One Minute Watch with John Carter

Pre-Owned Patek Philippe Neptune

You’ve heard of the Nautilius, and the Aquanaut… but how about the Neptune? Join John today as he explores a seldom-seen sports model from Patek Philippe’s collection that was likely just ahead of its time and disappeared just before the boom in the sports watch market.

Introduced in 1996, the Patek Philippe Neptune was intended to be a dressier alternative to the Nautilus and Aquanaut models. Its sharp looks, roman numeral dial and multi-link bracelet makes it a great alternative to those extremely hard to get models! Originally purchased in 1997, this pre-owned watch includes its original boxes, tag, manuals and certificate, and was just fully serviced by Patek Philippe.

VIDEO: Patek Philippe Neptune (Ref. 5081/1J) – The Dressier Nautilus

Named after the God of the Sea, the Neptune was introduced by Patek Philippe in 1996 as a dressier alternative to the Nautilus and Aquanaut. Its unique design aesthetic served as a bridge between sport models and the more elegant dress watches in the collection. ­­­­­­­It was marketed as an elegant sports watch with the tagline: “Ideal for sportswear, the supremely elegant Neptune is, at the same time, the perfect dress watch.”

Dating to 1997, this particular Neptune is the Ref. 5081/1J. It is completely set in yellow gold which further reinforces the dressy nature of the model. Its retro style is highlighted by a 36.5mm case featuring a wide rounded bezel with an engine-turned motif that carries down to the ornate bracelet with links that are reminiscent of fish scales. The dial is crisp and clean, with luminous leaf hands, an in-set minute track and applied gold roman numerals at six, nine and twelve o’clock.