Lake Area Tech Article

The Patek Philippe 5726 Is a Must Have for Your Collection

The Patek Philippe 5726 is a stylish stainless steel timepiece that belongs to the watchmaker’s revered Nautilus collection. It is a complicated timepiece that combines an annual calendar function with a 24-hour indicator and a moon phase feature. 

A true gem of the Nautilus collection, the Patek Philippe 5726 preserves many of the design elements that the collection has become known for, including its rounded octagonal bezel, gradient dial enhanced by the traditional embossed nautilus pattern, and an overall sporty but elegant design. 

Initially released in 2010, Patek has created up to four variants of this timepiece over the past few years. However, only two of these variants are still in active production. The current lineup of this Nautilus reference includes an all-steel variant with a matching steel bracelet, as well as a stainless steel version with a sophisticated black alligator strap. Your choice between the options depends on your preferences. 

History of Patek Philippe 5726

The Patek Philippe 5726 is a model in Patek’s Nautilus collection. This iconic collection, designed by the legendary Gerald Genta, has been an essential part of the watchmaker’s catalog for over 50 years and has grown over the years to include several references. This consists of a good number of models with multiple complications, as well as simpler watches. 

To mark the collection’s 40th anniversary in 2006, the Swiss watchmaker revitalized the Nautilus lineup with the release of new models, including the famous Nautilus 5711. This was followed in quick succession by the Nautilus 5712 and 5980. The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726 was released in 2010 as a follow-up to these models. These highly successful references solidified the Nautilus line as a collector’s favorite. 

The Patek 5726 is the first Nautilus steel watch to feature an annual calendar complication. Patek debuted the complication back in 1996 with the release of the yearly calendar ref 5035 (a Calatrava timepiece). On the other hand, the moon phase complication has been featured in at least three other Nautilus models in the past. They include the Nautilus ref 3712, the 5712, and the 5740G.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726 is powered by an automatic movement based on the caliber 324. This base movement has been used in other Nautilus references, such as the Nautilus 5711, as well as some Aquanaut models, but with the addition of an annual calendar and moon phase module for this reference. 

Patek Philippe 5726 Variants 

The original Patek Nautilus 5726 came paired with a leather bracelet. The watchmaker subsequently introduced variants with matching bracelets as well as some new dial color options as time went by. All Patek Philippe Nautilus variants are practically identical except for a few aesthetic differences. Here’s an overview of the main variants of this timepiece released so far, including both the discontinued and current references 

• Nautilus 5726A-001 - This was the first Nautilus 5726 reference released in 2010. It was characterized by a stainless steel casing and a sunburst charcoal gray dial with a black-gradient rim. It has a hand-stitched alligator leather strap with square scales. 

• Nautilus 5726/1A-001 - In 2012, Patek released the Patek Philippe 5726/1A. It was identical to the original version, but had a stainless steel bracelet instead of a leather strap. This variant was discontinued in 2019. 

• Nautilus 5726A-010 - This version of the Nautilus 5726 was also released in 2012 and was discontinued in 2019. The watch featured a white silvered dial. Some of the dial elements, including the indexes and the hands, also received new coatings with black reflections. Like the 5726/1A-001, this reference featured a stainless steel bracelet. 

• Nautilus 5726A-014 - This is the most recent update to the Nautilus 5726. It was released in 2019 and drew inspiration from the very first Patek Philippe Nautilus model. This timepiece features a sunburst blue-gray dial with a black-gradient rim. The bracelet is still stainless steel, with a steel foldover clasp. 

Features of the Patek Philippe 5726

The Patek Philippe 5726 is an elegant stainless steel watch featuring standard Nautilus features such as the rounded octagonal bezel and an embossed dial. Here’s a breakdown of some of the core features of this Nautilus model. 

Stainless Steel Casing 

The Patek Philippe 5726 is a stainless steel watch with proportions and overall design similar to that of other modern Nautilus watches. The case is 40.5mm with a thickness of about 11.3mm. This dimension is impressive since models with extra features are typically extra thick to accommodate the complications.

The Nautilus 5726’s case is slightly thicker than that of the Nautilus 5712, but still thinner compared to many other complicated models like the Nautilus 5990 travel time and the Ref. 5980. The perfectly balanced proportions of this watch allow it to maintain the elegance and grace of a luxury sports watch. The casing of this watch has a waterproof design that protects it up to a depth of 120 meters.

The Movement

As a complicated timepiece, the movement is one of the highlights of this watch. The Nautilus 5726 is powered by an in-house mechanical movement with the reference number 324 S QA LU 24H303. This movement is based on Patek’s famous Caliber 324, but with an annual calendar and moon phase module added. The same base movement has been used in other Nautilus watches, including the Ref 5711 and 5990. This self-winding watch engine has a balance wheel that ticks at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). The movement has up to 347 individual components and delivers a power reserve of about 35 to 45 hours. This watch has an exhibition caseback, which makes it possible to admire its inner workings. 

Complications 

The Patek Philippe 5726 has an annual calendar and a moon phase feature. It is actually the first stainless steel Nautilus model to feature an annual calendar complication, a feature introduced by Patek in 1996. This calendar function displays the date of the month, automatically adjusting for months with different lengths, except for February, which has to be adjusted manually. This means the watch has to be manually reset once a year. 

The moon phase complication is another notable addition to this elegant sports watch. Unlike the annual calendar, the moon phase indicator does not require annual resetting. Once set, it is good for up to 222 years. This watch also shows the day of the week and has a 24-hour indicator.

Balanced Dial Layout 

One concern with complicated timepieces is that their dial tends to get too cluttered due to the numerous extra features to be displayed. References like the Nautilus 5712 have been criticized for the cluttered and asymmetrical dial layout. Fortunately, Patek was able to create a perfectly symmetrical and uncluttered dial for the Nautilus 5726. The dial complications blend harmoniously into the rest of the ensemble, which includes applied gold hour markers. 

With this watch, the day of the week and month of the year are displayed in two apertures placed side by side under the 12 o’clock hour marker. Similarly, the date display is in a sub-dial located at the 6 o’clock mark. The annual calendar subdial frames the moon phase display, keeping the dial legible and balanced. As mentioned above, Patek has produced both gray and blue dial variants for the Nautilus 5726. Either option is characterized by a black-gradient rim, adding more character to the dial while promoting legibility. 

Patek Philippe 5726 Price 

The Patek Philippe 5726 price is about $59,703 in the retail market. However, not all variants of this watch are available in retail since Patek discontinued two variants in 2019. 

The versions in production right now are also in high demand. This means you have to get on a long waitlist to get your hands on a brand new Patek Philppee 5726 for sale. Pre-owned prices for this timepiece vary from about $87,000 on the low end all the way up to over $120,000. 

Conclusion 

Buying the Patek Philippe 5726 is an excellent opportunity to add a highly coveted stainless steel Nautilus to your collection. The fact that this watch also features useful complications like the annual calendar and moonphase indicator also makes it extra practical. It’s a beautiful timepiece with adaptable style, and you also have multiple options. You can buy the stainless steel variant if you want something more sporty, but the alligator strap oozes casual elegance as well if that’s what you prefer.