It’s been a while since the last Grail Watches, as I was struggling to decide, which wristwatch should I put here next. There is this one classic, which I couldn’t go indifferently about – Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010.

Here is an entry-level Patek Philippe watch, which in normal scenario is quite affordable, if I can call it like this. The retail price of this classic sports timepiece is just £22,820. Due to an enormous demand and extremely tight supply, the price on grey market went up to astonishing £50,000! Getting your name on the waiting list for this model is next to impossible. Regardless of investment value, people have finally noticed the subtle and minimalistic beauty of the design, which goes back to 1976. 

I have always been a huge fan of vintage watches and actually my passion started from this kind of watches.   There was something satisfying about cushion-shaped watches, some of them were really ‘funky’ – I know! But that was this spirit of 1970s. 

Two characteristic things about the Nautilus? Rounded octagonal bezel and horizontally embossed dial.

People they don’t know how to look. A while ago, people used to find both Nautilus and Aquanaut ugly. How times change, now they would take a bullet to buy one. 

Let’s now focus on the watch itself. It’s perfectly sized, as the case is 40mm, it’s nor too big or too small, it won’t look weird on a wrist, regardless of its size. 

Next feature you need to know about the Nautilus is that the watch is incredibly thin for its genre. Because of that and the exhibition case back, the water resistance is just 120 meters, which is perfectly fine for a daily wearer.

I don’t like to committing myself into something, by calling it ‘the best’, however in this case, I can make an exception. This watch is the most comfortable watch I have ever worn, as it weighs next to nothing. The integrated bracelet coils around a wrist and sticks to it very nicely, almost as if it was the integral part of your skin. When Patek Philippe commits into something, they always nail it. Elegant sports watches? Boom! Nailed it!

The bracelet features a brushed links with polished blocks at the centre of each link. As it’s a Patek Philippe watch, there is a Calatrava cross motif on the double-deployment clasp. The only things I just hate about it is they it opens. You need to slide the finger underneath the bracelet and use force to release it. I can’t remember how many times I was afraid of damaging the clasp after each use. 

As much, I as would like to see a push-button release like in AP Royal Oak bracelet, I know they are trying to keep it as true to iconic model as possible and push-button would spoil the effect and probably decreased the comfort in wearing the timepiece itself. 

I’m perfectionist and I like to see shapes. With this stunning Nautilus 5711/1A-010 there are various shapes all over the watch, creating the beautiful whole with distinctive presence of a wrist.