In 2016, Patek Philippe marked the 40th anniversary of its Nautilus collection with a discreet release of two special timepieces in October, following anticipation at Baselworld. The models introduced new features like diamond hour indices and anniversary markings on the dials. These releases aimed to elevate the collection's exclusivity and appeal to broader markets.
The Nautilus line, launched in 1976, reached its 40th anniversary in 2016 amid high expectations. At the Baselworld exhibition that year, Patek Philippe surprised observers by unveiling Aquanauts, Calatravas, and chronographs, but no Nautilus models. It was not until October 2016 that the brand released two anniversary pieces: reference 5711 P in platinum and reference 5976 G in white gold.
The 5711 P features a gradient blue dial, a discreet round brilliant diamond set between the lower lugs—a signature for Patek Philippe's platinum watches—and weighs 240 grams, compared to about 150 grams for the steel 5711A. It includes a novel detail: hour indices shaped as 12 baguette-cut white diamonds, with two at 12 o'clock and none at 3 o'clock to accommodate the date window. The 5976 G is a self-winding flyback chronograph powered by caliber CH 28-520 C, with a concentric seconds and minutes counter positioned under the hands. Both models bear a prominent three-dimensional dial marking: "1976 & 40 & 2016," etched to commemorate the occasion—the first time Patek Philippe so explicitly noted an anniversary on a timepiece.
These releases served multiple purposes. They introduced diamond indices to men's watches on a larger scale, targeting markets in southeast Asia, the USA, and the Middle East, where demand for gem-set pieces was growing. Patek Philippe later acquired gem-setter Salanitro to meet this need. The models also sought to shift focus from steel references, which were seen as the more affordable entry to the brand, toward higher-end materials like platinum and diamonds to enhance prestige. The anniversary engravings made the watches distinctive and collectible, contributing to their value retention on the secondary market.
Limited to 700 pieces for the 5711 P and 1,300 for the 5976 G, both launched at six-figure prices and continue to command significant markups. This strategy created desirability with a controlled quantity, leaving enthusiasts eager for future iterations.