Chapter 6/6
So, it finally happened, the event that watch lovers, enthusiasts, collectors, lovers as well as buyers and sellers were waiting for, took place on April 14th 2026. Patek Philippe finally revealed the pieces that celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nautilus. However, it was a bit underwhelming and, if history has taught us anything, that was to be expected. In 2016, the 40th anniversary spawned two pieces, introducing baguette diamonds on the dial, and that's about it. The 50th celebration yielded something similar. The true surprise was elsewhere, and it is taking many Patek fans aback...for the better.
The Nautilus 50th anniversary was always going to be a commercial event, aimed at selling expensive, easy-to-make watches to rabid fans, whatever their true motivation, be it true love, thoughtful appreciation or sheer greed. To that effect, Mr. Philippe Stern chose four timepieces among the probably dozens of possibilities he was offered. Pay attention, because the differences are subtle.
The first one is ref 5610P. It reintroduces the smaller Nautilus size, starting with this full platinum version. The case stands at 38 mm in diameter for a truly thin 6.9-mm height. The second one is a full gray gold 41-mm 5810, not to be confused with the existing, not-discontinued 5811G, with date and central seconds. No date, no seconds, a 6.9-mm thick case attached to a bracelet, the 5810G's worshiped Jumbo design is truly a piece of fan-service.
The third one is also a 5810G, but on a denim-looking strap and with baguette-cut diamond indices. Agreed, this is an unusual combination, less dramatic and formal as a full metal execution. Patek has long been trying to attract a younger, more laid-back yet extremely wealthy audience. This might be their way to reach them. What all three iterations have in common is...a clean dial. The awkward pattern engraved on the 40th anniversary editions hasn't returned. Instead, the celebration marking is etched onto the micro-rotor of caliber 240, ubiquitously used for the occasion. Also, they're manufactured in limited numbers of 100 or 2000 pieces. So not that limited.
Everyone was waiting for an exclusive complication, a crazy execution, an insane dial, something major that could be worn on the wrist of the 0.1% of a stratospheric elite. Instead, Mr. Stern played a joke on them. It's called ref. 958G and it is... a Nautilus desk clock. It's the largest Nautilus ever made, with dimensions of 50 mm with a 13-mm thickness. Oh it's fitted with a wristwatch movement all right. But you can't take it with you to show it around and do what was going to be the flex of all flexes. It weighs a ton. If you wish, you can use the bow as an attachment for a chain, and wear that piece in your pocket. Or around your neck if you want to push the envelope. Just beware of fabric or cervical damage...and humidity as this case is not even waterproof to 30 meters.
© Patek Philippe
This hefty, heavy non-wristwatch is like sending the insane Nautilus-lovers packing. It says the following: No, you're not going to get what you want because Patek Philippe is about something else. Yes, we'll do a lot of expensive limited editions because we're going to take advantage of that fame. No, we're not going to satisfy your appetite and crown the Nautilus as our ultimate timepiece, like you aficionados do. Instead, we're going in a completely different direction and passing the crown on to the next icon, Mr. Stern's new baby, the as of yet under-loved, under-appreciated scion of the Nautilus dynasty : Cubitus.
The big move, the great surprise, the actual turnabout in style and vocabulary are the introduction of the Cubitus 5840P Skeleton Perpetual Calendar of unheard design at Patek Philippe. If you want to understand how big a change this piece represents, just look between the lugs. On all Patek platinum cases, a brilliant-cut diamond is set at 6 o'clock. On the ref. 5840P, it's a baguette. For the first time, Patek is matching that gemstone to the case shape.
Then there's the obvious. The movement is new. Thin, square, automatic caliber 28-28 Q SQU is in its architecture a direct descendant of caliber 240. But it's entirely unrecognizable with its contemporary finishings. No rubies, not a hint of red. Barely a trace of brass yellow. The endstones are transparent and all surfaces are gray. The bridges are skeletonized following a horizontal pattern. No curves, no matching the shape of the components. Just straight lines. This pattern is replicated with louver-style slits on the blue dial, along the recognizable ribbed pattern.
The Cubitus is a modern timepiece, and this one says it loud and clear as it is the most radical in execution that Patek has ever done. In that sense, it represents the future. That, in a word, is saying that Cubitus is the new king of sports watches on the block... in the brand's mind at least.
