Patek Philippe Silently Discontinues The Nautilus 5712/1A — What Does This Imply?

Watch models and variations come and go. Most go under the radar, slipping into oblivion without anyone paying them much mind. Others walk off stage to great fanfare. The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1A sits somewhere in the middle. Patek Philippe did not officially announce it or share anything regarding the discontinuation. Still, we feel it is a significant one that we would like to briefly cover here at Fratello.

Fratello’s Lex discovered that the 5712/1A was missing from the website quite some time ago. We finally opted to cover it here, if not as big news, then perhaps as a small ode to the odd Nautilus.

Image: The Watch Club

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1A History

Although Patek Philippe discontinued several references recently, the 5712/1A is probably the standout model. To get a feel for its significance, we travel back to reference 3710. Introduced in 1998, this model brought the first tentative complication besides the date to the Nautilus range. Its power reserve indicator just to the left of 12 paved the way for the Nautilus 3712, which dialed up the complications significantly for the first time.

Image: The Watch Club

Reference 3712/1A (2005) introduced the characteristic unbalanced layout of a power reserve indicator at 10:30, a moonphase display and pointer date at 7 o’clock, and small seconds at 4:30. All of this pushed the brand name to a weird position between the center line and 2 o’clock. This 42mm reference only saw nine months in production.

The 42.5mm Nautilus 5712 succeeded the 3712 in 2006. It featured the same caliber 240 PS IRM C LU as its predecessor. The base caliber 240 dates back to 1977, when it was developed to rival quartz calibers in thinness. A new version with the power reserve making way for a big date still powers the new Cubitus. The 5712 now sees its steel version disappearing after almost two decades. Only the rose gold 5712/1R remains in the collection.

Image: The Watch Club

What does it mean?

We spent some time discussing the meaning of this discontinuation in the Fratello office. Let me prevent you from getting your hopes up; we don’t know! There are three more or less sensible explanations. The first is that the Nautilus slowly makes way for the Cubitus. The platinum Cubitus features a very similar layout with its blue dial and some of the complications. However, while the 5712 is funkily unbalanced, the strong visual anchor of the big date on the Cubitus completely negates any charm you might see in this layout. Still, could a steel version be on the way? Could it be that the 5712/1R has to make way for it?

Another explanation that seems to make sense when viewed in isolation is that the 1977 base caliber is due for an update. However, this argument loses traction when you see the new Cubitus also running on it. Developing a properly shaped caliber for the Cubitus would have made much more sense.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5811/1G with its two-piece case

A third explanation could be an incoming update to the 5712/1A. Perhaps we are slowly moving away from the 57xx age into the 58xx generation. Perhaps the steel models will all go in favor of precious metals only. Maybe we’ll see a return of the two-piece case.

Image: The Watch Club

Saying goodbye to the 5712/1A

The last explanation makes the most sense to me. Of course, there is always the off chance that we are looking for meaning where there is none. Perhaps this is just part of the ever-evolving collection; some come, and some go.

In any case, the 5712/1A will go down as one of Patek’s more interesting modern sports references. Its odd, unbalanced layout alone is enough to cement it in the annals of high-end sports watch history. The watch divided opinions from day one, but it seemed to enthuse more collectors than it put off. To me, the dial is so quirky that it works. The changes made to form the Cubitus 5822P kind of ruined it for me. I cannot help but see the outlines of a tractor in its complications. This makes the outgoing 5712/1A even better.

Image: Chrono24

Among the other discontinued Patek Philippe references, we find the ladies’ Nautilus 7118/1A-010 and 7118-1200A-010, the Split-Seconds Chronograph 5370P-011, and the Aquanaut 5167/1A-001, and the original Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524G. In my book, the 5712/1A is the most prominent within this lineup. Let’s see what Patek Philippe brings in its place come Watches and Wonders in April.

The lights go out on the 5712/1A — Image: The Watch Club

What do you think the discontinuation means for the future of the Nautilus? Let us know in the comments below!

Header image: The Watch Club