How Tiffany & Co. and Patek Philippe teamed up for the last-ever Nautilus 5711: the luxury watchmaker’s most sought-after timepiece gets a ‘final’ limited edition run in Tiffany Blue

Dec 7 , 2021

One last time, with feel: Patek Philippe’s discontinued Nautilus 5711 has been revived for a one-off anniversary collaboration with Tiffany & Co., limited to a run of 170 and priced at US$52,635. Photo: Tiffany & Co.

Earlier this year Patek Philippe discontinued its most-coveted model … but now there’s one last limited edition run of 170 pieces in timeless Tiffany Blue

Tiffany & Co. is the only retailer in the world with the right to co-brand timepieces with the Swiss watchmaker – these ultra-collectable pieces are priced at a cool US$52,635

Earlier this year, collectors were crushed when Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, announced that the company was discontinuing its most sought-after watch: the Nautilus Ref. 5711. People waited for years – the wait-list was rumoured to be over a decade long – to get their hands on the 5711-1A-010, a steel model with a distinctive blue dial. Why?

“The Nautilus is a horological icon. Without any doubt, it’s one of the greatest designs of the 20th century in watches,” says Paul Boutros, head of watches, Americas for Phillips auction house, which does a large business in secondary market timepieces. “In the past four or five years, we’ve seen explosive growth and demand for any type of Nautilus watch, especially the 5711.”

A partnership between Tiffany & Co. and Patek Phillipe resulted in a special limited edition run of the famous 5711, with a signature blue dial and double stamping. Photo: Tiffany & Co.

Soon after confirming it would be discontinued, Stern promised a swan song for the model. In April, Patek Philippe unveiled a collection of 5711s with olive-green dials. That was the end of Ref. 5711, and a frenzy ensued as those who had missed out on an opportunity to buy one. However, it turns out that Stern had one more trick up his sleeve. Today, Patek Philippe announced a new limited-edition 5711 with a blue dial. But, this time, it’s Tiffany blue, and it really is the final 5711.

It’s extremely rare to find one with a Tiffany stamp … It’s the prestige factor, and it’s that extra magic on the dial of a Patek Philippe watch that collectors covet so greatly

Paul Boutros, head of watches, Americas for Phillips

Why Tiffany blue? In the US, Patek Philippe does not operate stand-alone boutiques. Instead, it sells watches through authorised dealers. Many would be surprised to discover that one of these salons is located inside one of New York’s most iconic stores: Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue. In fact, Tiffany & Co. was Patek Philippe’s first official retailer in the US and began selling Patek Philippe timepieces in 1851. Since then, the partnership has evolved from just distribution to limited edition watches stamped with both the Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. logos.

Tiffany & Co. is the only retailer in the world with the right to co-brand timepieces with Patek Philippe. These watches are even more difficult to acquire than the elusive 5711. “It’s extremely rare to find one with a Tiffany stamp,” says Boutros. “It’s the prestige factor, and it’s that extra magic on the dial of a Patek Philippe watch that collectors covet so greatly.”

The Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 celebrates the 170th anniversary of the partnership. The dial is Tiffany’s trademarked blue hue, and both logos appear on the dial: Patek Philippe at 12 o’clock and Tiffany & Co. at 6 o’clock. It has all of the signature Nautilus design details: Gérald Genta-designed case, horizontal relief embossing on the dial, and luminous baton hands and hour markers. It’s powered by the precise self-winding calibre 26-330 S C. The caseback is inscribed with “170th Anniversary 1851-2021 Tiffany & Co. – Patek Philippe.”

There will only be 170 pieces made, and as the truly final 5711, it’s sure to go down in Patek Philippe history.