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Lot Essay
Fully serviced and refurbished by Patek Philippe and still retaining the service tag, the present watch is offered in superb overall condition. Consigned by the original owner it is furthermore fresh to the market.
A very wearable design icon, it is an example of the most coveted Nautilus reference of all - 3700/1 - and made in 1979, only three years into production of what is now one of Patek Philippe’s most recognizable timepieces. The dial is the classic “type 3” which was introduced at the end of 1978/early 1979.
Created by Stern Frères, the distinctive striped dials of the Nautilus were entirely hand-made – each line recess is engraved separately. Below the 6 o’clock index is the word “Swiss” flanked on each side by the “Aprior” mark of two sigma symbols. The Aprior mark was conferred by the “Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l’Or” on dials made of solid gold or at least with solid gold indexes.
The Nautilus Waterproof Case Ref. 3700/1
The case patent design of original Nautilus, reference 3700/1 was registered on 23rd April 1976. Made for Patek Philippe by Favre-Perret SA, Le Crêt du Locle, from 1976 until 1981 when production was transferred to Patek Philippe's own Ateliers Réunis workshops. It comprises two parts, the main body and the bezel, at each side is an “ear” which couples with a corresponding flange, the two parts are secured by lateral screws. A rubber seal sits between the bezel and case body and is thus compressed when subject to water pressure forming a perfect watertight seal. The reference 3700/1 was made in stainless steel, steel and gold, 18K yellow gold, 18K white gold and platinum.
Caliber 28-255 C
Generally agreed to be one of the great watch calibers, it was based on the original Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 920 of 1967 and regarded as one of the most beautiful and refined automatic movements ever produced. Crucially it is also very thin at only 3.15 mm., therefore highly appropriate for the slim and elegant Nautilus. The development of the caliber 920 was partly jointly financed by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. Audemars Piguet fitted their version, now the revered caliber 2120 into the Royal Oak, a further shared familial link with the Nautilus. Vacheron Constantin’s version became their caliber 1120.
For an illustration and description of a reference 3700/1 in stainless steel see Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, p. 252, Inv. P-1557.
Special thanks to Italian watch enthusiast and historian “mstanga” for his assistance and invaluable research text, A Study of the Patek Philippe Ref. 3700 “Nautilus”.
A very wearable design icon, it is an example of the most coveted Nautilus reference of all - 3700/1 - and made in 1979, only three years into production of what is now one of Patek Philippe’s most recognizable timepieces. The dial is the classic “type 3” which was introduced at the end of 1978/early 1979.
Created by Stern Frères, the distinctive striped dials of the Nautilus were entirely hand-made – each line recess is engraved separately. Below the 6 o’clock index is the word “Swiss” flanked on each side by the “Aprior” mark of two sigma symbols. The Aprior mark was conferred by the “Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l’Or” on dials made of solid gold or at least with solid gold indexes.
The Nautilus Waterproof Case Ref. 3700/1
The case patent design of original Nautilus, reference 3700/1 was registered on 23rd April 1976. Made for Patek Philippe by Favre-Perret SA, Le Crêt du Locle, from 1976 until 1981 when production was transferred to Patek Philippe's own Ateliers Réunis workshops. It comprises two parts, the main body and the bezel, at each side is an “ear” which couples with a corresponding flange, the two parts are secured by lateral screws. A rubber seal sits between the bezel and case body and is thus compressed when subject to water pressure forming a perfect watertight seal. The reference 3700/1 was made in stainless steel, steel and gold, 18K yellow gold, 18K white gold and platinum.
Caliber 28-255 C
Generally agreed to be one of the great watch calibers, it was based on the original Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 920 of 1967 and regarded as one of the most beautiful and refined automatic movements ever produced. Crucially it is also very thin at only 3.15 mm., therefore highly appropriate for the slim and elegant Nautilus. The development of the caliber 920 was partly jointly financed by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. Audemars Piguet fitted their version, now the revered caliber 2120 into the Royal Oak, a further shared familial link with the Nautilus. Vacheron Constantin’s version became their caliber 1120.
For an illustration and description of a reference 3700/1 in stainless steel see Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, p. 252, Inv. P-1557.
Special thanks to Italian watch enthusiast and historian “mstanga” for his assistance and invaluable research text, A Study of the Patek Philippe Ref. 3700 “Nautilus”.