Everything has a name, and each name has a meaning and a reason for being named. So, what is the origin of the name of that famous watch? We will explore the secrets behind the names of watches and introduce them along with their anecdotes.
Photographs by Masanori Yoshie
Article published on December 6, 2020
Patek Philippe "Nautilus"
The first Nautilus model, released in 1976. Based on the motif of a ship's porthole, it was one of the originals of what we now call "luxury sports watches." Nicknamed "Jumbo," it is an automatic movement with stainless steel (42mm diameter, 7.6mm thick). First released in 1976. Water resistant to 120m (at the time of release). The original retail price was US$2350. Private collection.
Patek Philippe's Nautilus was born in 1976 as a luxury sporty watch (a high-end wristwatch made of stainless steel), which was becoming a new trend in the watch industry at the time.
"Nautilus" is the name of a submarine.
A submarine designed by Robert Fulton in the early 1800s was the world's first practical submarine, capable of remaining submerged at a depth of 7-8 meters for approximately six hours, and was named the "Nautilus." The submarine featured in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," published by science fiction author Jules Verne in 1870, was also named the "Nautilus" in homage to Fulton's submarine. The world's first nuclear-powered submarine, built in 1954 by the U.S. Navy, was also named the "Nautilus," and was the first submarine in the world to successfully cross the Arctic Ocean.
The word "Nautilus" originally means "chamber shell" in Latin. Its sturdy shell allows it to withstand the tremendous pressure of the deep sea, making it a perfect name for a submarine.
The Patek Philippe Nautilus was named after the legendary submarine, the Nautilus, and was designed by Gerald Genta with a porthole motif.
Genta's design, which achieved a high water resistance of 120m in a thin and elegant case by fastening the fringes protruding from both sides of the case with vertical screws and firmly fixing the case and bezel that were integrated with the back cover, can be said to be a masterpiece in watch history, a pioneer of the luxury sports watch that has now become a standard in its own right. Furthermore, its unique style evoked a strong and sturdy image, like the hatches and windows of a submarine, making it a perfect match for the name "Nautilus."
By the way, there is a theory that when Rolex debuted the Submariner in 1953, one of the names considered for the model was "Nautilus." If this is true, and Rolex had used it first, what name would "Nautilus" have been?
Another name that evokes the image of a submarine, along with "Nautilus," is "Polaris," but this was already used by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1968.
This kind of endless imagination can be quite enjoyable, and it's part of the fun of thinking about the origins of watch names.
This is the current model of the Nautilus, first released in 2006. The two-piece case, characteristic of the early Nautilus, has been changed to a three-piece case (bezel + middle case + case back) in the current model. Unfortunately, this Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A is extremely popular, making it difficult to purchase. Automatic winding. Stainless steel (diameter 40mm from 10 o'clock to 4 o'clock, thickness 8.3mm). Water resistant to 120m. Price: 325 million yen (excluding tax).
Writer and editor. Writes about men's lifestyles in general for publications such as "LEON" and "MADURO." He also writes about watches in a series of articles and appears in many videos for the web magazine "FORZA STYLE."
Contact info: Patek Philippe Japan Information Center Tel. 03-3255-8109
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