Hong Kong, Nov 26, 2022
LOT 515
PATEK PHILIPPE
REF. 3800 / 1, SELF-WINDING, CENTRE-SECONDS, DATE, INTEGRATED BRACELET; “NAUTILUS”; STAINLESS STEEL
HKD 398,000 - 800,000
EUR 51,000 - 102,000 / CHF 50,000 - 100,000 / USD 51,000 - 102,000
Stainless steel, self-winding, vertical cushion-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, water-resistant with case-back screwed by four screws, black colour dial with “Tramé” horizontal stripes and applied radial indexes and luminescent dots, centre-seconds and one horological complication:
· Instantaneous date of the month (aperture at 3 o’clock)
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 2-8 |
Very good Slightly scratched |
Movement: 1* |
As new Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Brand Patek Philippe, Geneva
Model “Nautilus”
Reference 3800 / 1
Year 1993
Movement No. 1 931 169
Case No. 2 910 578
Material stainless steel
Bracelet integrated stainless steel PP “Nautilus” bracelet with deployant clasp
Length 175 mm. (approx.)
Caliber 330 SC, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, Geneva Quality Hall Mark
Dimensions 38.9 x 37.7 mm.
Weight 92.1 gr. (approx.)
Signature dial, case and movement
Accessories later PP fitted box (inside in fair condition); Extract from the Archives
Notes
Patek Philippe, “Nautilus”
Launched in 1976, during the quartz crisis, the “Nautilus” was designed by Gérald Genta (1931-2011). The shape of its case, very avant-garde for the time, reminds a porthole. It was named after Captain Nemo’s fictitious submarine, in Jules Verne’s famous book “Twenty Miles Under the Sea”.
Produced from 1981 to 2006, the Nautilus Ref. 3800 is considered as the “little sister” of the Ref. 3700, the very first “Nautilus” having been designed five years earlier. The Ref. 3700 has a 42 mm. cushion-shaped case, known as the “Jumbo” size. The Ref. 3800 measures only 37 mm. in diameter but retains exactly the same spirit as its ancestor: an extra-flat cushion-shaped case, a bluish grey dial with horizontal stripes and the date at 3 o’clock. The only difference, except the size of the case, is a centre-seconds hand, which is not included in Ref. 3700.
The “Nautilus” being considered as the sport-chic wristwatch by Patek Philippe, it was predominantly created in steel with a few exceptions, in gold, or in steel and gold. However, versions in platinum, like this lot are extremely rare.
Early models feature Calibre 335 SC without the quick-set date feature through the crown. The quick-date only arrives in 1987, while keeping the Calibre 335 SC. In 1992, a third generation was introduced featuring Calibre 330-134, and finally Calibre 330-194 was employed for the watches made from 1997 to 2006, year of discontinuation.
The dial is a “sigma dial”, meaning the index-markers and hands are manufactured from white gold. From 1971 until 1995, all watches made in Switzerland with gold applied indexes or gold dial plates were required to have the “APRIOR” (Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l’Or) logo marked on the dial. Hence, on the dial on each side of the “SWISS”, there is the Greek letter “sigma”.
Therefore, this model from 1993 represents the transition to the 2nd generation of Ref. 3800 with a “sigma dial” and equipped with 330-SC calibre.