Hands-On Review: Patek 7118, The Ultimate Ladies’ Nautilus

The Patek Nautilus comes with baggage. Given that the Nautilus is one of the most well-known sports watches on the market with tremendous resale value, it’s a piece that’s equally loved and disliked. It can be a target for theft, jealousy, and side-eyes. But it’s also beloved, collectible, and the source of much online fanboying. Now, to be clear, the stainless steel Nautilus ref. 7118/1A which I had a chance to wear for a week for a hands-on review is the ladies’ version; therefore, while it shares the same fundamental design language of the men’s Nautilus, it does have several differentiating details. As a result, it’s not as high-profile or valuable as its larger ref. 5711/A counterpart. But still, wearing the baby sister Nautilus proved intimidating at first.

I found myself keeping my right arm as close to me as possible for fear of hurting it, or tugging my sleeve over it when I was out and about to cover it. However, it didn’t take long to forget that I was wearing it and just went about my normal day-to-day stuff. That’s the thing about hyped watches — they come on strong because of all the noise, but soon you realize that they’re just like any other watch. Plus, non-watch folk hardly ever notice them. As funny as it sounds given its hefty price tag, the Patek 7118 is a fantastic daily watch that’s easy to wear and even easier to fall in love with.

First Impressions

My first impression after opening the box was, “Wow, she’s so pretty.” The instantly recognizable porthole-shaped case paired with the sleek steel integrated bracelet and silver dial results in a super appealing package. After having a few links removed (it’s a long bracelet and for context, my wrist is around 6.25″) I was able to wear it and give it a test run.

I’ve heard a few people comment that they weren’t impressed when they finally put a Nautilus on; it left them a little disappointed. I did not have this experience.

The Patek Philippe 7118 looked and felt fantastic the minute I put it on. The case, which measures 35.2mm across and 8.62mm thick is supremely comfortable and sits nice and flat on my wrist. It’s also surprisingly light and melts away like you’re not wearing a watch. I’m sensitive to the bulk and weight of watches — particularly when working. More often than not, I’ll remove the watch I’m wearing for the day and place it next to my computer when typing away. The Lady’s Nautilus 7118, on the other hand, never bothered me, and I was happy to keep it on all day long.

The shape of the case and slightly arched lugs molded well around my wrist and the slimness of the watch is impressive. The Nautilus bracelet, which is no doubt one of the most famous watch bracelets ever made, is a joy to wear. It’s supple and drapes perfectly where it needs to. Gerald Genta understood the importance of the bracelet to both the watch-wearing experience and the overall style of the piece.

The Design Details

Patek offers the automatic Ladies’ Nautilus, which debuted in 2015, in a few flavors including varying case metals, diamond-set options, and a few dial colors. This particular version is the 7118-1A-010 with a steel case and bracelet, and a silvery opaline dial.

Aside from case size, one major design detail that sets the women’s Nautilus 7118 apart from the men’s 5711 is the dial design. The women’s versions include wave-patterned dials, and depending on the light, the waves can look quite dramatic and dark or subtle and light.

In addition to the wave motif, the dials include different-shaped hour markers and are home to a 12 at the top and a date window at 6 o’clock. The hands are fancier than the men’s variants, replacing straight batons with tapered Alpha-style hands. I like this Nautilus dial design, it goes a long way in dressing up the otherwise sporty steel watch. The lumed hands and indices aren’t especially strong in low-light, but they’re bright enough to tell the time.

As is customary with Nautilus watches, the Patek 7118 includes a mix of brushed and polished surfaces, which is especially noticeable on the rounded octagonal bezel, as well as the bracelet. Opening and closing the bracelet is a simple affair; twin triggers on the clasp open and close it, revealing a foldover clasp for added security.

Inside the case and visible from the sapphire caseback is the Caliber 324 S C movement that powers the watch. The movement (which was the same one the 5711 relied on until it was replaced by the new-gen Caliber 26-330 SC in 2019) has 35 to 45 hours of power reserve and operates at 28,800 beats per hour.

The Ladies’ Nautilus 7118 debuted with a stated water resistance of 60 meters, half that of the men’s versions. Since its release, though, Patek has retroactively rated all of their sports watches to 30 meters across the board. But it’s a real 30 meters, meaning you can actually dive to a depth of 30 meters with it. Some people think you need a 50-meter depth rating just to swim with a watch but that certainly doesn’t apply to Patek Philippe. If I had to nitpick this watch, I would want a longer power reserve, but that’s not a make-it-or-break-it issue.

The Ladies’ Nautilus 7118 Goes to a Watch Event

During my week with the Patek 7118/1A, I had a watch collector’s event to attend. Naturally, this is the watch I wore to the gathering because I wanted to see how a room of watch nerds would react to it. More than a few people noticed and commented on it (all positive naturally because who would say something negative to your face about a watch you’re wearing) and plenty of ladies wanted to try it on.

The ladies that tried it on had similar reactions to mine; instant love. There were also a few men who said they preferred the proportions of this version over the bigger 5711. One attendee said he found the more ornate wavey dial of the 7118 refreshing and “not as flat and uninspiring” as the classic blue 5711.

Final Thoughts

I found myself staring at my wrist more than usual when I was wearing the Nautilus. Even my 12-year-old remarked that I was “kinda obsessed with the watch.”

Yes, it’s a simple piece that’s fashioned in steel and only includes the time and date on its not-in-your-face silver dial. Yet, there’s something about its simplicity that’s endlessly charming. There’s nothing I’d change about the watch’s design and of all the automatic ladies’ Nautilus variants available, this steel and white dial version has become my favorite. I thought it would be the blue one but I’ve come to realize that the silver one is more versatile.

I had a slight tinge of regret borrowing this watch for a review because I inevitably had to give it back. I’ve thought a lot about this watch since then and conjured up (non-realistic) ways in my head about how I could potentially buy one in the future. At prices like these ($32,170 at retail and more than $48,000 pre-owned) that’s never going to happen. But one can dream.

I used to work for a Patek AD so maybe I’m biased and like so many, have fallen under the prestigious brand’s spell. Would I be as enamored if it didn’t say “Patek Philippe” on the dial? I’d like to think that I would because I’m attracted to the design and quality and not the name that’s attached to it.

At the watch event, a lady came up to me and said she had the rose gold and diamond version but was struck by how cool the one I was wearing was. I think she decided that night to add the reference 7118-1A-010 to her collection. Lucky her.

Ladies Nautilus Patek 7118 Specs

Model	Nautilus “Ladies Automatic”
Reference	7118/1A-010
Case	Stainless steel 35.2mm diameter 8.62mm thick
Bezel	Rounded octagon Stainless steel
Dial	Silvery opaline dial, wave pattern White gold applied hour markers with luminescent coating.
Bracelet	Stainless steel integrated Nautilus bracelet
Functions	Hours, minutes, seconds Date
Movement	Caliber 26‑330 S C Automatic winding 35 – 45 hours power reserve
Water Resistance	60 meters
2024 Retail Price (MSRP)	$32,170
2024 Secondary Market Price	$48,500 to $78,450

More About Patek Nautilus Watches:
What is the Price of a Patek Philippe Nautilus in 2024?
Why is The Patek Philippe Nautilus So Expensive?
Patek Philippe Introduces a New Nautilus 5990/1A
Patek Philippe Introduces the Gem-Set Nautilus Joaillerie 7118/1300R

Ladies Nautilus Patek 7118 Image Gallery