The reference 6790 does not appear in Patek Philippe's published Nautilus line. Patek's own catalogue lists the Nautilus under numbers such as 5711, 5712, 5740, 5811 and 5990. Listings that use "Nautilus 6790" trace to replica sellers and to mislabeled marketplace posts, not to a watch Patek made.
What buyers mean by "Nautilus 6790"
Most searches for the term point to one object: a steel Nautilus style watch with an integrated bracelet, a blue or green dial, baton markers, and a date window at 3 o'clock. The shape copies the 5711/1A, which Patek produced from 2006 to 2021. Sellers attach the number 6790 to that shape. The number carries no factory meaning.
Nautilus references Patek does publish
- 5711/1A: 40 mm steel, calibre 26-330 S C from 2019, discontinued 2021
- 5712/1A: 40 mm steel, moon phase and power reserve at 7 o'clock
- 5740/1G: 40 mm white gold, perpetual calendar
- 5811/1G-001: 41 mm white gold, introduced 2022
- 5990/1A: 40.5 mm steel, travel time and chronograph
How the fakes differ
- Case thickness. A 5711/1A measures 8.3 mm. Replicas with an automatic movement measure 9.5 mm to 11 mm.
- Movement. Patek uses the 26-330 S C. Replicas use a Miyota 9015, a Seagull ST2130, an ETA 2824 clone, or a decorated Chinese automatic. Sellers call the last type a "clone 324".
- Date wheel. On the genuine watch the date sits flush and centers in the window. On many fakes it sits left or high in the aperture.
- Bracelet end links. Genuine end links meet the case with a line gap under 0.2 mm. Most fakes show a step or a gap at the lug.
- Engraving depth. Caseback text on a genuine Nautilus is cut into the metal. Fakes show a shallow white mark.
- Weight. A steel Nautilus on its full bracelet feels heavier than a replica of the same case size, because the replica uses a thinner case and hollow links.
Movement grades sold as 1:1
Replica listings use tier labels. "A grade" and "AA grade" cover quartz or a low grade automatic. "Swiss grade" and "1:1" cover a Miyota 9015 or an ETA clone with a decorated rotor. Price runs from about $60 to $900. None of these movements carry a Patek seal, a Patek serial, or a Patek service record.
Legal status in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Penalties reach 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for a first offense that involves a counterfeit mark. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at the border, and personal import is not an exception. A watch sold as a fake Patek has no manufacturer warranty, no service support from Patek Philippe, and no resale channel at a licensed dealer.
Serial and paperwork checks
Every genuine Nautilus carries a movement number and a case number. Patek Philippe can confirm the pair through an authorized service center. An extract from the Patek Philippe archives states the date of manufacture and the original retailer. Replica sellers supply neither. A certificate printed on plain paper and a box with a mismatched label are the two common tells on the secondary market. A steel 5711/1A sold above $100,000 on the secondary market after the 2021 discontinuation, so a listing near $500 is not a bargain on a real one.