Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 : from Geneva Seal to Patek Seal

The Nautilus, created by Patek Philippe in collaboration with Gérald Genta in 1976, continues to captivate the world with its constant reinvention.

Despite numerous options in terms of materials and variations, the brand places a great emphasis on its flagship timepiece.

This piece will delve into the iconic 5711 model, which remains a staple in the Patek Philippe catalog. The article will explore the various changes and evolutions of the 5711 model, some of which are not widely known or little written about.

Calibre 315 S C :

The Nautilus reference 5711/1A, introduced in 2006 alongside the 5712 and 5980 references on its 30th anniversary, underwent several changes which we will detail; starting with its caliber.

Initially marketed under reference 5711/1A-001 with the Calibre 315 SC (shared with the Aquanaut 5167 since 2007), the in-house caliber offers 26,600 beats per hour (3Hz) and a power reserve of 48 hours.

Technical characteristics of the 315 SC caliber

Calibre 324 S C :

Patek Philippe has not officially announced this change, but it's noticeable that the 324 SC caliber has replaced the previous one starting in mid-2008. With 28,800 beats per hour (increased to 4Hz) and a 45-hour power reserve, this caliber is now used in over 40 different models across the Calatrava, Nautilus, Aquanaut, and Twenty-4 collections.

Technical characteristics of the 324SC caliber

Calibre 26-330SC :

At Baselworld 2019, Patek Philippe unveiled the updated version of the 324 SC caliber. This new caliber features the same architecture as its predecessor, but with improved precision and the added function of a stop-second mechanism.

From the Geneva Seal to the Patek Seal:

Patek Philippe officially announced the end of its collaboration with the prestigious Geneva Seal during the April 2009 edition of Baselworld.

The Geneva Seal, also known as the Geneva Hallmark, was introduced in 1886 and is a third-party organization that defines the most stringent watchmaking standards in the industry. This includes the finishes of the movement (polishing of angles, decoration of plates), waterproofing, accuracy, reliability and power reserve.

Geneva Seal on a 315 SC Caliber

Alongside this, Patek Philippe introduced its own hallmark, the Patek Philippe Seal. The company describes it as follows:

"The most stringent label in the watchmaking industry, the Patek Philippe Seal encompasses the entire completed watch - movement, case and all other components of the assembly (dials, hands, pushers, straps, buckles, etc.). It encompasses all the expertise and signature features related to the design, production, and upkeep of an exceptional timepiece. Its regulations cover both the technical and aesthetic aspects of timepieces, as well as the proper operation of various functions.

The Patek Philippe Seal promises extreme accuracy in movement, with a tolerance range of -3/+2 seconds per day. It has strict standards for manual finishing of components, adhering to the fine Geneva tradition. It also certifies the quality of the materials used, and the work of stone setters and precious stones.

It is the only watchmaking hallmark to provide service throughout the product's lifetime - guaranteeing after-sale support, maintenance, and restoration of all watches produced by the company since 1839."

Image of the Patek Philippe Seal on a 324 SC Caliber featured on model references 5711/1A-010.

How the 5711 has changed in pictures:

LThe following photos successively show the evolution of the 5711 since its introduction in 2006, which includes a change in caliber, and two different hallmark seals (the dials will be discussed at a later time).

Image of the Geneva Seal on a 315 SC Caliber	Image of the Geneva Seal on a 324 SC Caliber on Reference 5711/1A-001

Following the announcement at Baselworld 2009 of the introduction of the Patek Philippe Seal, the reference 5711/1A-010 quickly appeared with its new seal.

Image of the Patek Philippe Seal on caliber 324 SC from reference 5711/1A-010

Image of caliber 324 SC Patek Philippe seal, model ref. 5711/1A-010	Image of the 330 SC Patek Philippe Seal

A timeline of the different calibers:

It goes without saying that the mid 2008 - 2010 period is a transition period (calibers and seals). It is important to underline that the caliber 324 SC stamped with the Geneva seal is the rarest model in the 5711 range, as it was hardly even produced (the models in question were sold in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010).

We wish to point out that since Patek Philippe papers are handwritten, it is always possible to find models marketed at dates different from their production years, which dates would not correspond to the table above.

We will later go into more detail on other points:

- There is a clear difference between the colors of the post-Geneva seal dials

- There are subtleties in typeface, engraving, as well as in the positioning of the writing where the back of the seconds hand passes above the inscription "Genève".

- The bracelets have changed (fastened by links)

Dials

We can observe two different dials. On the left, "Genève" is lower, the stripes aren't as wide, the inscription "Swiss" does not go past the 29th and 31st minute.

A clear difference in dial colors can be seen. On the left a Geneva seal version, on the right a Patek Philippe seal

Dial on a 2007 Geneva Seal model ref. 5711/1A-001	Rarest dial, circa 2009. The stripes aren't as wide, the word Genève is placed lower. Seen on ref. 5711/1A-001

Ref. 5711/1A-010 dial with increased reflections	Current dial unveiled at Baselworld 2018, typeface previously seen on the white dial version where "Patek Philippe Genève" is written on a single inset	The silver white dial appeared in 2012 under ref 5711/1A-011, it is the only one to have the date ring, the back of the seconds hand goes over the wording « Genève"

Bracelets :

The Nautilus 5711's bracelet originally featured 25 links.

It underwent a change around 2012 when its link fastening system changed from screws to rivets.

Former bracelets with screw links	The new generation of rivet bracelets, circa 2012

The link fastening mechanism after 2012

The Future of the 5711 (Updated: April 2021)

Patek Philippe has announced an upcoming discontinuation for the Nautilus ref. 5711/1A-010 with a blue dial (the white dial version was discontinued in 2020). A final steel "commemorative" edition has been released with a production period estimated to be one year (2021-2022) and bears the reference number 5711/1A-014. The stunning green bronze dial bears a resemblance to the patinas seen on the first generations of the 3700 designed by the renowned Gerald Genta. This same edition has also been released in a more exclusive and unique version, featuring a steel body and diamond-set baguette bezel (ref. 5711/1300A-001).

Image of model ref. 5711/1A-014	Image of model ref. 5711/1300A-001

Par Clément C.