Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XI Geneva Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1977
    Reference No: 3700
    Movement No: 1'306'058
    Case No: 532'691
    Model Name: Nautilus, Jumbo
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 28-255 C, 36 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, max length 180mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 42mm Width
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1977 with "black matte ribbed dial, applied white gold indexes, tritium" and its subsequent sale on October 13, 1978

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Patek Philippe Nautilus, now one of the best recognized wristwatches in the world, can be considered as instrumental - together with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak - in paving the way to luxury steel watches. Advertisements from the launch era boast the fact that one of the most expensive watches in the world was made of steel - an enormously brave marketing move which at the time was actually not sure to pay off. In fact many observers deemed such luxury sport watches doomed to fail.

    In this first model, all the defining features of the design are already present in pretty much the same form as we see them on contemporary pieces, indicating how strikingly genius the aesthetics of the watches proved to be since their very first inception. They require no great modification even more than forty years after the original inception, a truly remarkable feature for an object of design which should -in theory - be subject to changing fashion trends.

    Giving life to this watch is the caliber 28-255, based on the legendary Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC 920, heavily modified by Patek Philippe. At the time it was the world's thinnest automatic movement with date, measuring only 3.05mm thick, interestingly it was a movement shared with the steel icon: the Royal Oak.

    Patek Philippe produced two versions of the Nautilus ref 3700 in steel: 3700/1 - such as the present watch - from 1976 to about 1981 featuring a straight bracelet and reference 3700/11, in production from 1981 to 1990, with a tapered steel bracelet.

    The present example features remarkable case definition. Furthermore, its dial is in absolutely flawless condition as it was changed, most probably during a service at Patek Philippe. Obviously, the intervention was made quite some time ago as the luminous material has had time to darken slightly with age, fully matching the vintage nature of the wristwatch,

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

    View More Works

208

Ref. 3700
A fine and iconic stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date, bracelet and box

1977
42mm Width
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF60,000 - 120,000 
€55,600-111,000
$65,600-131,000

Sold for CHF100,000

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XI

Geneva Auction 27 - 28 June 2020