The short answer
There is no Patek Philippe Nautilus 6790. Patek's Nautilus line runs through numbers like 3700, 5711, 5712, 5726, 5740, 5990 and 5811, and none of them is 6790. When you see that number on a listing, it is a seller label or a factory code, not a model that left Geneva. It usually points to a stainless steel Nautilus built on the 5711 or 5712 pattern, and sometimes to a 5811 style case. Treat it as marketing shorthand and judge the actual specs instead.
Where the number comes from
Replica listings collect numbers for odd reasons. Some sellers use internal SKU codes that leak into the product title. Others misread a reference. A few invent a number to dodge search filters or to make a listing look like a rare variant. If a shop tells you the 6790 is a limited Patek edition, that tells you plenty about everything else they sell. Ask for the case size, the movement name and the factory name instead.
The Nautilus it usually copies
- 5711/1A: 40mm, about 8.3mm thick, three hand date, blue or olive green dial on later runs.
- 5712/1A: 40mm case, power reserve and moonphase at 7 o'clock, asymmetric dial layout.
- 5726/1A: 40.5mm, annual calendar with moonphase, busier dial.
- 5990/1A: 40.5mm, chronograph plus travel time, the thickest of the group.
- 5811/1G: 41mm white gold, the 2022 replacement for the 5711.
What decides quality on a replica Nautilus
Case and thickness
The case is the hard part. A Nautilus is a rounded octagon with a flat bezel and thin, tapered sides. Cheap reps run thick, sometimes 11mm or more on a three hand build, and the flanks look slabby. On the wrist, one extra millimeter changes the whole feel. Ask for caliper photos if the seller can provide them.
Movement
Most mid tier reps use a Miyota 9015 or a Seiko NH35 base. Top tiers use a decorated clone of the 324 SC. The clone sits thinner, which lets the case match the real profile, and the date wheel lands in the right spot. It also costs more and is harder to service in the US. The 9015 is reliable, cheap to replace and keeps good time. Pick based on which of those matters more to you.
Bracelet and clasp
The integrated bracelet is where the money shows. Look at how the links taper from the lugs down to the clasp, whether the center links are polished against brushed outer links, and how the clasp shuts. A rep with sharp link edges or a rattly clasp feels wrong even from arm's length.
Dial, hands and date
A blue Nautilus dial should shift with the light rather than sit flat. On a 5711 pattern the date window sits at 3 and the font is thin. Misaligned date wheels are the most common complaint, and they show up in every photo.
Checks before you pay
- Ask for the exact case diameter and thickness.
- Ask which movement, with a photo of the caseback.
- Ask for a daylight wrist shot and a straight on dial shot.
- Confirm the return policy and how the watch ships.
One practical note: US Customs can seize replica watches, and importing one carries legal risk, so weigh that before you order.
Bottom line
There is no Nautilus 6790. Judge the watch in front of you by its case size, thickness, movement and bracelet, and ignore the number in the title.