Nautilus rust issue

[RussW]

Hi all,

I think this topic has come up before, but wondered if anyone had recently had an issue with their Nautilus?

At the end of last year I noticed some discolouration on the bracelet of my Nautilus. My AD sent it off to Rhone for inspection, and they must have thought there was an issue as they then sent it off to Geneva for further inspection.

Unfortunately, the first thing Patek did when they received it was to clean the bracelet, so the service department could not properly inspect the discolouration. Their only feedback was they suspected the watch had been exposed to salt water (which it hadn’t).

Anyway, I haven’t worn it for the last 6 months to check if the discolouration would come back. The watch now has some brown residue on a couple of the links. Has anyone else experienced this, or have any ideas on the cause?

I’ll be taking it back to my AD again, but it would be good to have an idea of what the issue is before I go in.

(Photos to follow - getting an error message at the moment)


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[RussW]

Originally Posted by RussW

Hi all,

I think this topic has come up before, but wondered if anyone had recently had an issue with their Nautilus?

At the end of last year I noticed some discolouration on the bracelet of my Nautilus. My AD sent it off to Rhone for inspection, and they must have thought there was an issue as they then sent it off to Geneva for further inspection.

Unfortunately, the first thing Patek did when they received it was to clean the bracelet, so the service department could not properly inspect the discolouration. Their only feedback was they suspected the watch had been exposed to salt water (which it hadn’t).

Anyway, I haven’t worn it for the last 6 months to check if the discolouration would come back. The watch now has some brown residue on a couple of the links. Has anyone else experienced this, or have any ideas on the cause?

I’ll be taking it back to my AD again, but it would be good to have an idea of what the issue is before I go in.

(Photos to follow - getting an error message at the moment)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[~JJ]

As I recall the post with a rusting nautilus, the rust was happening around where the pin would be and was polished over. Your spots seem more random than that example… if we are talking about the same thread. Curious to hear from PP on this one. Good luck

[ts3]

bonsai-man was the TRFer with the rust (?) issue around the pins a few years ago. Look for his thread / posts on here. As far as I remember the issue got eventually resolved to his satisfaction but I don't remember any details.

[RussW]

Thanks guys - yes it was Bonsai-man, I discussed with him at the end of last year before sending my watch in to Patek. I had a feeling there had been 1 or 2 other people that had the same issue, but I may be mis-remembering.

It’s a little frustrating that it’s been in to Patek once already, but they couldn’t inspect the watch properly at the time.

[johnsonsxusfrt]

It does look like rust. Shouldn't happen on Stainless steel but depending on the composition and processing of the steel there is always a chance a concentrated pocket of iron forms in a spot (without sufficient chromium) when the steel cools. If it's deeper than the surface then it will 100% come back. You can accelerate this process to see if you really have an issue by place some salt water on the bracelet (in the same spots as depicted in your pictures) and over a matter of days to a week the rust will appear

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Wow this is a real shocker... you'd think the folks at Patek Philippe would have QC locked "all the way" down.

[RussW]

Originally Posted by johnsonsxusfrt

It does look like rust. Shouldn't happen on Stainless steel but depending on the composition and processing of the steel there is always a chance a concentrated pocket of iron forms in a spot (without sufficient chromium) when the steel cools. If it's deeper than the surface then it will 100% come back. You can accelerate this process to see if you really have an issue by place some salt water on the bracelet (in the same spots as depicted in your pictures) and over a matter of days to a week the rust will appear

Thanks, yeah that could be the issue. I’ve let the discolouration / rust happen naturally just by not wearing the watch - Patek suggested the issue may have been caused by contact with saltwater, so if my watch goes back to them I don’t want them to say I’ve caused it.

[RussW]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

Wow this is a real shocker... you'd think the folks at Patek Philippe would have QC locked "all the way" down.

I guess an issue can happen with any watch, but not happy they’ve had it for inspection once already and failed to check it properly.

This was Patek’s response in January “Upon receipt into our Geneva workshop the timepiece was cleaned immediately, to ensure that these marks were removeable prior to estimating. As a result regrettably we are not in a position to analyse what had caused the issue. The only question is whether the timepiece had been in contact with salt water as this may lead to the discolouration or alternatively subject to moist conditions?”

[geoach]

two things why..........bad batch of ss.....and..where there is two dissimilar metals in contact with each other rust/ corrosion

[1William]

I look forward to hearing PP response to this. Should not happen.

[Crown & Shield]

First they were water resistant to 120m until they were not.
Next on the case: stainless-ish
BTW, every time I see those pins I cannot help but think it is a Seiko bracelet

[brandrea]

I’ll be curious to hear what they have to say … a second time.

[dardeca]

Sorry this happened. Please keep us posted on what Patek says and how they rectify the issue.

[RussW]

Thanks all for commenting. The photos I posted here have been shared with Patek, so now awaiting feedback from Patek.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by RussW

Thanks guys - yes it was Bonsai-man, I discussed with him at the end of last year before sending my watch in to Patek. I had a feeling there had been 1 or 2 other people that had the same issue, but I may be mis-remembering.

It’s a little frustrating that it’s been in to Patek once already, but they couldn’t inspect the watch properly at the time.

Do you know if your Nautilus is from a similar or the same year as bonsai-man's with the rust issue?

[scurfa]

I supply stainless steel bracelets for my watches, they have the pin and collar set up and occasionally we get one that shows signs of rust, no rhyme or reason, my guess is the stainless steel mix, I don’t think this will happen often.


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[Halothane]

Just spray a little WD-40 on it and it should be fine


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[EEpro]

And people say 904L is overkill.

[RussW]

Originally Posted by ts3

Do you know if your Nautilus is from a similar or the same year as bonsai-man's with the rust issue?

Similar - mine was bought at the end of 2018, and his was April 2019. I’ve found his old post and it looks like his started rusting within the first couple of months.

[Gebbeth]

This is a bit shocking for such an expensive, signature model of Patek (although Stern might take issue with that comment).

It almost looks like Patek just plated the bracelet links with some kind of nickel coating which has rubbed off of the link pin area (it still looks like the rust is concentrated around the pins).

This is really surprising.

[fsprow]

I’m not sure how the Nautilus links are made - but if soldered, the fluxes used are usually highly corrosive and if not removed properly could cause rust. This is just a guess but if correct, polishing should remove the area affected.

[keeso]

Originally Posted by Halothane

Just spray a little WD-40 on it and it should be fine


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funny man.

[keeso]

Kindly keep us posted. I'd love to see the response from PP. I'm curious.

[RussW]

Thanks all, will post an update once Patek have provided feedback.

[bliss]

Does anybody have a link to the previous thread about rust, i was unable to find it

[RussW]

Originally Posted by bliss

Does anybody have a link to the previous thread about rust, i was unable to find it

This is it https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=680120

[bliss]

Originally Posted by RussW

This is it https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=680120

Thanks, Cant believe this has been an issue on multiple watches. Strange they dont use 904L

[randy van]

Originally Posted by Halothane

Just spray a little WD-40 on it and it should be fine


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Funny..LOL

[RussW]

***Update***
Finally got my watch back after nearly 5 months with Patek. Patek have confirmed the marks are rust and have kindly replaced the full bracelet. Very grateful to Patek for that level of service, and even though the watch is out of warranty they have sorted it out.

Can’t help but feel a little disappointed in the brand though. It would have been nice if someone at Patek had reached out to apologise for the issue and inconvenience. Not exactly what you’d expect when buying a Patek that it will have to be sent back due to rust.