Patek Philippe 5980 Nautilus Chronograph: References and Price Guide

The Patek Philippe 5980 (often searched as Patek 5980 or Nautilus 5980) is the Nautilus flyback chronograph. It has a 40.5 mm porthole case, Patek's in-house calibre CH 28-520 C and a single mono-counter at 6 o'clock showing elapsed minutes and hours together. Launched in 2006 for the Nautilus's 30th anniversary, it was made in steel until 2014 (the 5980/1A, now discontinued) and continues in rose gold (5980/1R), two-tone (5980/1AR) and white gold (5980/60G). This guide covers every 5980 reference, what the suffixes mean, what each costs in 2026, why the steel versions matter, and what to check before buying one. Bizak & Co. sources 5980 references to order; browse the Nautilus collection for the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on October 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Patek 5980 specifications

The mono-counter is what makes the 5980 look like no other chronograph: one subdial, two hands, and a dial that stays as clean as a time-only Nautilus. The trade-off is thickness; at just over 12 mm it wears noticeably heavier than a 5711 or 5712.

Source: Patek Philippe, Nautilus collection and the Patek Philippe collection overview.

What does the Patek Philippe Seal mean?

Patek Philippe introduced its own seal in 2009, stamped on the movement and stated on the accompanying certificate, replacing the Geneva Seal the brand had used for most of the twentieth century. The Patek Philippe Seal covers more than the Geneva Seal's finishing rules: it sets a running-accuracy standard the finished, cased watch must meet across several positions and over several days, alongside power-reserve and water-resistance checks on the complete watch rather than the bare movement. For a chronograph like the 5980, that means the flyback function, the column wheel and the vertical clutch are all tested together with the case closed, not only the going train. It is a manufacturer's own standard rather than an independent one, so it is worth less as a third-party guarantee than as a description of what Patek checks before a watch leaves Geneva; independent certification such as COSC chronometer testing is not part of it.

Every Nautilus 5980 reference

Our reference numbers guide explains the metal letters, the "/1" bracelet code and the "AR" two-tone code.

What do 5980/1A, 5980/1R, 5980/1AR and 5980/60G mean?

Everything after the slash tells you the metal and how the watch is worn. The letters are metal codes: A is steel, R is rose gold, G is white gold, and AR is steel combined with rose gold. A "1" before the letter marks the integrated bracelet, which is why 5980/1A is the steel chronograph on its steel bracelet and 5980/1R the rose gold one on its gold bracelet, while 5980R and 5980/60G are the strap versions. The three digits after the dash (001, 014, 019) identify the dial and finish within that reference, so two watches with the same 5980/1A prefix can still look different. Searchers also run into longer suffixes, such as the numbers in the diamond-set 5980/1400 family; the Patek Philippe site lists the white gold Haute Joaillerie 5980/1400G-010 with its diamond-set case, bezel, dial and bracelet around the same CH 28-520 C calibre. Treat any suffix you cannot find in Patek's catalogue as something to verify before you rely on it.

Is the Patek 5980 discontinued?

The steel 5980/1A references were discontinued in 2014, when Patek moved the steel Nautilus chronograph slot to the 5976/1G anniversary edition and then to the two-tone 5980/1AR in 2016. No steel 5980 has been made since, which is why the 5980/1A-001 and 5980/1A-014 command the highest prices in the family. The rose gold 5980/1R-001, the two-tone 5980/1AR-001 and the white gold 5980/60G-001 remain in Patek's catalogue as of September 2026.

How much is a Patek Philippe 5980? Prices in 2026

• 5980/1A-001 and 5980/1A-014 (steel, discontinued). Last retail was around US$50,000 to 55,000 before 2014. In 2025 and 2026, full-set examples have generally been asked in the low to mid six figures in US dollars, with the blue 5980/1A-001 usually above the grey 5980/1A-014 and the rare white 5980/1A-019 priced individually.
• 5980/1R-001 (rose gold bracelet). Retail around US$115,000 to 125,000 in 2026; secondary asks close to or somewhat above retail for unworn full sets.
• 5980/1AR-001 (two-tone). Retail around US$80,000 to 90,000; the most obtainable bracelet 5980, with secondary asks near retail.
• 5980/60G-001 (white gold, strap). Retail in the US$90,000s; secondary asks above retail while allocations are scarce.

Those bands describe what we saw in 2025 and 2026 and will move. Asking prices are not sale records, and dealer listings for the same reference can sit far apart depending on set, condition and year. Ask for a dated quote for the exact reference, year, condition and papers; our Patek Philippe price guide explains how to compare quotes.

