In terms of shape and size, the new gold Nautilus models are exactly the same as the steel version, with a diameter of 43 mm, 1 mm larger than the 1976 original. This enlargement is not associated with the trend toward more dominant watches but has to do with the lateral hinge extensions that were broadened by half a millimeter to accommodate a softer curvature. And like the new stainless steel model, the gold versions also have three-part cases, a screwed back with a sapphire-crystal window, and a screw-down crown. They, too, are water-resistant to 120 meters. Its self-winding heart, powered by an extra-heavy 21K gold central rotor, is the Patek Philippe caliber 324 S C movement (S stands for sweep seconds, C for calendar), acclaimed among collectors and connoisseurs alike. It displays the hours, minutes and seconds with hands from the center, and the date in an aperture at 3 o’clock.
New accents in yellow, white and rose gold
To spotlight the aesthetic combination of materials, the dials match the case color in each version. They are silvery for the yellow-gold model, a warmer brown-charcoal for the rose-gold model, and a cool slate gray for the white-gold model. The brown-charcoal dial is galvanized and lacquered to produce a light-to-dark gradation from the center to the periphery. The silvery gray and slate gray dials are galvanized and not gradated. All dials feature the distinctive Nautilus horizontal embossing pattern and large applied luminous hour markers in yellow, white or rose gold to match the case.
The prominent luminescent hour and minute hands as well as the slender center sweep seconds hand are also in yellow, white or rose gold to match the case. The date is indicated in an aperture at 3 o’clock.
These new Nautilus Grande Taille variations are worn on alligator straps – safari black with white gold, chocolate with yellow gold, and dark brown with rose gold. The fold-over clasp in matching gold is a new three-part design with a threaded length adjustment device for a particularly gentle and secure fit.
