918
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3700/11
Nautilus “Jumbo”
A rare and attractive stainless steel wristwatch with bracelet and date – service-sealed
Full-Cataloguing
- First Nautilus reference and an early 3700/11 example
- Rare Type 3 dial with serif fonts
- Kept in service-sealed condition
The production of the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3700 was divided into two main series. Early examples, produced from 1976 to 1982, are designated as ref. 3700/1, while later pieces, made between 1982 and 1990, carry the ref. 3700/11. The ref. 3700/11 is distinguished by a more tapered bracelet that measures 14 mm wide, in contrast to the earlier 16 mm versions.
The present example features a Type 3 serif dial, a rare find that is becoming increasingly difficult to locate in the market, as most other dials are equipped with non-serif fonts. Type 3 characteristics can be identified by the truncated “V” and the more pronounced accent on the letter “E”. Only a small number of Type 3 dial examples have resurfaced.
When it was first offered at auction in 2025, this piece was fresh-to-the-market and comes from its original owner. Made in 1982, as confirmed by the Extract from the Archives, this stainless steel ref. 3700/11 is kept in a service seal, though the service history remains unknown.
Upon closer inspection through the seal, it's evident that the watch was well-loved by its owner, likely serving as a daily timepiece, as indicated by the wear on the case and bracelet. For the discerning collector, this represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of the foundational references of the most sought-after sports watches in history.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since 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.