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Lot Essay
It is highly appropriate that in the 50th anniversary year of the launch of Patek Philippe’s totally iconic Gerald Genta designed Nautilus ‘Jumbo’ in 1976, we can present here to collectors an immense rarity among all vintage Nautilus – one of the very earliest examples of the steel reference 3700 with early movement produced in 1974. The present watch was sold on the 11th March 1977, less than a year after the registration of the Nautilus case patent design for reference 3700 on 23 April 1976. If this were not exciting enough, remarkably, it is also accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin and equally iconic cork Nautilus box with the correct beige velvet interior fitting and outer packaging. It is almost unheard of for such an early steel Nautilus to still retain its original Certificate and box after 50 years. This incredible rarity represents a stellar prize for any serious collector.
One of the many attractions of the Nautilus 3700 for the watch aficionado is that from the very beginning it was fitted with what is generally agreed to be one of the great watch calibres – the 28-255C. Based on the original Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 920 of 1967 it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and refined automatic movements ever produced. It is also very thin at only 3.15 mm., therefore highly appropriate for the slim and elegant Nautilus. The movement of the present watch, number 1’302’979 was manufactured in 1974 as confirmed by the Extract from the Archives, it thus pre-dates the Nautilus model itself launched in 1976. Several of these earliest reference 3700 Nautilus are fitted with movements manufactured in 1973 or 1974, which must have been the earliest batches to be produced and kept in stock until they were utilized in these first production Nautilus.
Patek Philippe’s Nautilus is one of the most successful wristwatch designs ever conceived, indeed, Gerald Genta’s design is now so familiar that it has become not just a watch icon but a world icon, a timepiece that is for every age and every occasion. Ultra-fashionable, yet at the same time above fashion. The present watch presents collectors with the first opportunity in several years to own one of the earliest examples of this truly landmark reference.
Literature:
For illustrations and descriptions of the Nautilus see: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Vol. II; Patek Philippe Steel Watches, John Goldberger. Research text, “A Study of the Patek Philippe Ref. 3700 ‘Nautilus’, mstanga, 2016. For a detailed illustration and description of the early ‘Type 1’ dial see the specific section in ‘A study of the Patek Philippe ref. 3700 “Nautilus” by mstanga.
One of the many attractions of the Nautilus 3700 for the watch aficionado is that from the very beginning it was fitted with what is generally agreed to be one of the great watch calibres – the 28-255C. Based on the original Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 920 of 1967 it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and refined automatic movements ever produced. It is also very thin at only 3.15 mm., therefore highly appropriate for the slim and elegant Nautilus. The movement of the present watch, number 1’302’979 was manufactured in 1974 as confirmed by the Extract from the Archives, it thus pre-dates the Nautilus model itself launched in 1976. Several of these earliest reference 3700 Nautilus are fitted with movements manufactured in 1973 or 1974, which must have been the earliest batches to be produced and kept in stock until they were utilized in these first production Nautilus.
Patek Philippe’s Nautilus is one of the most successful wristwatch designs ever conceived, indeed, Gerald Genta’s design is now so familiar that it has become not just a watch icon but a world icon, a timepiece that is for every age and every occasion. Ultra-fashionable, yet at the same time above fashion. The present watch presents collectors with the first opportunity in several years to own one of the earliest examples of this truly landmark reference.
Literature:
For illustrations and descriptions of the Nautilus see: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Vol. II; Patek Philippe Steel Watches, John Goldberger. Research text, “A Study of the Patek Philippe Ref. 3700 ‘Nautilus’, mstanga, 2016. For a detailed illustration and description of the early ‘Type 1’ dial see the specific section in ‘A study of the Patek Philippe ref. 3700 “Nautilus” by mstanga.