Why We Love It
While the Nautilus is without question one of the great horological icons of the 1970s, it has in recent years once again become one of the most in-demand timepiece models on the planet.
Collectors and prospectors alike are clamoring to get their hands on Genta's second great luxury sports watch- and this dramatic rise shows no signs of slowing down. This year at Baselworld, Patek released a new Ladies' Nautilus, and a lot of people took notice. This release however, was not the first time that the iconic model had been adapted for a feminine clientele.
This Nautilus, a Reference 4700/001J, embodies all of the porthole-inspired character of its larger steel brothers. Dating from the 1980s, the 4700 series is presented in an elegant 27mm 18k solid yellow gold case with integrated 18k gold bracelet, Philippe Calibre e19c quartz movement, and a classic charcoal tapestry dial (no wavy lines in sight here!)
Wether commemorating a milestone, continuing a collection buildout, or treating someone special with something special, this Ladies' Nautilus is as lovely as the wrist it will soon adorn.
The Story
Patek Philippe’s history has been driven by its discerning female clientele.
One of the company’s earliest clients was a Madame Goscinska, who bought the first three watches Patek Philippe ever produced. Although meant to be worn on brooches or suspended from chains at the waist, these watches were remarkable for their exquisite construction, featuring enamel decorations surrounded by diamonds, and often containing complications like a keyless winding system.
Queen Victoria herself fell in love with one such watch at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.
When Patek Philippe made its first wristwatches in the 1870s, they were not for men, but for women, who liked the practicality of a wrist-worn watch while engaged in sports like horseback riding. These watches were petite and stylish, and powered by movements so small that they could fit into a ring. To manufacture parts on such a scale requires mastery, which the watchmakers at Patek Philippe certainly possessed… and still do.
