Who struggled with Nautilus VS Aquanaut?

[gtnator]

Anyone considered getting a SS Nautilus versus getting the SS Aquanaut? What did you decide and what is/was your reasoning? Thanks!

[SL BRABUS]

Personal preference 5167....

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=605447

You could read my review & why I pick the Aquanaut.....^^^.....

[BisonHead]

Only recently taken notice of PP, due to browsing on here. Always had PP pegged as a manufacturer of exquisite gold dress watches. This was purely down to lack of knowledge and ignorance on my behalf.

So been looking into them a bit more and have come to really like the Aquanaut, the more i see them the more it shouts out to me.

It seems a great everyday watch, practical with the composite band etc.

I understand the love for the Nautilus, but i am sorry to say it doesn't appeal to me personally.

For what ever reason everytime i look at it, the case shape reminds me of Teletubbies an English kids show character. Its the case design with the sticky out bits at 3 and 9 o'clock.

I am sure i will get flamed for that statement

[Flex368]

I have both and love both, still out of these two I wear the 5167 about 90% of the time.

I bought the Aquanaut first and the Nautilus about 6 months later.

[Mr Naultilus]

Simple solution , buy both

[theflywrist]

I'm sure most of us had this dilemma.
I had to try them all in the flesh before buying. I tried the 5167 first and was smitten! Asking price at that time was $14K (about 5 years ago). This was the most I will have ever spent on a watch at the time and so it was hefty for me.
I decided to stay patient and try a 5711. The 5711 was also difficult to get at retail at the time (though not as hard as it is today), and I finally found a grey dealer in Singapore that had both a white and the blue. When I tried the blue, I finally understood the appeal, and that's when I decided to hunt for mine. Didn't buy it from that grey dealer because I wanted a brand new one.

Bare in mind, at that time(especially on this forum) the 5167 was considered the watch you'd buy when you really wanted a Patek but couldn't afford a Nautilus.
Was always seen as the "entry model" PP.

Fast forward to today, I still have the 5711 I had got years ago, and have also added the 5167.
The 5167 is a cooler watch to wear. Comfortable, sleek, and just very fun to wear. The 5711 though is a much superior design, and much more beautiful to look at.
If I had to decide on one, it will depend on the day as I could go either way. If you ask me today, I'd keep the 5711, but this answer could change next week.

[ts3]

Key question is if you want more sporty or more elegant.

When I tried on a 5167 on the rubber strap years ago for the first time I was not impressed. Black dial, white numerals, lots of lume (just like my IWC Mark XV daily beater, no offense intended). Also wearing a little large for my 6 5/8" wrists. Nice and very sporty watch but little elegance if any.

Totally different experience w a 3700 - love at first sight. But I hesitated given price and seller (big mistake) and gone it was. Got on the list for the 5711 blue then which I have had for a while now and am very happy. Still sporty but much more elegant watch.

So in my view, Aquanaut if you want more sporty, Nautilus if you want more elegant. Both bezels are scratch magnets all the same and keep in mind that the Aquanaut is wearing a little larger due to its slightly bigger dial.

[mongrelnomoad]

I chose a 5066 over a 3800 20 years ago, but I was a teenager and it suited me better.

Today I’m older, a little more weathered, and I’d choose a 5711. If I could get one (which I’ve tried).

That said they’re both great watches and you can’t go wrong.

[Token74]

I have always liked the Nautilus whereas the dimensions of the Aquanaut don’t quite fit me, so it was an easy choice.

That said, the choice between the 5712 and the 5990 was agonising! 5990 won, but it was a super tough decision.


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[JR16]

I liked both , couldn’t decide which to get. Got called on the 5167 first so bought it and 8 months later got called for the 5712
and bought that. Love them both, but 5167 gets more wrist time , probably bc my more casual/sporty attire and lifestyle.


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[AK797]

I'd get the Nautilus first then the Aqua.

[subtona]

Having had both, I found the nautilus far more satisfying!

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by subtona

Having had both, I found the nautilus far more satisfying!

+1

[Bearxj86]

A few years ago when Aquanauts were around $17k and Nautilus 5711 blue was around $27k (arguably before it got so hyped) I ended up going for the Aquanaut on bracelet as a first time buyer of Patek.

My rationale at the time
1) Can wear on strap and bracelet.
2) A lot cheaper
3) New-gen rubber look and stealth wealth pretty cool
4) Sick lume
5) Wears a bit bigger


After owning the aquanaut for a year, I kept looking at the 5711 all the time and ended up pulling trigger on it too. After owning both, I will have to say Nautilus - that bracelet is something special.

