Patek Philippe Nautilus Iced Out

Embodying the spirit of innovation that's at the heart of the Patek Philippe brand, the Nautilus series is one of the most sought after wristwatches in the world. The octagonal bezel, the watch case inspired by portholes – these were revolutionary in their day. More than four decades on, the collection comprises a wide variety of men's and women's watches in stainless steel and gold, whether white, rose or two-tone. For some time now, Patek has also been offering the Nautilus in the Iced Out version. While the company has never made the price of the Nautilus Iced Out version public, that information is readily available upon request. Make no mistake, though, quality of this kind comes at premium and the Iced Out Patek Philippe Nautilus watch is one of the most expensive variant money can buy.

First class gems and strict quality control

Patek Philippe has always stood for superlative craftsmanship, and the selection of gemstones in the Nautilus Iced Out is also subject to rigorous specifications and the highest quality requirements. Whether rubies, diamonds, sapphires or emeralds, all stones must come up to the IF (Internally Flawless) standard of purity. This means that no inclusions can be seen even at 10x magnification. In addition, they must meet the international criteria for "very good" or "excellent" cut quality.

The fine art of gemmology

All gemstones are set by experienced specialists in meticulously crafted mounts, and they're certainly never glued in place. For multi-row decorations, Patek Philippe ensures that the stones are aligned at the same height. This helps to ensures an overall harmony of design. The shape and properties of each gemstone are taken into account individually, and this in turn gives each watch its unique subtleties of character. A similarly sensitive approach also applies to the baguette stones that are used as appliqué index markers.

Inside the watch is a highly accurate mechanical 324 S C movement with automatic winding. The 40 mm case is made of white gold and has a screw-down crown and sapphire crystal back, guaranteeing water resistance up to 120 metres. Meanwhile the practical folding clasp delivers a snug, secure fit.

For fans of the art of gemmology, the Patek Philippe Nautilus (Ref. 5711) Iced Out stone setting is of particular interest. Here are a few key facts about these scintillating masterpieces:

• The dial is made of 18-carat gold and decorated with 255 diamonds (1.36 ct), plus three baguette diamonds as indexes.
• The case is adorned with 100 diamonds weighing around 0.92 ct and 32 baguette diamonds amounting to 5.51 ct.
• The bracelet glitters with 803 diamonds (approx. 3.55 ct) and 150 baguette diamonds.
• Overall, the Patek Nautilus Iced Out is set with 1,343 baguette diamonds totalling 18.73 carats.