Patek Philippe Lady Nautilus 18K Diamond

The inception of the Patek Philippe Nautilus is intricately entwined with the emergence of another iconic timepiece, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The latter, introduced in 1972, defined an entirely new category of luxurious wristwatches crafted from stainless steel. As the Royal Oak gained tremendous success, Patek Philippe recognized the opportune moment to venture into the realm of exclusive sports watches boasting the highest quality finishes. For Patek Philippe, this new model played a pivotal role in its overarching marketing strategy, aiming to rejuvenate the brand's image while upholding tradition. The target audience encompassed dynamic business managers from the emerging generations. It was only fitting that the designer for this groundbreaking watch would be none other than Gerald Genta, the visionary behind the Royal Oak. Reflecting on the genesis of the Nautilus in a 2009 interview, Genta recounted designing the watch during the Basel Trade Fair: "I was at the restaurant of a hotel, and some people from Patek were sitting in one corner of the dining hall, while I was sitting alone in the other corner. I told the head-waiter: 'Bring me a piece of paper and a pencil; I want to design something.' I designed the Nautilus while observing the people from Patek eating! It was a sketch that I completed in 5 minutes." The illustration by Genta, depicted below, originated from that initial sketch. The inspirational idea drew from the shape of a porthole, reminiscent of those found on transatlantic liners. The patented case comprised a solid backcase/middlecase monobloc, with the distinctive octagonal bezel secured by four lateral screws for optimal water-resistance. Each of the eight sides of the bezel featured subtle curves, tracing a perfect arc of a circle—a nuanced detail with significant impact from a design perspective.