When Patek Philippe released the Nautilus reference 3700/001 in 1976, they may have not known at the time that they were introducing one of the most iconic and cherished wristwatches of the 20th century. In an effort to attract new buyers with a casual, sporty timepiece, the Gerald Genta-designed watch was reminiscent of transatlantic ocean liners’ portholes, and named for Captain Nemo’s submarine in the beloved Jules Verne adventure Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It was at the time the most expensive stainless steel luxury sports watch.

In 1981, Patek Phillipe expanded the Nautilus line with the reference 3800/1A. Smaller in size at 37.5mm diameter, the reference 3800 was an alternative to the larger 3700 model. The reference was in production from 1981 until 2006, and manufactured in four series with movement upgrades over its 25 year history. Though there are several permutations of dial designs for the 3800/1A, the present is the most classic with the blue-grey ribbed dial and luminous baton indexes. Adding to its rarity, this reference 3800 features the rare and early black date disc with white printing for the date.

The present, first-series reference 3800/1A is preserved in excellent overall condition with a vibrant blue-grey ribbed dial. Today, the Nautilus is almost 50 years old, and enjoys icon status within the world of horology, and this highly versatile, classic reference 3800 is a wonderful and rare example for the connoisseur.