A controversial topic is that of the Patek Philippe 5711/1A-014 Nautilus. Yep, you know the one. The new green dialled Nautilus that phased out the original 5711/1A-010 blue dialled Nautilus. The one the world went crazy for when it was released last year. The one that retails for £26,870 but sells on the grey market for much, much more. The grey market price for the green dial 5711/1A-014 Nautilus is so high in fact, that you can actually spend less money and buy something, still from Patek Philippe mind you, that is far more complicated, interesting and holds more horological value than the Nautilus (which in itself is an absolute icon of modern watchmaking). Perpetual calendars, chronographs and rattrapantes, celestial pieces and grand complications. Yep, for the price of a grey market green dial 5711/1A-014 Nautilus you can buy any one (or two...) of these Patek Philippe grails. That's 21st century watch collecting for you.
Patek Philippe 5204R Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar
It's a weird world when the Patek Philippe 5204R Split-Seconds Chronograph Perpetual Calendar is more readily accessible and affordable than a Nautilus. But, here we are. No doubt the Patek Philippe 5204R Split-Seconds Chronograph Perpetual Calendar is up on many collector's wish-list as their ultimate grail, mine included. Crazy times, indeed.
Patek Philippe 5271P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
The platinum-clad, diamond encrusted Patek Philippe 5271P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is another grail of haute horlogerie. Featuring one of the most sound perpetual calendar/chronograph bases, the Patek Philippe 5271P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph capitalises on its already brand-making status with the use of precious metals and haute joaillerie. Spectacular and still cheaper than the green Nautilus. Lol.
Patek Philippe 6102R Celestial
A definitive grail of mine is the Patek Philippe 6102R Celestial. As poetic and romantic a celestial timepiece can get, the Patek Philippe 6102R Celestial is the epitome of an astronomical complicated watch. The rose gold case surrounds a star-studded dial and adds to the illusion of this piece being larger than life.
Patek Philippe 5270P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
A watch you need to see in the metal to fully appreciate, the salmon dial Patek Philippe 5270P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is a beast of haute horlogerie. The way the dial pops in the sun is something that needs to be seen to be belived. And then you take a peek through the open sapphire caseback into the inner workings of the hand-wound Calibre CH 29-535 PS Q. Incomparably better.
Patek Philippe 5370P Split-Seconds Chronograph
One of my all-time grail watches. The black dial Patek Philippe 5370P Split-Seconds Chronograph is the unmatched alpha of all the split-seconds chronograph timepieces. The king of kings. The apex predator of all the chronographs.
Patek Philippe 5131/1P World Time
The Patek Philippe 5131/1P World Time is one of the most beautiful, most hardcore worldtimers out there. Clad in platinum with a matching platinum bracelet, it stands head and shoulders above everything else out there. The grey-market price green Nautilus included.
Patek Philippe 5905/1A Annual Calendar Chronograph
For those of you who insist on getting a green dial Patek Philippe, may I present to you the 5905/1A Annual Calendar Chronograph. Green dial, check. Steel case and bracelet, check. Annual calendar and chronograph, check and check. The most comparable Patek Philippe to the green dial Nautilus. Packs a whole lot more punch than the green dial Nautilus.
Patek Philippe 5236P Perpetual Calendar
The Patek Philippe 5236P Perpetual Calendar features a novel in-line aperture perpetual calendar display that is super legible and utterly fantastic. I love the vertically finished blue dial and that gleam of the platinum case finishes off a package that is absolutely undeniable. Still more affordable than a grey-market priced green Nautilus. Lol.
Patek Philippe 5327G Perpetual Calendar
While it's a touch more conservative than the Patek Philippe 5236P Perpetual Calendar, the Patek Philippe 5327G Perpetual Calendar is a lovely package of tradition. With its white gold case, Breguet numerals and deep blue dial, the Patek Philippe 5327G Perpetual Calendar is outstanding in any market, but even more so now when compared just how stupidly price the green Nautilus is.
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