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Lot Essay
The reference 3700/3 is a very rare diamond-set version of the gold “Jumbo” Nautilus model. As confirmed by the extract from the archives it is set with 112 diamonds with a weight of 1.48 carats. The present watch, preserved in excellent condition has the large-size 16.5 mm. bracelet of the first generation Nautilus, being made in 1981 it must be one of the very last of the watches made with a Favre-Perret case, confirmed by the presence of their mark inside.
The Nautilus Bracelet
The Nautilus bracelet was designed by Gérald Genta as a fully integrated part of the watch’s overall look. The first series of Nautilus, reference 3700/1 had a bracelet with a width of 16.5 mm, it had 12 fixed and 8 removable links. The deployant clasp is signed by Patek Philippe and punched with Gay Frères trademark on gold models. The reverse of the inner clasp is engraved “Nautilus” except for the earliest examples up to around the end of 1977 which do not have this engraving.
From 1982 with the launch of the reference 3700/011 a narrower “second generation” bracelet with a width of 14 mm. was introduced. It had 16 fixed links and 8 removable links.
The Nautilus Bracelet
The Nautilus bracelet was designed by Gérald Genta as a fully integrated part of the watch’s overall look. The first series of Nautilus, reference 3700/1 had a bracelet with a width of 16.5 mm, it had 12 fixed and 8 removable links. The deployant clasp is signed by Patek Philippe and punched with Gay Frères trademark on gold models. The reverse of the inner clasp is engraved “Nautilus” except for the earliest examples up to around the end of 1977 which do not have this engraving.
From 1982 with the launch of the reference 3700/011 a narrower “second generation” bracelet with a width of 14 mm. was introduced. It had 16 fixed links and 8 removable links.