2022 Patek Philippe Nautilus
Reference 7118/1A-010 (This Reference is Discontinued)
Stainless Steel
Silver Opaline Dial
Condition: Lightly Worn, from Original Owner, Unpolished
Complete Box + Papers
Few watches have shaped modern luxury quite like the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Its rounded octagonal bezel, porthole-inspired case, and integrated bracelet have made it one of the most recognized and desired designs in the world. The reference 7118/1A-010 brings that icon to the wrist in a refined 35.2 mm case of stainless steel, paired with a silvery opaline dial and the Nautilus's signature embossed horizontal pattern. This 2022 example captures everything that has made the Nautilus legendary, presented in a size and style created for women who want a true sports-luxury watch. With Patek Philippe having discontinued this reference in 2025, it is now a closed chapter in the Nautilus story.
The Nautilus story began in 1976, when Patek Philippe introduced a steel sports watch designed by Gérald Genta. Inspired by the portholes of transatlantic ocean liners, its case and bezel featured a distinctive shape with two side "ears" that became an instant signature. At the time, a luxury watch in steel was a bold idea, and the Nautilus went on to become one of the defining designs of its era. Patek Philippe soon recognized that the design translated beautifully to smaller sizes, and a ladies' Nautilus followed in 1980. The modern self-winding ladies' model arrived in 2015 with the reference 7118, which enlarged the case to 35.2 mm and gave it a mechanical heart worthy of the name. The first steel version wore a blue dial, and in 2017 Patek Philippe added the 7118/1A-010 with its silvery opaline dial, which quickly became one of the most popular configurations in the line.
The case follows the Nautilus formula closely, scaled with care for a smaller wrist. Measured from ten to four o'clock, it spans 35.2 mm, and it stands just 8.62 mm in height, so it slips easily beneath a cuff. The rounded octagonal bezel is satin-brushed on its flat top and polished along its edges, a contrast of finishes that catches the light with every movement, and the case flanks with their distinctive side ears continue the porthole silhouette that defines the collection. The case alternates brushed and polished surfaces throughout, a demanding finish that requires great skill to execute cleanly. A sapphire crystal case back reveals the movement, adding a sense of transparency to a watch that is otherwise all about polish and proportion.
The dial is where the 7118 shows its individuality. Finished in silvery opaline, it carries the Nautilus's embossed horizontal bands, which on this ladies' model take on a gently undulating, wave-like form. The pattern shifts from light to darker tones as the light moves across it, giving the dial a soft, shimmering movement that recalls water. Applied gold hour markers and a numeral 12 are edged in black and filled with luminescent coating, and they vary in shape around the dial, a detail that gives the face a playful sense of rhythm. A date window sits at six o'clock, framed neatly to match the markers, and the Patek Philippe Genève signature sits beneath twelve. The silvery tone is especially versatile, reading bright and crisp in daylight and taking on a cooler, pearl-like softness indoors, which lets the watch move effortlessly from day to evening. It also complements the steel case and bracelet perfectly, giving the whole watch a cohesive, luminous presence on the wrist.
The hands are another detail that distinguishes the ladies' Nautilus. Rather than the straight baton hands of the men's reference 5711, the 7118 uses tapered, alpha-style hands that feel more graceful, while still carrying luminous material for legibility in low light. A slender central seconds hand sweeps smoothly around the dial. The result is a watch that clearly belongs to the Nautilus family yet has a softer, more elegant character of its own.
Inside is a self-winding movement developed and built entirely by Patek Philippe. The 7118 was launched with Calibre 324 S C, and later production carries its successor, the 26-330 S C. Both movements are wound by a central rotor in 21-carat gold and beat at 28,800 vibrations per hour, a high frequency that supports stable timekeeping. They use a Gyromax balance, Patek's own free-sprung design, paired with a Spiromax balance spring made from Silinvar, a silicon-based material that resists magnetism and temperature changes. The power reserve ranges from 35 to 45 hours, and the movement bears the Patek Philippe Seal, the manufacture's own standard covering precision, finishing, and long-term reliability, including a timekeeping tolerance of just minus three to plus two seconds per day. Through the sapphire case back, the decoration of the movement and the gold rotor are on full view.
The integrated stainless steel bracelet is a defining part of the Nautilus experience. Its links flow seamlessly from the case, with brushed outer links and polished center links that echo the finishing of the bezel. The bracelet is supple and drapes comfortably around the wrist, and it closes with the Nautilus fold-over clasp, secured by twin triggers for added peace of mind and signed with the Calatrava cross. The clasp includes an adjustment system that offers a little extra room when needed, a practical detail for warmer days. On the wrist, the combination of a slim case, a smooth bracelet, and the light-catching dial makes the 7118 comfortable enough to wear from morning to evening.
Stainless steel gives this reference its sporting edge and its everyday versatility. It is durable, light, and bright, and it allows the Nautilus to be worn as easily with casual clothing as with evening wear. In 2025, ahead of Watches & Wonders, Patek Philippe discontinued both silvery white versions of the ladies' Nautilus 7118, the 7118/1A-010 and its diamond-set sibling, as part of a broader refresh of its catalog. That decision has made the steel 7118/1A-010 even more desirable, since new examples are no longer produced and collectors must now look to the pre-owned market to find one. For anyone who appreciates the classic silver Nautilus look, this reference represents a design that is now complete and increasingly coveted.
What makes the Patek Philippe Nautilus 7118/1A-010 so compelling is the way it balances heritage, craftsmanship, and wearability. It carries the design language that Gérald Genta created in 1976, the precision of a Patek Philippe self-winding movement, and a silvery opaline dial that brings softness and light to a sporting design. Now discontinued, it offers anyone looking for a ladies' luxury watch that is both iconic and genuinely easy to live with a chance to own a finished chapter of one of the most important designs in modern watchmaking.