[Fat_ninja]

I never liked the aqua... have slowly come around to the 5167. I preferred the bracelet originally. Now like both

[Vipes]

Originally Posted by subtona

Having had both, I found the nautilus far more satisfying!

+1. Still wouldn’t mind adding a 5167 to the collection.

[kaiserphoenix]

5167A for me!! I have had the 5711, 5712, 5990, but in the end the 5167A was the one I always turned to and have kept it every since! It has gone to work, hiking, around the world, to the pool, to the beach, everything. Love this watch.

[0315]

I love nautilus 5711,5712, 5726
on the aquanaut front i like 5167a, 5164a.

personally, i hope the hype moves on and i can complete my collection.

[locutus49]

I like the wife's support when I buy anything over 5K so we looked at both several years ago when they were in stock and the wife did not like the 5711, and she could tolerate the Aquanaut.
So when I eventually decided to buy one, it was the 5167 Aqua. She prefers Rolex but anyway, there you have it.

[locutus49]

That was my evolution in taste exactly. Now I love the Rubber strap.

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

I never liked the aqua... have slowly come around to the 5167. I preferred the bracelet originally. Now like both

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by locutus49

I like the wife's support when I buy anything over 5K so we looked at both several years ago when they were in stock and the wife did not like the 5711, and she could tolerate the Aquanaut.
So when I eventually decided to buy one, it was the 5167 Aqua. She prefers Rolex but anyway, there you have it.

For me... I need the wife’s approval to spend more than $100. So I hear ya.
These days the kid too has to bless it cause u know it’s going to be all hers...

[locutus49]

We really set the arbitrary limit so she could buy handbags and shoes without checking with me, although she often does anyway. When we go to Hermes we both spend money...no kids so no one to inherit our stuff.

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

For me... I need the wife’s approval to spend more than $100. So I hear ya.
These days the kid too has to bless it cause u know it’s going to be all hers...

[srvrf]

Originally Posted by kaiserphoenix

5167A for me!! I have had the 5711, 5712, 5990, but in the end the 5167A was the one I always turned to and have kept it every since! It has gone to work, hiking, around the world, to the pool, to the beach, everything. Love this watch.

I agree and do think the choice also depends on the status of the collection. In a small collection like mine (2 watches), I love the 5167/1A because of its versatility. On a bracelet, it is a great everyday work watch and on the rubber, it works well for summer and travel. I just spent 3 days hiking with it in Colorado. I don't think I'd do that with a Nautilus.

[singe89]

Had more than a few chances to get a 5711 and even 5980 years ago and could never pull the trigger because they wore so small on my 7.75'' flat wrist. My wife even commented that it looked too feminine for me.

Once the 5168G came out I knew that it was going to be one of the only sport Pateks to fit me so I got it. Still want a Nautilus and think the 5990 might wear a little small but I'll be able to pull it off.

[CamSLC]

I bought the 5711 first because it was so different than the other watches I had at the time.

But, after getting the 5167 I wear it the most.

[mineral]

Nautilus for weekday and Aquanaut for weekend :). Get both if you can, honestly both are the best ss Patek to collect.


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[BigAppleBill]

Originally Posted by mineral

Nautilus for weekday and Aquanaut for weekend :). Get both if you can, honestly both are the best ss Patek to collect.


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I like this advice. It just takes some planning and patience.

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by mineral

Nautilus for weekday and Aquanaut for weekend :). Get both if you can, honestly both are the best ss Patek to collect.


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What about 36mm royal oak? :)

We both own the military dial and it fights the Nautilus for weekday time.

[DGP]

I think it was 2008. I was waiting for an Nautilus (waiting list even 11 years ago). When my AD shown me the Aquanant on the new metal bracelet. He said I could have it there and then but he would have to remove my name from the Nautilus waiting list.
So I bought the Aquanant (and in those days you could even get small discount on the Aquanant!)

[Bearxj86]

After owning 3 5167s and 5711 white, blue, rose, 3712 too. The blue dial 5711 is the perfect watch for my 6.75 inch wrist.

I will leave you with two quotes both from Aurel Bacs and photos:

“Just like everyone should at least once feel the pleasure of wearing a cashmere sweater, one should at least once have the pleasure of wearing a stainless steel nautilus for a day”

“As perfect as a watch can get. You are never overdressed or underdressed; an SUV of watches”





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