The dark blue dial on this replica nautilus 59801A blue defines the 5980/1A-015 as one of the more striking entries in the Nautilus chronograph range. Patek Philippe fitted this 40mm stainless steel reference with a flyback chronograph, date display, and the signature horizontal embossing pattern that all Nautilus dials carry. At 40mm, the 5980 runs the same diameter as the time-only 5711 but adds appreciable thickness to accommodate the chronograph mechanism stacked beneath the dial.

Technical Overview

• Case diameter: 40mm
• Case material: stainless steel
• Dial: dark blue with horizontal embossing
• Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Functions: flyback chronograph, date, hours, minutes, seconds
• Movement: automatic chronograph
• Bracelet: integrated stainless steel with fold-over clasp

Flyback chronographs allow resetting and restarting the chronograph in a single pusher press, eliminating the stop-reset-start sequence that standard chronographs require. That mechanical shortcut makes the 5980 more practical for consecutive timing operations.

Inside the Movement

The chronograph caliber inside the 5980 is derived from the CH 28-520 C family, which Patek Philippe developed in-house for their sport chronographs. The dark blue dial hides the subsidiary seconds at six o’clock under the embossed texture until light catches it at the right angle, which is a visual trick that flat-dial chronographs cannot pull off. For a different color approach within the same family, the 5711G-014 with its white dial offers the time-only Nautilus experience. Both models belong to the Nautilus collection, though the 5980 adds complication depth that the 5711 intentionally avoids.

What Sets It Apart

Among Nautilus chronograph references, the dark blue dial version carries the most visual connection to the original 5711/1A blue dial that collectors consider the grail piece. The 5980/1A-015 takes that same blue palette and layers chronograph functionality on top, creating a watch that handles both everyday wear and timing tasks. Steel construction keeps the weight manageable despite the added movement complexity. This replica nautilus 59801A blue puts the flyback chronograph complication into the most recognizable sport watch silhouette in the Patek Philippe catalog.