Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 1983 Reference No: 3700 Movement No: 1’309’410 Case No: 559'049 Model Name: Nautilus Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, 28 255C aut., 36 rubies Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow and white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm Diameter Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin bearing number 1'310'342, code-dated April 1984, stamped by Saudi Arabia retailer Bajsair and dated July 2, 1991, fitted presentation box and outer packaging
Catalogue Essay
In today’s collecting scene — where condition is the paramount concern when it comes to vintage timepieces — the present example of yellow gold ref. 3700 can be considered of excellent quality. Any collector would consider themselves extremely lucky to find a timepiece close to the level of fine quality of the present Nautilus. Not a scratch mars the 18K yellow gold case, and the bracelet is as tight as when the piece left the factory. The only hint of the passage of time is given by the luminous material which acquired a subtle vanilla tone.
Such incredible condition is explained by the fact that the watch is offered by its original owner, who acquired it Saudi Arabia in 1991, and never used it once.
Interestingly, the movement number on the Certificate (1’310’342) does not match the actual movement number of the watch (1’309’410). Considered the provenance and the condition of the watch, it is safe to say that the watch was never tampered with or even opened until it was consigned. From the certificate, we can decipher its code-date as 1983, but the certificate is dated July 2, 1991. As the watch spent nearly a decade on the shelf before being sold, it is a safe guess that by the time of sale the first movement was found to have some issues and the retailer upgraded the piece with the current movement which, being the one the watch left the retailer with, is to be considered absolutely fine to the timepiece.
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.