Released in 1976 as Patek Philippe's response to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, an avant-garde luxury stainless steel sports watch borne from AP's necessity to survive the Quartz Crisis, the Nautilus was Patek Philippe's attempt to go head to head with AP's increasingly popular sports watch. Designed by Gerald Genta, the same man that had designed the Royal Oak, the Nautilus was inspired by a porthole and thus features a rounded-over octagonal bezel and hinge-like protrusions on either side of its case. Featuring its signature horizontally embossed dial and iconic integrated bracelet, the Nautilus has become the most sought-after watch in the market today as collectors clamor over examples thanks to its iconic design, extreme exclusivity, and impeccable craftsmanship.

Released in 2006, the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5980R combines the heritage of the Nautilus collection with a practical and brilliantly designed chronograph complication that speaks to the mechanical elegance and sophisticated design we have come to expect from Patek Philippe. Water-resistant to a rather impressive 120m, and featuring its signature co-axial chronograph counter at 6 o’clock, the ref. 5980 allows its wearer to track both the elapsed minutes and hours all on the same subdial. Beyond the Nautilus’ history, elegant design, and useful function, the Nautilus ref. 5980 is amongst one of the Nautilus’ rarest variants. Retaining its base model’s signature blue gradient dial and stainless steel construction, the ref. 5980 is undeniably recognizable as a Nautilus, one of the most sought-after watches on the market for the last handful of years.