PATEK PHILIPPE Nautilus 3700/01A
The presented timepiece is one of the earliest example of an icon: the original Nautilus « Jumbo » sold for the first time in 1977. It matches the advertisement Patek Philippe did for the launch of the model featuring a very specific dial with a hashed minute track or « batons minute track ». To the present date only 34 of these have surfaced to the market obeying to specific movement and case numbers which makes them very rare and special. This one comes with its extract from the archives confirming those numbers.
Serial/movement: 1,303,xxx/xxx.926 (it has to be 1,303,xxx or earlier).
Dial: Patek Philippe has asked to the designer Gerald Genta to come up with a deep blue/grey dial reflecting «the true color of the ocean» for this water sports watch. This first version (MK1) of the dial with a hashed minute track aka « batons minute track » was later replaced by dots from around July 1977 onwards. In the classification of the scholar mstanga in « a study of Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700 » this is a dial «type 1». Estimations based on production assumptions of the 3700 in steel were that about 180 were made but so far only 34 surfaced! The dial has caught a deep blue patina with time and unlike other MK1 dials it has remained in a superb condition with only small oxidations close to some applied white gold indexes. The tritium of the original hands and index has aged beautifully and works perfectly glowing green then vanishing.
Case: incredible case and bezel condition. The bezel has iretained its initial thick proportions of the porthole pattern which is characteristic of the Nautilus reference. One of the last 3 digits of the case (926) can be found in the hinge of the bezel. A refined evidence proving the originality of the bezel that one can only find with Patek.
Bracelet: large bracelet (/01A) is in good condition and although it losts the rigidity it had 45 years ago it is still standing up. The first generation clasp is matching the production year. 18 links.
An absolutely stunning example of the legendary watch that should belong to any curated collection.