The Patek Philippe Museum has unveiled a special thematic exhibition commemorating half a century of one of horology’s most iconic timepieces: the Nautilus. The exhibition debuted on 6-7 June 2026 and will remain on display through early 2027.
14 June 2026 – Honorary Patek Philippe President Philippe Stern, who served as general director and later president of Patek Philippe from 1977 to 2009, died at the age of 88. As the company says, he became President in 1993 and he centralized all activities in a new manufacture inaugurated in 1996. Having spent forty years collecting timepieces, he created the Patek Philippe Museum in 2001. He then inaugurated the fully renovated Geneva Salon in 2006. Finally, he presided over the creation of the prestigious Patek Philippe Seal in 2009.
The emblematic Swiss watch company hosted the ‘Rare Handcrafts 2026’ exhibition at their historic Rue du Rhône salons in Geneva to present an extraordinary convergence of horology and fine art this spring. Now the Patek Philippe Museum celebrates the 50th birthday of one the most recognisable watch icons, the Nautilus.
When the Nautilus launched in 1976, it challenged established luxury watchmaking conventions. The usage of steel for fine watches was very rare that time. The design of the case was neither round nor rectangular, more like a distinctive octagonal case with softened corners. The case employs sophisticated engineering: a two-part construction where the case back and middle section require only a single drill point for the winding stem. Four clamping screws secure the bezel onto hinges—mirroring the locking mechanisms found on historic transatlantic liner portholes, creating hermetic seals against water ingress.
Drawing from the Manufacture’s extensive historical archives, the retrospective traces the Nautilus’ remarkable evolution from the “enfant terrible” position of 1970s watchmaking to its current status as a legend. Visitors will encounter carefully curated pieces representing each significant phase of the collection’s development.
A particularly notable feature is the exclusive preview of the 50th anniversary limited series, comprising four distinctive models available to mark this milestone. Plan your visit here.
Source: press release. Photo credits: Patek Philippe.
All registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
All rights reserved.
