The first Patek Philippe Reference 5711/1A-018 featuring a Tiffany Blue Dial was auctioned by Phillips on December 11th, fetching an astronomical $6,503,500. The watch which was estimated to fetch a low of $50,000 has set the record for the highest price paid for any wrist watch sold online. Benefiting from 100% of the proceeds of this sale is the Nature Conservancy, an organization dedicated to preserving millions of acres of land and rivers around the globe.
One of just 170, this 5711 was crafted with a Tiffany Blue Dial to celebrate 170 years of collaboration between Patek Philippe and the storied American Jeweler. In 1851 Tiffany & Co. became Patek Philippe’s first retail partner in the United States of America. The watch features branding from both houses with “Tiffany & Co.” at 6 o’clock and “Patek Philippe” at 12 o’clock. While the backside of the case features a sapphire-crystal display with the commemorative inscription “170th Anniversary 1851-2021 Tiffany & Co. – Patek Philippe.” This particular example was the first of the limited series to come to market. Presently, Tiffany & Co. is the only retailer to feature their name on Patek Philippe’s masterful creations.
“Since my teenage years and earliest days as a watch lover, I grew up seeing the Nautilus with its subtle and timeless design and subdued dial colors such as deep blue and champagne, later white and most recently olive green. I remember my jaw dropping when I was first shown the picture this last and final iteration of the 5711 and I couldn’t believe my eyes. The introduction of a bold, pastel color paired with the Tiffany & Co. logo was unimaginable to me. Not only is this an absolute first for a Nautilus, but also for any Patek Philippe wristwatch. It’s as revolutionary and groundbreaking as when the Pop Art of Warhol and Lichtenstein wrote a new chapter for the visual arts, or when Elvis Presley created an all-new musical genre. This is a similar ‘rock and roll’ moment for Patek Philippe, and I’m certain the community will appreciate the Tiffany Blue Nautilus as much as I do” said Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant, Bacs & Russo
Designed by Gerald Genta, the iconic Nautilus was first launched in 1976, though the current iteration was introduced in 2006. Simplicity and dial legibility are hallmarks of Genta’s popular design. Modern examples enjoy a very slim case and bracelet benefiting from a perfected process of combining satin-finished and polished links in an operation that requires 55 individual steps to complete. The baton hour markers are complemented by identically shaped luminous hour and minute hands that result in a dial design with exceptional legibility. A defining highlight is the finely finished self-winding caliber 26-330 S C movement. The movement enjoys innovations that include a stop-seconds mechanism for setting the time within one second accuracy. To top it all off the port hole shaped watch enjoys 120 meters of water resistance.
The remaining 169 watches have been made available for sale through Tiffany boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, and San Francisco. Though we imagine purchasing one will be a little more challenging than just visiting the boutique.
Image credit: PHILLIPS
