History was made on December 11th, 2021, when the very first Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711/1A-018 with a Tiffany Blue dial sold for a staggering $6.5 million at the Phillips 2021 New York Watch Auction.
Limited to just 170 pieces worldwide, the newly released timepiece honors the long-standing partnership of 170 years, between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. The timepiece features the signature Tiffany Blue dial set with black-gold-applied markers and hands. The dial also houses the metallic framed date window and the retailer’s signature at 6 o’clock. The back of the sapphire crystal case reveals the automatic Caliber 26-330 S C beating within and an inscription that says “170th Anniversary 1851-2021 Tiffany & Co. – Patek Philippe”.
What left the watch industry giddy with excitement was the follow-up announcement of Phillips featuring the first edition at the auction. As soon as the news dropped, the reaction was polarising. While some loved the new look of the watch and appreciated the celebration of the partnership between the two iconic brands, others argued the negative impact it would have on the watch industry.
Having said that, it is worth noting that despite which side of the aisle you fall on, there is no denying the fact that it is one of the most significant sales of our time. All the proceeds from the sale will go to The Nature Conservancy, founded in the U.S. in 1951. It is a global non-profit environmental agency working to conserve our natural resources and shape a brighter future for the planet.
