Patek PhilippeNautilus Watch 3700/1

The one that started it all, the reference 3700 launched the Nautilus onto the luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet scene in 1976. Designed by Gerald Genta and unlike anything Patek Philippe had produced up until that point, the Nautilus 3700 featured a porthole-shaped stainless steel case, a rounded octagonal bezel, a time and date dial decorated with nautical-themed horizontal grooves, and an integrated steel bracelet that paired seamlessness with the case. The 42mm span from “ear to ear” of the case was large for the era and the Nautilus 3700 quickly became known as the “Jumbo.” As a watch made for the boat life, it also boasted an impressive 120 meters of water resistance.

This example of the stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700/01 features a black dial with white gold applied hour markers and white gold hands. There’s the customary date window at the 3 o’clock position and the watch is powered by the famous ultra-slim Caliber 28-255C automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve. While all Nautilus 3700 models are rare (it’s estimated that only 4,800 examples of the steel Nautilus Jumbo were made), even more special is that this is a double-signed Nautilus 3700 with the “BEYER” inscription on the dial, which makes this version even rarer.

Finally, the cork box that came with the original Nautilus 3700 is almost as collectible as the watch itself, gaining mythical status in the vintage watch world. This pre-owned Patek Philippe Nautilus Watch 3700/1 with a “Beyer” signed dial comes with papers and the collectible Patek Philippe cork box. To own the original Nautilus reference is to own a piece of Patek Philippe history.