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Lot Essay
The present Nautilus represents the extremely rare opportunity for collectors to acquire an example of the legendary ref. 3700/11 sold with the duplicata of the Certificate of Origin, the Nautilus cork box and outer packaging, all rarities by themselves. Fresh to the market and preserved in excellent overall condition it was consigned by the descendant of the original owner who, faithful to Patek Philippe's motto, had indeed merely looked after it for the next generation.
The high collectability of this Nautilus is further enhanced by the fact that it was retailed by Beyer in Zurich, one of the longest standing and most revered watch retailers worldwide. The specific Beyer reference number for this watch is finely engraved to the underside of the top left lug.
The partnership between Patek Philippe and Beyer Chronometrie dates back to the Geneva-based manufacturer's earliest years. It is the longest-standing relationship forged by either company – and, since the Stern family took over Patek Philippe in 1932, one of the most personal: the two have always been connected by more than just business. And so Beyer Chronometrie – and Zurich – was awarded the honour in July 2011 of opening the first (and to-date only) retailer-managed Patek Philippe Boutique in Switzerland. A five-strong team ensures that nothing is left to chance in creating an atmosphere of sophistication.
Patek Philippe and Beyer have harboured the desire to jointly operate a boutique in Zurich for many years. Already two generations earlier, Henry Stern and Theodor Beyer had nurtured this dream, which came true in 2011. The Geneva-based manufacture was founded in 1839, and Beyer has been selling these top-quality timepieces since around 1842. The collaboration between the two companies has been very intensive from the start. In 1880, Adelrich Beyer was apprenticed to Patek Philippe and also met his future wife there. In turn, the present-day CEO of Patek Philippe, Thierry Stern, spent time at Beyer to gain some practical experience.
Reference 3700
Reference 3700/1 was equipped with calibre 28-255 C based on a Jaeger-LeCoultre ébauche, the best thin automatic movement at that time. The cases were manufactured by Favre-Perret and they existed in stainless steel, steel and gold, 18K yellow, white gold and platinum, the dials were hand made by the highly skilled Stern Frères creators.
In 1980 Patek Philippe launched the manufacture of cases and bracelets in their Ateliers Réunis workshops and the Nautilus changed its reference number to the new ref. 3700-11. The new stainless steel used is called "Chrome-Nickel-Moybdenum steel" and the deployant clasp of the bracelet has been reduced to 16 mm., from 18 mm. of the previous reference.
Patek Philippe automatic movement caliber 28-255
Another of the many attractions of the Nautilus Ref. 3700/1 for the watch aficionado is that from the very beginning it was fitted with what is generally agreed to be one of the great watch calibers – the 28-255. Based on the original Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 920 of 1967 it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and refined automatic movements ever produced. It is also very thin at only 3.15 mm., therefore highly appropriate for the slim and elegant Nautilus. The development of the caliber 920 was partly jointly financed by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. Audemars Piguet fitted their version, now the revered caliber 2120 into the Royal Oak, a further shared familial link with the Nautilus. Vacheron Constantin’s version became their caliber 1120.
The caliber is 12.5 lignes and has 36 jewels and 19,800 vibrations. It is supplied with the shock-protected free-sprung Gyromax balance with eight rotatable weights allowing rate adjustment without the need for a conventional regulator index. The winding rotor is formed from a beryllium ring with 21K gold rim, this clever design with four additional ruby rollers to support the rotor around its periphery allows the thinness of the movement to remain uncompromised.
In 1981 to coincide with the launch of a new Nautilus reference, the mid-size 3800/1A, Patek Philippe introduced its own new slim automatic caliber, the 335 SC with centre seconds feature.
For illustrations and descriptions of the Nautilus see Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Volume II; Patek Philippe Steel Watches by John Goldberger and A Study of the Patek Philippe Ref. 3700 “Nautilus” by mstanga.
The high collectability of this Nautilus is further enhanced by the fact that it was retailed by Beyer in Zurich, one of the longest standing and most revered watch retailers worldwide. The specific Beyer reference number for this watch is finely engraved to the underside of the top left lug.
The partnership between Patek Philippe and Beyer Chronometrie dates back to the Geneva-based manufacturer's earliest years. It is the longest-standing relationship forged by either company – and, since the Stern family took over Patek Philippe in 1932, one of the most personal: the two have always been connected by more than just business. And so Beyer Chronometrie – and Zurich – was awarded the honour in July 2011 of opening the first (and to-date only) retailer-managed Patek Philippe Boutique in Switzerland. A five-strong team ensures that nothing is left to chance in creating an atmosphere of sophistication.
Patek Philippe and Beyer have harboured the desire to jointly operate a boutique in Zurich for many years. Already two generations earlier, Henry Stern and Theodor Beyer had nurtured this dream, which came true in 2011. The Geneva-based manufacture was founded in 1839, and Beyer has been selling these top-quality timepieces since around 1842. The collaboration between the two companies has been very intensive from the start. In 1880, Adelrich Beyer was apprenticed to Patek Philippe and also met his future wife there. In turn, the present-day CEO of Patek Philippe, Thierry Stern, spent time at Beyer to gain some practical experience.
Reference 3700
Reference 3700/1 was equipped with calibre 28-255 C based on a Jaeger-LeCoultre ébauche, the best thin automatic movement at that time. The cases were manufactured by Favre-Perret and they existed in stainless steel, steel and gold, 18K yellow, white gold and platinum, the dials were hand made by the highly skilled Stern Frères creators.
In 1980 Patek Philippe launched the manufacture of cases and bracelets in their Ateliers Réunis workshops and the Nautilus changed its reference number to the new ref. 3700-11. The new stainless steel used is called "Chrome-Nickel-Moybdenum steel" and the deployant clasp of the bracelet has been reduced to 16 mm., from 18 mm. of the previous reference.
Patek Philippe automatic movement caliber 28-255
Another of the many attractions of the Nautilus Ref. 3700/1 for the watch aficionado is that from the very beginning it was fitted with what is generally agreed to be one of the great watch calibers – the 28-255. Based on the original Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 920 of 1967 it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and refined automatic movements ever produced. It is also very thin at only 3.15 mm., therefore highly appropriate for the slim and elegant Nautilus. The development of the caliber 920 was partly jointly financed by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. Audemars Piguet fitted their version, now the revered caliber 2120 into the Royal Oak, a further shared familial link with the Nautilus. Vacheron Constantin’s version became their caliber 1120.
The caliber is 12.5 lignes and has 36 jewels and 19,800 vibrations. It is supplied with the shock-protected free-sprung Gyromax balance with eight rotatable weights allowing rate adjustment without the need for a conventional regulator index. The winding rotor is formed from a beryllium ring with 21K gold rim, this clever design with four additional ruby rollers to support the rotor around its periphery allows the thinness of the movement to remain uncompromised.
In 1981 to coincide with the launch of a new Nautilus reference, the mid-size 3800/1A, Patek Philippe introduced its own new slim automatic caliber, the 335 SC with centre seconds feature.
For illustrations and descriptions of the Nautilus see Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Volume II; Patek Philippe Steel Watches by John Goldberger and A Study of the Patek Philippe Ref. 3700 “Nautilus” by mstanga.