What makes the Patek 5980 special?

Three things. It was the first Nautilus chronograph, thirty years after the original 3700. Its calibre CH 28-520 C was Patek's first in-house automatic chronograph, with a column wheel, vertical clutch and flyback, and the 5980 was the reference chosen to launch it. And the mono-counter dial is unique to the Nautilus and Aquanaut chronographs; nothing else from Patek or its rivals reads elapsed hours and minutes from a single subdial. Add the scarcity of the steel versions and the 5980 is the Nautilus that collectors who already own a 5711 tend to buy next.

5980 vs 5711 vs 5712

See the 5711 guide and the 5712 guide for the other two. If you want the chronograph with a second time zone, the 5990 Travel Time Chronograph is the same calibre base with a Travel Time module and is still made in steel. If a chronograph on a strap appeals more than a bracelet, the Aquanaut 5968 is the same calibre in the Aquanaut case; our Nautilus vs Aquanaut guide compares the families.

Is the Patek 5980 a good investment?

The steel 5980s have appreciated since discontinuation and, being older and rarer than the 5711, have held up better through the 2022 to 2023 correction. That is history, not a guarantee. The gold and two-tone references trade closer to retail and should be bought to wear. As with every Nautilus, papers, condition and an unpolished case decide most of the resale value.

Servicing a 5980: what to budget for

A self-winding chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch is more involved to service than a time-and-date Nautilus, because the chronograph works, the flyback reset and the mono-counter's zero-reset all have to be regulated together, not just the going train. Patek Philippe services its own watches through its manufacture and through authorised service centres, and a 5980 sent for a full service should come back with the flyback function tested through repeated starts, stops and resets rather than a single check. Budget for a longer turnaround than a simple three-hand Nautilus and ask for a written estimate before committing a watch for service; a chronograph service at Patek costs meaningfully more than servicing a 5711 or 5712 of the same age. Keep the service invoice with the watch afterward; a documented Patek service adds to a 5980's paperwork in the same way an original Certificate of Origin does, and buyers of a discontinued steel example in particular tend to ask for it.

Buying a 5980: what to check

• Chronograph function. Start, stop, flyback and reset; the mono-counter hands should return to zero exactly. Chronograph servicing at Patek is the most expensive in the range, so a recent service invoice matters.
• Papers. A steel 5980 sold before 2016 qualifies for an Extract from the Archives if the Certificate of Origin is missing; later gold and two-tone watches do not yet. Our serial number check guide explains what to match.
• Case and bracelet. The 5980's thicker case shows polishing on the flanks first; the two-tone 5980/1AR's gold centre links wear before the steel.
• Dial code. The blue-black 5980/1A-001 and grey 5980/1A-014 are the same watch with different dials; a mismatch between the card and the dial means a swap.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch. To see how other brands' references are organised, the Patek Philippe collection groups every family we can source.

Quick answers

How much is a Patek Philippe 5980?

Steel 5980/1A: low to mid six figures second-hand in 2025 and 2026. Rose gold 5980/1R-001: about US$115,000 to 125,000 at retail. Two-tone 5980/1AR-001: about US$80,000 to 90,000. White gold 5980/60G-001: US$90,000s.

Is the Patek 5980 discontinued?

The steel versions were discontinued in 2014. The rose gold, two-tone and white gold references are still made.

What do the letters in 5980/1A, 5980/1R and 5980/60G mean?

A is steel, R is rose gold, G is white gold and AR is steel with rose gold. The "/1" marks the integrated bracelet; the strap versions are 5980R and 5980/60G.

Is the Patek 5980 a good investment?

The steel references have appreciated and held value through the 2022 correction; the gold and two-tone versions trade near retail. Buy to wear; papers and condition decide resale.

What makes the Patek 5980 so special?

The first Nautilus chronograph, Patek's first in-house automatic chronograph calibre, and the single mono-counter dial that no other chronograph uses.

What movement is in the 5980?

Calibre CH 28-520 C, an automatic flyback chronograph with column wheel and vertical clutch, 45 to 55 hours of reserve.

Request a Nautilus 5980 sourcing quote

Tell us the reference, preferred year range, condition and whether original papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Browse the Nautilus collection or sell or trade your 5980.

Related reading: Patek Philippe vs Richard Mille · Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 guide · Nautilus 5712 guide · Nautilus 5990 guide · Nautilus 5726 guide · Nautilus 5740 guide · Nautilus vs Aquanaut · Aquanaut 5968 orange strap guide · Patek reference numbers explained.