Tonight, Tim offers a variety of alternatives to the overplayed Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. While the Nautilus is a fundamentally solid watch, it's also an obnoxiously constant presence in discussions of price, wealth, greed, and ego. This episode focuses on two different approaches to replacing Patek Philippe's famous sports watch: a less expensive sports watch equivalent, and price-peer alternatives from many classes of luxury watch.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 arrived at Baselworld 2006, but it didn't become an asset bubble investment until at 2018 at the earliest. By 2019, it was clear that Patek dealer waiting lists and aftermarket prices had become silly, and 2021 brought a declaration from Patek Philippe that the model would be discontinued. Since that announcement Nautilus 5711 prices have reach levels that warrant comparisons to Bitcoin, tulip bulbs, Beanie Babies, dot com stocks, and other famously overvalued or unstable sand traps for idle wealth. Tonight's show is all about watches that offer better value and more fun than the Nautilus.

First, Tim considers an alternative sports watch at a lower price. The 40mm titanium Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic is a $14,300 integrated bracelet sports watch with credentials to challenge the 5711. First, consider its accolades; the Octo Finissimo Automatic won the 2017 GPHG Men's Watch prize. Second, consider the engineering; this 5.15mm thick automatic watch incorporates a bespoke in-house movement with micro-rotor winding, 60 hours of power reserve, impressive finishing, and a total thickness of 2.23mm.

The Octo Finissimo Automatic is available in steel, rose gold, titanium, and ceramic; recent versions have been upgraded to include 100-meter water resistance. And with the arrival of the Octo Finissimo GMT Chronograph, the model line has expanded to challenge Patek Philippe more broadly.

Second, Tim reviews a list of watches that can be purchased for a sum of money equal or less than that required to buy a used Patek Nautilus in steel. At its current market price of over $90,000, a used Patek Philippe 5711 can be swapped for more technically impressive luxury watches. The GPHG Aiguille d'Or is the equivalent of "Best Picture" at the "Oscars" or watchmaking, and all of Tim's Nautilus alternatives have been bestowed this honor. $90,000 allows watch collectors to buy the F.P. Journe Centigraphe (2008), the De Bethune DB28 (2011), the Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement LM (2014), and the Breguet Classique Chronometrie 7727 (2014).

Finally, Tim explores the odd relationship between watch collectors and crowd-sourcing major purchase decisions. In short; don't do this. Watch collecting is purely emotional, and only an individual collector can make decisions to buy, trade, or sell his watches with a full understanding of his heart's intent.