Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 2002 Reference No: 3800/1 Movement No: 3'031'982 Case No: 4'175'893 Model Name: Nautilus Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 330 SC, 29 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet measuring 170mm max Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 37.5mm 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 2002 and its subsequent sale on February 7, 2002.
Catalogue Essay
Since its original launch in 1976 the Nautilus collection has been offered in a wide array of materials, sizes and complications. The first iteration came in 1981 with the presentation of the mid-size reference 3800 with a case measuring 37.5mm diameter. With its aesthetics similar to the ref. 3700 and ref. 5711, the ref. 3800 similarly features center seconds and a date function.
Throughout its 25 years production span, the ref. 3800 was one of the most diversified Nautilus references ever produced with examples in stainless steel, yellow gold, two-tone, white gold, platinum as well as gem-set variants across a total of four series. With such a fruitful offering, the ref. 3800 previously overshadowed by its larger ref. 3700 and ref. 5711 has recently been gaining a substantial amount of interest in the collectors community due to its friendly unisex case dimension and iconic aesthetics.
The present example in yellow gold originally came with a white dial that over time has turned a visually arresting yellow dégradé going from light to dark from the periphery to the center giving the watch incredible charisma and flamboyance.
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.