With the Nautilus, Patek Philippe would seek out Gerald Genta for a design to go beyond haute horlogerie, to create a luxury sports watch. Inspired by the portholes of transatlantic ocean liners, it was named after Captain Nemo’s Nautilus submarine from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The ‘Jumbo’ case with wide flat bezel, integrated steel link bracelet, and ultra-thin automatic movement had a masculine aesthetic compared to the smaller dressy gold mechanical watches of the time. While it was initially not well received, its popularity quickly grew, and has been a mainstay of Patek Philippe’s collection until the present day. Patek Philippe produced two versions of the Nautilus reference 3700 in stainless steel; 3700/1 from 1976 to about 1981, and the 3700/11, which was in production from 1981 to 1990. This complete and early example, manufactured in 1977, is fresh to the market, and not only represents one of the most iconic wristwatches available today, but it is in wonderful condition, accompanied by its original certificate of guarantee and its highly coveted cork presentation box. The Nautilus sought to bring a modern twist to haute horology, and the present lot will appeal to the discerning collector seeking a complete, well-preserved example of this design masterpiece.