If you read only my title you
may have two opportunities to miss the truth about this watch.
The Patek
Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A is a watch, not a car or a tool! But you know that!
I do the
comparison with a Rolls-Royce and you may take it for a watch for old
chauffeured people. You're wrong!
When I write
Rolls-Royce I think quality, aim of perfection, reliability, grand style,
extreme luxury, (spirit of) ecstasy. I think about the current Phantom, or even
more about a Phantom II Continental drophead by Gurney Nutting or a
"simpler" Silver Cloud 2 drophead by HJ Mulliner. Imagine those
supremely classical designs that exudes the highest refinement, a style at the
same time understated and sublime.
Whatever
perfect the Nautilus 5711/1A is, it will never be noticed as easily and as
often as a Rolex Submariner. It will remain a rare watch rarely identified out
of the circle of the watch nuts.
In fact I have
to admit that I rarely got appealed by this watch until I put one on my wrist.
The day I tried on Amanico's 5712 it was a real blow! I then tried on a
5980 and was once again appealed. The pure design and simplicity of the
5711/1A was even stronger on me. Wait until you try one yourself!
The other
opportunity of mistake is the tool side. I must explain what I define as a tool
watch. I'm not thinking of a watch for plumbing or mining. I'm just
searching a watch for a normal everyday life, for accepting a ride on a speed
boat or an afternoon of sail fishing. I need a watch to spend some time under
the rain, to fall (helped or not) into a swimming pool.
I hope a watch
that you can forget on your wrist.
I'm
pretty sure a Nautilus 5711/1A can do all that.
Obviously many
other watches could. But which other watch would be so thin, so refined, so
unique?
Which other
watch would show the time on a so subtle dial of different shades of blue?
Which other
watch would embody so humbly all the Geneva
watchmaking experience and excellence?
Let's end
on this aspect. This watch is not just all I wrote so far, it is also above all
the case for an automatic watch calibre. I'm not too appealed by gold
watches but I'm so appealed by gold rotors under steel watches….
Don't you
think that our modern lives necessitate a strong case to protect a very refined
engine?
The 324 calibre
is now well known and shared by many Calatrava references. What other kind of
calibre would you hope to see in such kind of everyday living life watch?
You may not
dare drive a Rolls-Royce but would you refrain from wearing such a watch?
I'm in
love !
Cheers
Dje
ps : share
your pics please.