Patek Philippe Elevates Casual Elegance: Unveiling the Nautilus Perpetual Calendar and Aquanaut Chronograph

Patek Philippe, renowned for its fusion of timeless elegance and sporty aesthetics, has expanded the allure of its two distinguished watch families, the Nautilus and Aquanaut. These debuts introduce innovative patented fold-over clasps that not only enhance convenience but also prioritize safety.

In the realm of casual elegance, Patek Philippe has firmly established its presence with two iconic timepieces that have achieved cult status: the Nautilus and the Aquanaut. The Nautilus, introduced in 1976, boasts a distinctive octagonal bezel and a porthole-inspired design, setting it apart as a true style icon.

Over the years, it has seen various iterations, both for women and men, featuring a range of complications, including a self-winding chronograph, a second time zone, and the patented Annual Calendar. In contrast, the Aquanaut, introduced in 1997, embodies contemporary casual chic with its youthful and modern design, making a significant impact right from its inception.

The Aquanaut has also been presented in both feminine versions (the Aquanaut Luce with a diamond-set bezel) and masculine models, offering the exclusive Travel Time mechanism for displaying a second time zone with exceptional simplicity and clarity.

The First Grand Complication in the Nautilus Collection

Patek Philippe now presents a groundbreaking addition to the Nautilus lineup: an analog perpetual calendar, marking the first grand complication within this prestigious family. This timepiece seamlessly combines the casual sportiness for which the Nautilus is renowned with technical prowess, robustness, and the artistry of high-end watchmaking. Encased in the understated elegance of 18K white gold, it features an automatic calendar that accurately accounts for the varying days of each month, including the leap year's periodic 29th of February.

Powered by the renowned ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240 movement, complemented by a recessed 22K gold mini-rotor and an exceptionally slender calendar module, the watch boasts a remarkable slim profile of just 8.32 mm. Despite its svelte build, it maintains water resistance up to 60 meters. In fact, it represents Patek Philippe's thinnest perpetual calendar to date. The intricate architecture of the movement, adorned with chamfered and polished edge bridges and the Calatrava cross engraving on the winding rotor, can be admired through the transparent sapphire-crystal case back.

The bezel's signature design is emphasized by vertically satin-finished surfaces, creating a striking contrast against the polished chamfers. The dial is adorned with raised horizontal embossing, a hallmark of men's Nautilus watches, and features the same sunburst blue hue that graced the 40th-anniversary Nautilus models in 2016. This design is a nod to the porthole-inspired case design, which gave the Nautilus its distinctive name. Enhanced legibility in both daylight and darkness is achieved through broad hour and minute hands and luminescent coatings on the white-gold hour markers. The perpetual calendar features three sub-dials, each with analog displays (day of the week and 24-hour dial at 9 o'clock, month and leap-year cycle at 3 o'clock, date and moon phases at 6 o'clock), all seamlessly integrated into the subtly rounded octagonal dial.

A notable detail: the sub-dial for the date, the most vital calendar indication, is slightly larger than the other two. The 24-hour display simplifies calendar adjustments, while the moon-phase display demonstrates remarkable precision, deviating from the actual moon position by just one day every 122 years.

To facilitate adjustments, the perpetual calendar correctors (day correction at 9 o'clock, date correction between 11 and 12 o'clock, month correction between 12 and 1 o'clock, moon-phase correction at 6 o'clock) have been ingeniously positioned, seamlessly integrating them into the Nautilus case design.

The white-gold bracelet, seamlessly integrated with the case, mirrors the case and bezel's finishing, alternating between polished central links and satin-finished lateral links. To enhance comfort, Patek Philippe introduces a brand-new, patented fold-over clasp, featuring four independent catches to optimize both opening and closing while preventing inadvertent release of either clasp segment.

This masterpiece is available at a public price of €108,020, marking a significant addition to the legacy of Patek Philippe's Nautilus collection.