Some people buy luxury watches because they’re fashionable. Others do so because they’re valuable investment pieces that tend to retain value for a long time. Watches like the Patek Philippe 5740 conveniently straddle both worlds, and that’s what makes them really special. 

Released two years after the 40th Anniversary of the Nautilus collection, the Patek Philippe 5740 fulfilled the fantasy of many seasoned collectors—a Nautilus Grand complication featuring the traditional perpetual calendar watch function for the first time in the Nautilus collection. 

This impressive timepiece was a perfect blend of sporty appeal and technical sophistication. A true Nautilus at heart, there’s no doubt whatsoever about the elegance and aesthetic brilliance of this timepiece. But for anyone considering buying this watch whether in the retail or secondary market, one question that remains is whether or not it will hold its value for many more years to come. In this post, we will analyze the value retention of this timepiece, exploring its potential as an investment piece and store of value. 

Patek’s Exceptional Craftsmanship and Quality

The Patek Philippe brand is synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship, iconic designs, and quality materials. These are hallmarks of a timepiece built to last and retain its value for a long time to come. The Patek Philippe 5740 is no exception, and this contributes to its long-term desirability in the luxury watch market. 

This watch has a case design that’s almost identical to that of the iconic Ref 5711 timepiece in terms of shape, dimensions, and execution. It is produced in a modest 40mm case with thickness of 8.42 mm which is just little thicker than the 8.30mm thick 5711 Nautilus. The dimension of this watch is impressive for a complicated timepiece. In fact, the effect of the perpetual calendar complication is barely noticeable as far as case size is concerned. 

As the “G” in the reference number denotes, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740G is made of pure 18K white gold. Although not the traditional stainless steel associated with the Nautilus collection, white gold is an equally iconic case material. In fact, the precious metal casing of this watch contributes to the persistent value of a Patek Philippe 5740 for sale in the secondary market. 

Patek further demonstrates its exceptional craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail with hallmark Nautilus features like the iconic octagonal bezel, rounded ears on each side, and a mix of brushed and polished finishes both on the casing and bracelet. With this watch, Patek also debuted a new fold-over clasp design with a security push button. 

Overall, the quality of execution of the casing, movement, and bracelet is definitely unquestionable. This timepiece perfectly demonstrates Patek Philippe’s horological expertise, it is extra thin despite being extremely complex, bold without being overbearing, and perfectly finished with a balanced aesthetic. What’s not to love about this watch? 

Grand Complications 

The luxury watch industry is naturally biased towards exceptional timepieces with unique attributes. Factors like the year of a watch’s production or a unique design attribute often contribute to the probability of a timepiece ending up in the horological hall of fame, while sealing their fate as perpetually valuable pieces for many years to come. Even something as seemingly insignificant as the font of a print on the dial can affect the long-term value of a luxury watches

The Patek Philippe 5740 is one of such watches with a feature unique enough to make them special. This extra-thin Nautilus timepiece is a Grand Complications perpetual calendar watch. Even if that is its only claim to fame, the fact that it combines the iconic Nautilus design with the complexity of the perpetual calendar complication makes this watch instantly valuable. This attribute also ensures that it retains its value for a long time to come. 

Grand complications are hard to come by. Even the best watchmakers can only maintain a limited supply of these watches because of how difficult to create they are. Consequently, the production quantity will always be low, keeping demand above supply. The limited availability and high demand for a grand complications timepiece such as this one leads to a strong resale value and potential appreciation over time.

The Patek Philippe 5740 is not only the first ever grand complication in the Nautilus collection, but it is also the first Nautilus timepiece to ever feature a perpetual calendar complication. This highly traditional “holy grail” complication is simply not what you’d expect to find in a luxury sports watch like the Nautilus. This quality alone has the potential to make this watch a highly sought-after piece by collectors and enthusiasts. 

Objectively, a perpetual calendar does not make so much sense in a sports watch like the Nautilus. But that’s the beauty of the Patek 5740 - the fact that the watchmaker was able to pull it off without degrading the original identity of the Nautilus timepiece. 

Iconic Movement 

The Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740G is powered by the Iconic Calibre 240 Q movement. While the configuration of this module is entirely new, the base movement has been part of Patek’s catalog for a very long time. It is the same movement featured in the Calatrava Ref 5327. This movement was created in the 1980s and was used for the first time in the iconic \Patek Ref 3940. It has remained a cornerstone of Patek’s collection ever since.

The ultra-thin movement consists of up to 275 parts and 27 jewels, delivering a power reserve of up to 48 hours when fully wound. The automatic movement also beats at 21,600 vph. One of the most impressive attributes of this movement is how Patek managed to keep it ultra-thin despite the extra complications. This thin profile has been attributed to the use of a recessed 22K gold mini-rotor. 

The movement is delicately finished and lavishly decorated with a Patek Philippe seal as a testament to its quality and precision. A sapphire crystal caseback provides a glimpse into the watch through which the movement can be admired. 

Despite being roughly 40 years old, Patek has upgraded this movement several times and incorporated a wide range of modern features. Examples of such features include the Gyromax balance and the Spiromax balance spring. As a grand complication timepiece, this movement has multiple functions including a perpetual calendar with day, date, month, and leap year indicator, a 24-hour display with hands, and a moon phase indicator. 

Timeless Appeal

If you’re looking for a piece that is worthy for the wrist of billionaires and will remain elegant and fashionable for many years to come, it doesn’t get any better than a Nautilus watch. This is one of the attributes embodied by the Nautilus ref 5940. 

The Patek Philippe Nautilus was created as far back as 1976. Since then, the watch has survived multiple changes in design trends and consumer preferences without going out of fashion despite staying true to a standard code. This timeless appeal across several generations is the major reason why Nautilus watches like this will remain valuable for many years to come. 

Despite being a Grand Complications, the Patek Philippe 5740 is a true Nautilus at heart. In this timepiece, you’ve got the classic porthole-inspired casing with an octagonal bezel, a classic blue Nautilus dial with horizontal ribbing, and a mix of brushed and polished designs typical of watches in the Nautilus collection. These design features give the timepiece so much dynamism while contributing to its enduring appeal. 

Most people will also be impressed by the balanced and appealing aesthetics of this watch. Despite being a super complicated watch, the fact that it is only 8.42 mm thick is quite impressive. In fact, it is the thinnest perpetual calendar in Patek Philippe’s catalog.

The dial layout also contributes to the balanced aesthetics of this watch. It is a classic layout similar to that of other models like the Ref 5940 or 5140. The bright blue dial features the iconic grooved pattern associated with the Nautilus collection as well as the collection’s signature hands and markers. 

The watch functions are arranged with the time function (hours and minutes) on the central axis. The month and leap year are positioned at the 3 o’clock position while the date and moon phase indicator are at 6 o’clock. Finally, there’s a day of the week with a 24-hour indication at the 9 o’clock position.

This simple 3-6-9 layout feels quite balanced and is surprisingly not too cluttered for a Grand complications display on a 40mm timepiece. 

Conclusion 

The unique attributes of the Patek Philippe 5740 such as its exceptional craftsmanship, iconic movement, and timeless appeal ensure that this watch retains its value for a very long time. Collectors and enthusiasts in search of a potential investment piece can consider buying this Patek Philippe model as a safe and potentially profitable investment option.