Entrepreneur Tony Fadell spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Tony Fadell, the entrepreneur behind the iPod and Nest thermostat and current CEO of venture studio Future Shape (formerly known as Nest Labs), was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus Moonphase in stainless steel, reference 5712/1A — a watch that has quietly become one of the most coveted discontinued references in the modern Patek catalogue.

The 5712/1A was introduced by Patek Philippe in 2006 as an evolution of the original Nautilus sports watch concept first conceived by Gerald Genta in 1976. Housed in a 40mm stainless steel case with the Nautilus's signature horizontally embossed dial and integrated bracelet, the reference pairs a moonphase display at 6 o'clock with a power reserve indicator at 10 o'clock. Driving everything is the Calibre 240 PS IRM C LU, a micro-rotor automatic movement measuring just 3.88mm in height — a testament to Patek's ability to engineer complexity within a slim profile. Water resistance is rated to 120 metres, respecting the watch's sports lineage.

Patek Philippe discontinued the stainless steel 5712/1A in 2021, simultaneously launching the 5712/1A-001 with a revised olive green dial. The original blue-dialled steel variant instantly attained grail status among collectors. Its combination of the Nautilus's enduring design cachet, a meaningful complication, and a precious metal-free case — making it theoretically the most accessible Nautilus with complications — created a perfect storm of demand that the secondary market reflects dramatically.

For Fadell, a man whose career has been defined by the intersection of engineering rigour and refined aesthetics, the 5712/1A is a coherent choice. The watch embodies the same design philosophy he has championed throughout his career: functional elegance without excess. It speaks less to conspicuous wealth and more to a considered appreciation of craft — which is precisely what makes it interesting on his wrist.

At an official retail price of approximately $29,900 USD before discontinuation, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1A in stainless steel now trades substantially higher on the grey market, with authenticated examples regularly exchanging hands in the $55,000–$75,000 range depending on condition and documentation. For a reference that was once theoretically obtainable at retail, that premium underscores just how definitively collector sentiment has shifted around the Nautilus family.