Here’s a challenge I set for myself: Review the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010 without mentioning hype or desirability. I believe it is time to sit down, coffee in hand, and ponder on our journey for the past 4 years and counting.

Patek’s move of turning away from a traditional dress watch design language may shout madness to many; but to some, it is not only accepted, but embraced. Incorporating two drastically different ideas into a unified creation not only takes ingenuity, but the circumstances around its conception also play a vital role.

The rise of cheap, accurate and disposable electronics not only threatened the craft of watchmaking, it also set the trend for a casual and sportier lifestyle. Rolex took a pragmatic approach with its oyster case; while Patek went down a more poetic route, taking inspiration from stories 20,000 leagues beneath the ocean surface.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010 case is closed by two flanking hinges locked in place by opposing spindle bolts set deep within a swivel. This unconventional approach not only defines the Nautilus’ distinctive profile, a closer look rewards the keen eye with inviting contours that are highlighted by contrasting brushed and polished surface treatments.

The case is essentially a miniaturized porthole encasing a gradient blue-navy dial with a hint of green which, with some imagination, resembles the mysterious deep outside the eponymous submarine. In a different light, the horizontal grooves illuminated at high noon glint like the upper decks of a surfaced vessel proudly cruising the waves. The Nautilus is, by name and design, a true marriage of time and tide.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010 comes with 120m of water resistance and is more than enough to handle surface depths. But even if you can, does it mean you should? Did I regret not taking the watch off during that morning swim, in the most legendary hotel east of Suez? Not one bit! Every once in a while, amid the hustle and bustle, a glimpse of the watch reminds us to live life a little and not take ourselves too seriously.

Inside, the 324 SC movement traces back to Cal 335, a modernised automatic movement produced by Patek to power the original Ref 3700. Ref 3700 was succeeded by a modestly sized 3800 housing a smaller Cal 315, which lead to the current 324 SC in the 30th anniversary 5711. Given the heritage, innovation, and craftsmanship, the Cal 324 SC beating inside the 5711 befits the asking retail price among entry-level Patek models. With such a movement, deviating away from the defining monobloc case could perhaps be partially excused.