100th Auction

2019/11/15

Lot 20

Patek Philippe Genève, "Nautilus Jumbo", Movement No. 1304770, Case No. 537323, Ref. 3700/1, Cal. 28-255C, 42 x 44 mm, 202 g, circa 1978
A heavy vintage automatic Geneva wristwatch with date, sold on December 22nd, 1978 - with Patek Philippe extract from the archives
Case: 18k gold, screwed on bezel, case back with noble family crest and dedication engraving, 18k gold PPC bracelet by Gay Frères, bracelet length 145 mm, total length 185 mm. Dial: black, bar texture, applied gold indexes.
In 1976 Patek Philippe launched its first Nautilus model. At this time, luxury sports watches are expected to be as thin as possible, so this large watch with its brawny ship's porthole design is completely novel. The first model of the collection is the Ref. 3700/1; a Swiss patent is awarded for its water-resistant case (up to 120 meters). In 1978 the steel version of this model had a price of 5,450 D-Mark, the gold version came to 16,800 D-Mark - at the time only a little less than a Mercedes-Benz 200 D would cost.
This timepiece has a wonderful, slightly iridescent dial in an elegant charcoal-grey hue. The case is in exceptionally good condition with a firm bracelet and virtually no signs of wear - a watch that has been used with utmost care and which is a rare find even among the most passionate collectors of Patek Philippe timepieces.

Sold

estimated
100.000150.000 €
Price realized
120.000 €