PATEK PHILIPPE Nautilus early « baton minute track » 3700/01A large set
The presented timepiece is a very early original Jumbo sold in 1977. It comes with a large set except the original guarantee.
Serial/movement: 1,303,xxx/xxx.929
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. The first version of the dial had a minute track with hash aka « baton minute track » later replaced by dots from around September 1977 onwards. In the classification of the scholar mstanga in « a study of Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700 » this is a dial «type 1». Only about 40 surfaced to the market so far. The dial color has turned into a deep blue which is a patina evolution from its manufacturing time. Superb condition with applied indexes in white gold. The tritium of the original hands and index has aged beautifully and works perfectly glowing green then vanishing.
Case: The bezel is very thick preserving its initial proportions of the porthole pattern which is characteristic of the Nautilus reference. The number 929 is engraved in the hinge of the bezel matching the last 3 digit of the case and proving it is original.
Bracelet: large bracelet (/01A) with 17 links. It is no longer holding up but is absolutely not distended. It is estimated that 2500 Nautilus ref.3700 were made with this large bracelet /01A out of a total of 3500 Nautilus in steel.
Box / papers: the watch comes with its original cover box, original black leather & beige velvet box typical of this early Nautilus, copy of the original purchase receipt, 2022 Patek Philippe service papers and extract from the archives.
This is one of the truly rare opportunity to grab a complete set of this legendary watch in such a beautiful condition.
