6 Of Our Favorite Patek Philippe Timepieces For Summer

Patek Philippe Nautilus

Is there a Patek Philippe watch that says “summer” as clearly as the Nautilus? We think not. Introduced in 1976, named after Captain Nemo’s submersible, and designed for nautical life, the Patek Philippe Nautilus is considered by many as the ultimate high-end sports watch.

Its case silhouette is inspired by a porthole, complete with the hinges on the side like those found on ship windows. The horizontally striped dial echoes teak wood boat decks and many models within the Nautilus line are water-resistant to 120 meters.

That said, the Nautilus is also one of the most coveted Patek Philippe watches for sale, and finding one is not always an easy task. Lucky for you, we have a few in stock that would make fabulous summer watches.

For instance, for men, there’s the limited edition Nautilus Chronograph Ref. 5976/1G, which was launched in 2016 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the model. Crafted entirely in white gold and furnished with a sunburst blue dial punctuated with baguette-diamond hour markers, this is one of the most spectacular Patek Philippe timepieces you could wear all summer – and beyond.

For ladies, our top pick would be the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 4700/1J with an 18k yellow gold case and bracelet, as well as diamonds set into the bezel. The white dial of this dazzling little number is fresh for the summer while the gold Roman numerals match the rest of the watch.

Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Introduced in 1996, Patek Philippe designed the Aquanaut as a more streamlined version of the Nautilus, intended to attract a younger audience. Since then, the Aquanaut has risen in stature to become one of the best-selling Patek Philippe timepieces and a beloved model in its own right outside of the Nautilus’ shadow.

While a few Patek Philippe Aquanaut watches are fitted with metal bracelets, the vast majority of them are paired with sporty rubber straps embossed with a convex grid pattern — a motif that is also found on the dial. The dial is home to lumed Arabic numerals and lumed baton hands with pointed tips for legibility in the dark. All in all, a super sporty, yet luxurious Patek Philippe watch that’s perfect for the summer.

There are a couple of great options within the Aquanaut line; for instance, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5165A features a 38mm stainless steel case, black dial, and black rubber strap. Not only is 38mm a great size for a wide range of wrists but black is also a classic color that goes with just about anything.

Alternatively, for something more sparkly, there’s the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce Ref. 5267/200A-001, featuring a 38.8mm stainless steel case with 48 diamonds set into the signature rounded octagonal bezel.

Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse

For elegant summer soirées, let’s turn to dress watches. And Patek is known to make some of the best in the business. The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, for instance, has been part of the brand’s catalog since it emerged in 1968. The signature design trait of the watch is its handsome elliptical case, based on the principle of the Golden Ratio.

While the Golden Ellipse watch has been paired with several dial colors over the decades, the classic choice is the striking cobalt blue dial that debuted on the original models. Furthermore, you’ll often find Patek Ellipse watches on leather straps but there’s nothing quite like the versions with intricate gold bracelets.

Take for example the self-winding Patek Philippe Ellipse 3738/122, which features a 34mm yellow gold case, cobalt blue dial, and a spectacular yellow gold beads-of-rice bracelet. The addition of the bracelet turns this classic Patek timepiece into a head-turning watch.

Just as ravishing is the similar-looking Ellipse 3848/1; however, this variant has a slightly smaller 32mm yellow gold case, a chainlink bracelet, and a manual-winding movement. Either of these fine Patek Philippe timepieces would make excellent statement watches for blissful summer nights.

At Gray & Sons, we’re proud to offer a wide selection of pre-owned Patek Philippe watches for sale including Nautilus, Aquanaut, and Golden Ellipse models. Alternatively, if you have a Patek Philippe watch you’d like to sell, please visit our sister site, Sell Us Your Jewelry for the best offers.