Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 2004 Reference No: 3710 Movement No: 3'231'748 Case No: 4'282'788 Model Name: Nautilus "Comet" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 330 SC, 29 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel concealed deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of manufacture of the present watch in 2004 and its subsequent sale on December 20th, 2004.
Catalogue Essay
For close to two decades the Patek Philippe and the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus the model has come to appreciate continuous demand.
Reference 3710 is a historically important model within the Nautilus production. Launched in 1998 and in production until 2004/2005, it was the first Nautilus model to feature a complication (other than a date indication) and even though it retained the smooth dial with Roman numerals as found in the reference 3800 it signed the return of the “Jumbo” sized 42mm case size of the reference 3700.
The Nautilus reference 3710 features a very unusual power reserve / state of wind indicator nicknamed by collectors “comet tail”. The said “tail” being placed on a rotating disc and once the movement fully wound the disc would continue rotating, indicating that the winding mechanism was disconnected from the main barrel.
Presented in very appealing condition, the present reference 3710 is one of less than 85 known, it is a very attractive and unusual watch that deserves the growing attention it is receiving as it is one of the rarer and lesser seen “Jumbo” Nautilus models.
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.
