm thick it ensures that the case height remains a very comfortable 11.27mm.
Pricing is US$47,600 and for my money, I would go with the black dial. For those looking for something a bit more simplistic there is also the white-dialed version of the three-hander Nautilus Jumbo with annual calendar (Ref 5711/1A-011) for US$26,700. The guys over at Perpetuelle have a great little write up here with more details.
The Final Word
I’m sure some people will look at the above and say that $48k is simply too much to pay for an annual calendar with a moon-phase and they may be right. That being said, this is a top quality timepiece from an even better manufacturer and in my opinion is still very much worthy of consideration, regardless of any initial trepidation around the price. If you agree than please be sure to visit Patek Philippe’s official website to find out more: www.patek.com
Category: Watch Reviews
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Tom is the founder and editor of The Watch Lounge. Together with his team he is dedicated to bringing you the best, original content you won't find anywhere else on the net.Subscribe
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I was initially repulsed by Genta’s designs when I first started my watch “journey” but after trying on a Royal Oak, I now understand their appeal and cult status. The white Natilus above looks terrific. As for price, it’s funny how this watch bug takes hold and budgets keep creeping up. $50k may be out of my range (for now) but I’m now justifying to my wife how spending $10k or $20k on a watch makes sense.
Ha, I know the feeling Bob! And good to see a fellow Arrested Development enthusiast on here too