There’s a good deal of chatter in the watch industry surrounding Patek Philippe’s decision to discontinue the Nautilus 5711 in steel. Watch fans crying into their coffee cups over the thought of this needn’t worry as there are some fantastic alternatives ready to fill the void.
The Patek Phillipe Nautilus 5711 and 5712 in Steel are iconic pieces in the watch industry. With news surfacing that the 5711 will be discontinued this year and rumours that the 5712 could follow the same path, now would be an excellent time to consider the alternatives.
Fortunately, the nice people at Watchfinder & Co have produced and shared with us a list of watches that should help fill the void left by the Nautilus 5711 and potentially the 5712.
The IWC Ingenieur
In 1976 the IWC Ingenieur was reborn amidst the infamous quartz crisis. The same time period also saw the launch of the AP Royal Oak and the Patek Nautilus. You might not know that all of these three watches were designed by the same man, Gerald Genta. Of the three, the IWC stands out as the most friendly on the wallet, and the big positive is it doesn’t compromise on any of the design cues of a true Genta classic.
The CasiOak
This wittily named Casio has an octagonal case and an integrated bracelet with faux screws and channels the same energy as the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. It’s a watch you can knock around without worrying about having to re-mortgage the house to cover the cost of a service.
Frederique Constant Highlife Perpetual Calendar
Never afraid of trying something new – Frederique Constant placed a perpetual calendar into a steel sports model with a blue dial and an integrated bracelet. Best of both worlds, right? Better yet, it’s widely available and less than half the original retail price of the 5711.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas
This watch is the third member of the so-called “Holy Trinity” (along with Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe). These three watchmakers are regarded as the creme de la creme of Swiss watchmaking. Why not pull out all the stops and up the game a little with a Rose gold Vacheron Constantin Overseas? Rest assured, you won’t see many others wearing one.
The Chopard Alpine Eagle
The Chopard Alpine Eagle, pure luxury posing as a sports model. Originally produced for the jet-set who frequented Switzerland’s St.Mortiz in the 1980s, its modern-day iteration has a mixture of mirror finished and brushed steel which is set off by the texture of its rough sunburst dial in blue.
A.Lange & Sohne Odysseus
Long-awaited and much-hyped, A. Lange & Sohne’s move to making a sports styled model was a big step for the German watch house. The refined Odysseus features a day-date complication, a steel case, integrated bracelet and a multi-texture blue dial.
Zenith Defy Classic
Given that Zenith is widely considered as the kings of the chronograph and busy dials, it’s nice to see the pared-down and more understated layout of the Defy Classic. The only text on the deep blue dial is the word “Zenith” at 12, which sits beneath a five-pointed star.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
The Royal Oak and the Nautilus are quite literally the blued eyed siblings of the watch industry – both ‘fathered’ by Gerald Genta. The initial concept idea for the Nautilus was a Royal Oak which had been left to wear down and erode on a sandy beach for a long period of time. The Royal Oak is still in production in a variety of styles and should not be considered a step down from the Nautilus, more a step across.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut
In 1997 Patek Philippe was busy diversifying its offering, looking to build on the success of the Nautilus. As part of this, the design of the Aquanaut was updated to fit more with the trends of the era. Removing the so-called “ears” of the case, placing it on a rubber strap and giving the piece more of a rugged quality with what is described as the “grenade” ridges on its dial, the Aquanaut is a close relative of the 5711 and just a little more casual.
The Piaget Polo
Like many titans of modern watchmaking, the look and feel of the Piaget Polo are rooted in designs from the 1970s. This is a dress watch with a ‘rough and tumble’ attitude; the Polo will slip under the cuff of a dinner jacket or a bomber jacket with ease and draw only the right kind of attention.
Rolex Sky-dweller
The most complicated Rolex ever produced. Carrying an annual calendar and a dual time-zone complication (without having five different dials), the Sky-dweller sets the bar for intelligent yet understated design. Also, coming in at 1/6th of the price of the now-discontinued 5711, the Sky-dweller allows you the option to purchase more than one new toy for the same budget!
The above timepieces are currently available for purchase via the Watchfinder & Co website. For more information and prices, please visit their website watchfinder.co.uk.
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