Which Swiss luxury watch brand introduced the Nautilus model in 1976?

The Swiss luxury watch brand that introduced the Nautilus model in 1976 was Patek Philippe. The first Nautilus, reference 3700/1A, was a steel sports watch designed by Gérald Genta.

Patek Philippe launched the Nautilus during the quartz crisis, when inexpensive quartz watches were challenging traditional mechanical watchmaking. Rather than abandoning luxury craftsmanship, the company presented a highly finished sports watch with an integrated bracelet and a distinctive rounded-octagonal case inspired by a ship’s porthole.

The Nautilus is often confused with Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak because both are landmark luxury steel sports watches designed by Genta. The Royal Oak arrived in 1972, four years before the Nautilus. Patek Philippe’s model became famous for its horizontal embossed dial, unusual case construction, and reference 3700’s slim automatic movement. Later generations expanded the collection with complications and different materials.