Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1984 Reference No: 3700/11 Movement No: 1’307’814 Case No: 2’808’795 Model Name: Nautilus “Jumbo” Material: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 28-255 C, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed. Accessories: Accompanied by two Patek Philippe Extracts from the Archives, one dated 2019 and the other dated 2017, confirming the production of this reference 3700/11 in steel and yellow gold with “gilded ribbed dial” in 1984 and its subsequent sale on December 20th, 1984.
Catalogue Essay
Whereas the Nautilus reference 3700/1 was in production until 1981 and featured a straight bracelet, its successor the reference 3700/11 with tapered bracelet remained in production until 1990. With its aesthetics kept very similar to its predecessor, the 3700/11 was fitted with a narrower bracelet measuring 14mm at the end in comparison to the 3700/1’s bracelet measuring 16mm.
Cased in two-tone 18K yellow gold and stainless steel, the present watch embodies to perfection the aesthetic cues of the 1980s: statement colors with playfulness. Its gold inner links add flair, sophistication, and a suave cool factor to an already iconic watch. Neither craftmanship nor quality were left to fate. Its champagne dial was handmade with utmost precision by Stern Frères with engraved stripes to achieve a uniform ribbed texture. Further, the present watch is one of the rarest iterations of the model, a reference 3700/11, as it is estimated only 300 examples were cased in two-tone 18K yellow gold and stainless steel, while 1500 examples were made in stainless steel. Only four examples, including this one, have come to the market in this configuration.
Though both rare and attractive, the real draw of this example is the utterly impeccable state of preservation. Truly “new-old-stock”, it retains all of its original factory finishes, and exceptionally, its original caseback sticker is perfectly preserved. All chamfers and brushed and polished edges are utterly original, making this a museum-quality example of a 3700/11, and ideal for the Patek Philippe connoisseur.
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.
