Unveiled admits the heights of the quartz crisis in 1981, the Patek Philippe ref. 4700 is the smallest Nautilus ever produced by the firm with a case that measures only 26mm in diameter. The early 1980s was a pivital moment for the watch industry as manufacturers had to choose between fully integrating into catering towards the fashion and trends of the 20th century, or to stand their ground in preserving traditional Swiss watchmaking. Patek Philippe made a bold statement by firmly sticking to their roots as traditional watchmakers from the 19th century while embracing the new quartz technology without letting it override their heritage. By doing so, Patek Philippe retained their production strategy driven by mechanical timepieces as well as introducing quartz models at the same time. The ref. 4700 was among one of the models that bore a quartz cal. E19C.

The Patek Philippe lady’s Nautilus ref. 4700 enjoyed a successful 23-year production run, offered in an array of different iterations and was eventually discontinued in 2004. The present example in stainless steel with an ashen gray ribbed dial is truly a classic. Offered in excellent overall condition with minimal signs of use and wear, this is truly the perfect everyday timepiece for the discerned lady collector today. With a new wave of young male enthusiasts braving smaller wristwatches, this piece can potentially be a great essential for a style-conscious modern gentlemen.