Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1979 Reference No: 3700/011 Movement No: 1’308’436 Case No: 558’766 Model Name: Nautilus Material: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 28-255, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, max overall length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe clasp Dimensions: 42mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by a photocopy Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1979 with tritium hour markers, and its subsequent sale on June 4, 1982.
Catalogue Essay
Patek Philippe’s Nautilus, released in 1976, became one of the most iconic and classic wristwatches of the late 20th century. It was a new era of luxury, inaugurating the use of stainless steel for high-end watches, which today is the epitome of watches with a versatile appeal and a sporty appearance that can be worn both outdoors or in the boardroom.
Released in 1976, the reference 3700/1 was in production until 1981 and featured a straight bracelet, while its successor, the reference 3700/11, with a tapered bracelet, remained in production until 1990. The Nautilus was a groundbreaking wristwatch for Patek Philippe, ushering in a new dimension to the luxury world of watchmaking, a welcome alternative for smaller gentlemen’s dress timepieces fitted on leather straps. The Nautilus reference 3700’s 42 mm diameter soon became a major product line for Patek Philippe, and today it is one of the most desirable watches in all of Swiss watchmaking.
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 blue fumé 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 3700/011, 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.
The present timepiece is fresh-to-the-market, offered for the first time at auction, and is presented in very attractive overall condition.
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.