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The Sports Watch That Everyone Wants Gets a Surprising New Grail Edition

Arriving for a major milestone, the striking new Nautilus echoes the midsize watch models of an era since passed.

Side view of a slim silver metal wristwatch with a detailed crown and integrated lugs on a gradient blue background.Patek Philippe
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By Jack Seemer

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In a way, you could see it coming from a mile away, which is what makes the new Nautilus all the more unexpected.

Headlining a four-piece collection for the model’s 50th anniversary, the Patek Philippe 5610/1P-001 revisits the sports-watch icon designed by Gérald Genta in the 1970s.

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Only this specific Nautilus is smaller, sleeker and, oh yeah, it doesn’t come in stainless steel.

Silver stainless steel Patek Philippe wristwatch with a blue textured dial and silver hour markers.
The 5610/1P-001 headlines a new four-piece collection celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Nautilus.
Patek Philippe

A grail among grails

To be sure, there was little doubt that Patek Philippe would celebrate the milestone with something.

After all, the Nautilus remains one of the most coveted watches in the world.

Though several years removed from its peak, the standard blue version in stainless steel still trades for well over $100,000 — more than three times the suggested retail price.

Silver stainless steel Patek Philippe wristwatch with a blue textured dial on a dark blue surface.
The 5610/1P-001, limited to just 2,000 pieces, starts at CHF 90,000 (approximately $115,180).
Patek Philippe

Meanwhile, the 5610/1P-001, limited to just 2,000 pieces, starts at CHF 90,000 (approximately $115,180).

But even if it doesn’t reach the secondhand figures of the one-off Tiffany edition, which sold for $6.5 million at auction, there should be little doubt about Patek Philippe’s anniversary offering:

The 5610/1P-0 arrives as an instant grail, remaining faithful to Genta’s industry-shaking design while remixing the core principles in a way we’ve yet to see in its 50-year run.

Close-up of a Patek Philippe watch face with a blue textured dial and silver hour markers and hands.
The 5610/1P-001 drops both the seconds hand and date window to bring full focus to its blue embossed dial.
Patek Philippe

In the mix

Like the original Nautilus, reference 3700/1A, the 5610/1P-001 eschews a seconds hand (along with a date window) to bring full attention to its sunburst blue dial and horizontal embossing.

Just don’t mistake it for a reissue. Nor is it a total reinvention.

Silver stainless steel Patek Philippe wristwatch with a blue textured dial and silver hour markers.
The watch features white-gold indices.
Patek Philippe

Sitting somewhere in the middle, the 5610/1P-001 echoes other versions of the watch, distilling its essence into a form factor that’s stripped-down but full of character.

Back of a platinum Patek Philippe watch showing intricate mechanical movement with gold rotor marked "50 1976-2026".
It owes its smaller size to its ultrathin movement, a historically relevant caliber that dates back to 1977.
Patek Philippe

The most obvious callback is its size, with the watch channeling the 3800 midsize models with a 38mm platinum case.

It’s also thinner, clocking in at 6.9mm, thanks to the ultrathin Caliber 240, which Patek introduced in 1977 and remains prized for its 22K gold micro-rotor.

Round silver and gold Patek Philippe watch movement with visible gears and engraved "50 1976-2026" on the gold rotor.
The movement features unique engraving to celebrate the milestone.
Patek Philippe

For its final flourishes, white-gold baton markers and an inset diamond positioned into the side of the case elevate this beyond your average steel Nautilus, if such a coveted watch could ever be called that …

Availability and pricing

The 5610/1P-001 isn’t the only new Nautilus here to celebrate the model’s 50th anniversary.

Silver Patek Philippe watch with a blue textured dial and blue fabric strap with white stitching.
Patek Philippe also released two “Jumbo” sizes, including this one on a strap.
Patek Philippe
Silver Patek Philippe pocket watch with a blue dial and diamond hour markers on a blue fabric surface.
The most unusual piece in the collection is a white-gold desk clock.
Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe also released two “Jumbo” Nautilus references, 5810/1G-001 and 58101G-001, both measuring 41mm.

Finally, for a bit of fun, there’s something totally out of left field: a Nautilus desk watch with a white-gold case measuring 50.65mm. It’s limited to just 100 pieces.

Silver stainless steel Patek Philippe wristwatch with blue horizontal-striped dial and silver hour markers.Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5610/1P-001

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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