This Blinged-Out Patek Philippe Nautilus Was Seized by U.K. Police. Now It’s up for Auction.
One collector’s loss could be your gain.
A coveted Patek Philippe that was seized and forfeited following an investigation by a U.K. law enforcement agency will go under the (digital) gavel at Wilsons Auctions later this month. The rare Nautilus (Ref. 5711/1300A) will be offered with no reserve in an online luxury auction starting on August 28. It is only the third time this sought-after model has been made available on the open market and the first time it will be offered sans reserve, according to the U.K. auction house.
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Released in April 2021, this 5711 was only in production for one year before Patek discontinued the model. The timepiece was reportedly only distributed to VIP clients, too. (Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Drake, and Ed Sheeran are a few of the A-listers in possession of the wrist candy.) As such, the reference is exceedingly difficult and extremely expensive to buy on the secondary market. Pre-owned examples on Chrono24 start at $600,000, to give you an idea.
The watch features a 40 mm porthole-shaped steel case and an olive-green sunburst dial. The bezel is the pièce de résistance, with 32 internally flawless Top Wesselton baguette-cut diamonds totaling 3.79 carats enhancing the elegant curves. This example comes complete with the original box and paperwork from August 2021. It is believed to be in “unworn condition,” the auction house says.
“This is simply a remarkable opportunity for bidders and incredibly thrilling for us at Wilsons Auctions,” Michael Streight, government sales coordinator at Wilsons Auctions, said in a statement. “The global watch community will recognize this rare and important watch and I hope they will seize the chance to bid and own a very coveted model—excuse the pun!”
The Luxury Goods auction includes other high-end rarities that were seized by authorities. One horological humdinger is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (Ref. 15500ST) on offer. The watch is so new that it still has stickers and is being sold without reserve. The best part? The government will reinvest the proceeds from the sale into public services and community initiatives, meaning you can feel extra good about your purchases.
“The funds from these assets will be returned back into the public purse, allowing us to add to the ￡150 million worth of assets that have been realized in recent years,” added Streight.
Interested bidders can view the full auction catalog on the Wilsons Auctions website.
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