The much talked about "Tiffany Blue" Patek Philippe Nautilus sold for over 7 million yen!

On Saturday, December 11, 2021, auction house Phillips held a watch auction in New York. The most anticipated lot was the "Ref. 5711/1A-018 Nautilus," a commemorative collaboration model created to celebrate 170 years of partnership between Patek Philippe and Tiffany. This special Nautilus with a "Tiffany Blue" dial, which attracted worldwide attention, sold for an astonishingly high price of $6,503,500 (approximately 734,895,500 yen, 1 dollar = 113.4 yen, as of December 11, 2021), against an estimated estimate of $50,000.

Amazing Bid Price for a Special Nautilus

　The Nautilus with a "Tiffany Blue" dial being auctioned at Phillips is a commemorative model created to celebrate 170 years of partnership between Patek Philippe and Tiffany. Tiffany was founded in 1837, and Patek Philippe in 39, and the two companies signed an agreement in 1851 making Tiffany Patek Philippe's first official retail partner in the United States. The sapphire crystal case back of this model is engraved with the inscription "170th Anniversary 51-2021 Tiffany & Co.-Patek Philippe."

　The most eye-catching dial features a double stamp of Patek Philippe and Tiffany in black print. Currently, Tiffany is the only company in the world that puts its name on the dial of a Patek Philippe watch, and watches bearing the Tiffany signature are highly sought after by collectors. In addition, the vibrant "Tiffany Blue" dial has captured the hearts of many.

　Tiffany Blue is now a registered color trademark by Tiffany & Co. and standardized by Pantone as "1837 Blue," a reference to the year Tiffany & Co. was founded. This long-standing partnership distinguishes this watch as the first to feature a Tiffany Blue dial on a Patek Philippe watch. The hour markers and hands are crafted from blackened 18K white gold, enhancing legibility against the lacquered Tiffany Blue dial.

　This model was produced in a limited run of 170 pieces to commemorate the 170th anniversary, and one of these was the first to be offered at this Phillips auction. The rarity of the double name and the allure of the Tiffany blue dial, along with the fact that the Nautilus Ref. 5711 is scheduled to be discontinued in 2022, likely contributed to the excitement of this auction. Ultimately, the watch sold for an astonishingly high price of $6,503,500 (approximately 734,895,500 yen), against an estimated price of $50,000.

　All proceeds from the auction will be donated to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), an environmental organization that The Tiffany & Co. Foundation continues to support. The remaining 169 watches will be released to the market and sold in Tiffany boutiques in New York, San Francisco and Beverly Hills.