Few watches have experienced a reversal of fortune quite like the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Today, it is among the most recognizable watches in the world, with waiting lists that have stretched for years and auction results that regularly attract global attention. Yet when it debuted in 1976, the Nautilus was viewed by many as an act of provocation. A luxury watch made of steel, larger than its contemporaries, and inspired by the porthole of an ocean liner, it challenged nearly every convention of high watchmaking. In 1974, Gérald Genta sketched what would become the Patek Philippe Nautilus over lunch at a restaurant near the Basel watch fair, after spotting Patek Philippe executives at a nearby table. The result, launched two years later, was one of the most consequential watch designs in history. This summer, the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva is revisiting that remarkable story through a new thematic exhibition..
