Rolex collectors get all the attention for nicknames. Pepsi, Batman, Hulk, the list runs long. Patek Philippe collectors have their own shorthand, it just travels quieter.
Here is what the major Patek nicknames actually mean, which reference each one belongs to, and where the name came from.
The images in this article were generated with AI for illustration. They show recognizable watch models but are not photographs of specific watches for sale.
The Short Answer
- Jumbo is the reference 3700, the original 1976 Nautilus, and by extension its modern successor the 5711.
- Tiffany refers to co-branded Nautilus references made in partnership with Tiffany & Co., stamped with both names on the dial.
- Grenade is the Aquanaut 5167, named for the textured dial pattern that resembles a hand grenade's surface.
- Porthole describes the Nautilus case shape generally, a nod to Gerald Genta's inspiration from a ship's porthole window.
- Tropical refers to the Aquanaut's rubber strap line, a departure from Patek's traditional metal bracelets when it launched.
- None of these names came from Patek Philippe itself. Like most watch nicknames, collectors coined them, and they stuck.
Jumbo: Where the Nautilus Started
The name sounds unflattering today, but it made sense in 1976.
The reference 3700. A 42mm steel sports watch was a genuinely large proposition for Patek Philippe in 1976.
A Big Watch for Its Era
Gerald Genta designed the reference 3700 at 42mm, a size that was considered oversized for a dress-adjacent brand that had spent decades making watches closer to 34mm. Collectors started calling it the Jumbo, and the name outlived the watch itself.
When Patek revived the Nautilus concept in 2006 with the reference 5711, the nickname came back with it. The 5711 measures a more modest 40mm, but "Jumbo" had already become shorthand for the flagship time-and-date Nautilus, not a literal size description.
Why It Still Matters to Buyers
If a listing or a fellow collector says "Jumbo," they almost always mean the 5711 or an original 3700, not the smaller two-tone Nautilus references Patek also produced. Getting this distinction right saves a lot of confused conversations when you're actually shopping.
Tiffany: The Co-Branded Nautilus
This one is the most literal nickname on the list, and also the most contested.
The reference 5711/1A-018. The dial carries both Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. branding, a detail that made the market pay close attention.
A Historical Partnership Revived
Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. had a retail relationship dating back to the 19th century. In 2021, Patek revived it for a single reference: the 5711/1A-018, a Nautilus with "Tiffany & Co." printed on the dial alongside the Patek signature.
The release reportedly strained the relationship between the two houses rather than simply celebrating it, according to reporting from Bloomberg. Whatever the corporate story, the collector nickname stuck immediately.
Not the Same as a Blue Dial Nautilus
Every Nautilus 5711/1A has a blue dial. Only the specific co-branded reference carries the Tiffany name and the "Tiffany" nickname. If a seller says "Tiffany dial" but means any blue 5711, that is worth a direct question before you commit to a price.
Grenade: The Aquanaut's Textured Dial
Not every Patek nickname is flattering, and this is the least flattering of the bunch.
The reference 5167. The embossed checkerboard-style dial pattern is what earned it the nickname.
The Reference 5167
The Aquanaut 5167's dial carries a raised, gridded texture that collectors decided resembled the surface of a hand grenade. The name is blunt, and it has never really faded from use despite Patek's own far more restrained catalog language for the same watch.
Tropical: The Aquanaut's Strap, Not Its Dial
A separate nickname, Tropical, describes the Aquanaut's signature rubber strap rather than any single reference. When the Aquanaut launched in 1997, a rubber strap on a Patek Philippe was a real departure from the brand's metal-bracelet-and-leather norm. The name has generalized somewhat, and you will occasionally hear other rubber-strapped Patek references called "tropical" as a category description rather than a specific model tag.
Porthole: The Whole Nautilus Family
This is less a nickname for one watch than a description of an entire case shape.
Genta based the Nautilus case on a ship's porthole, the round window with external hinges you'd see on an ocean liner. Collectors use "porthole case" loosely to describe the family resemblance across every Nautilus reference, vintage and modern, rather than pointing at any single watch.
Grandmaster Chime: The Complication Flagship
Not every Patek nickname belongs to an entry-level or mid-tier reference.
The Grandmaster Chime carries roughly 20 complications, including striking functions, and represents the top of Patek's technical catalog. Collectors don't shorten this one much, the full name already functions as shorthand for "the most complicated watch Patek currently makes."
Quick Reference Table
| Nickname | Reference | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Jumbo | 3700 / 5711 | The original oversized 1976 Nautilus and its modern successor |
| Tiffany | 5711/1A-018 | Co-branded Nautilus with Tiffany & Co. on the dial |
| Grenade | 5167 | Aquanaut with a grenade-textured embossed dial |
| Tropical | Aquanaut strap family | The rubber strap line, a departure from Patek's usual bracelets |
| Porthole | Nautilus case family | The round, externally hinged case shape across the whole line |
| Grandmaster Chime | Flagship complication | The roughly 20-complication chiming reference |
Why This Matters When You're Buying
None of these names appear on a Patek Philippe warranty card or box. They are collector shorthand, and getting them right protects you two ways.
- It helps you search accurately. "Jumbo Nautilus" and "5711" should return the same watch. If they don't in a listing, ask why.
- It helps you spot a seller who doesn't know the catalog. A listing calling any blue-dial Nautilus a "Tiffany" is either careless or misleading, and it is worth a direct follow-up question either way.
Related Reading
- Rolex Nicknames Explained: The Complete Collector's Guide to Pepsi, Batman, Hulk, and the Rest
- The Patek Nautilus Turns 50. The Steel One Is Gone for Good, and That Is the Point.
- Aquanaut vs Nautilus: A Working Dealer's Read on Patek's Two Sports Icons
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Jumbo" mean on a Patek Philippe Nautilus?
Jumbo refers to the reference 3700, the original 1976 Nautilus at 42mm, considered oversized for Patek at the time. The nickname carried over to its modern successor, the reference 5711.
What is a Tiffany Patek Philippe?
The Tiffany nickname refers specifically to the reference 5711/1A-018, a Nautilus co-branded with Tiffany & Co. on the dial, released in 2021. It is not a generic name for any blue-dial Nautilus.
Why is the Aquanaut 5167 called the Grenade?
Collectors nicknamed it Grenade because of the raised, gridded texture on the dial, which resembles the surface pattern of a hand grenade. The name is unofficial and does not appear in Patek's own materials.
What does "Porthole case" mean?
It describes the rounded, externally hinged case shape that defines the entire Nautilus family, a design detail Gerald Genta based on a ship's porthole window.
Are Patek Philippe nicknames official?
No. Like Rolex nicknames, none of these names come from Patek Philippe itself. Collectors coined all of them, and usage became standardized through repeated use in the secondary market rather than any brand endorsement.