A watch can become recognisable long before its name is readable. The Royal Oak and Nautilus make that point particularly well: both turn the relationship between case and bracelet into a major part of their identity.
Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak in 1972. Its octagonal bezel, visible screws and patterned dial give it a deliberate geometry. Patek Philippe dates the Nautilus to 1976; its softer, porthole-inspired outline takes the sports-watch idea in a different visual direction.
Compare them as objects before thinking about reputation. Notice where each case meets the first bracelet link. Follow the changes between polished and brushed surfaces. Look at how the dial sits inside the bezel and how much visual space surrounds it.
This is where preference becomes personal. One design may feel more architectural, the other more fluid. Neither reaction needs a market-price argument. The useful question is which shape you would still enjoy seeing on your wrist once the novelty had worn off.