PATEK'S NAUTILUS TURNS 50: MILAN EXHIBITION OCTOBER 2026 — Quick Facts
Patek Philippe's Nautilus celebrates 50 years in 2026 with a massive Milan exhibition October 2-18. Gerald Genta's iconic design faces anniversary predictions.
Key Data Points
- Patek Philippe's seventh Grand Exhibition takes place October 2-18, 2026 in Milan's renovated CityOval covering 2,540 square meters
- The discontinued steel 5711/1A sold for USD 34,890 in olive green before exploding to north of USD 180,000 on secondary markets
- Gerald Genta designed the original Nautilus ref. 3700 in 1976 inspired by transatlantic ship portholes, sketched reportedly in five minutes on a restaurant napkin
Frequently Asked
- When is Patek Philippe's Nautilus 50th anniversary exhibition in Milan?
- Patek Philippe's seventh Grand Exhibition celebrating the Nautilus's 50th anniversary will take place October 2-18, 2026 in Milan's renovated CityOval, covering 2,540 square meters.
- Who designed the original Patek Philippe Nautilus and when?
- Gerald Genta designed the original Nautilus ref. 3700 in 1976, reportedly sketching the iconic porthole-inspired design in five minutes on a restaurant napkin.
- Why did the Patek Philippe Nautilus steel 5711/1A price skyrocket on the secondary market?
- The discontinued steel 5711/1A sold for USD 34,890 at retail before exploding to over USD 180,000 on secondary markets due to extreme scarcity and high demand for the iconic sports watch.
- How many watches will be displayed at the 2026 Patek Philippe Milan exhibition?
- The exhibition will present approximately 500 timepieces from Patek Philippe's current collection, Rare Handcrafts division, and museum pieces dating from the sixteenth to early nineteenth centuries.
- What was Patek Philippe's strategy with the discontinued Nautilus steel 5711/1A?
- Patek announced the discontinuation of the steel 5711/1A in 2021, then immediately released the olive green dial reference 5711/1A-014 at USD 34,890, demonstrating a strategic scarcity management approach.