Patek Philippe Nautilus 3800 'Vibrant Blue'

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Is the ‘Jumbo’ Nautilus too large for your wrist or wallet? No worries, we got you covered with the mid-size ref. 3800.

The ref. 3800 is the midsize brother of the original ref. 3700 Nautilus, coming in at a perfect 37.5mm. The 3800 wasn’t just a shrunken Nautilus, but introduced some important improvements vis-a-vis its older brother. For one, it was the first Nautilus with an in-house automatic movement: the caliber 335 SC. The letters “SC” stand for seconde centrale and indicate that, unlike the big Nautilus, the 3800 comes with a central seconds hand. It’s a small detail but it gives the watch some dynamism.

This beauty from 1982 features a number of important details that can only be found in the earliest 3800s, during.a small batch. Most important among them is the dial color: a lovely vivacious blue that is much more vibrant than the ‘regular’ blue 3800 dials. Another cool detail is the black date disc with contrasting white text. Meanwhile, two printed Greek sigmas (“σ swiss σ”) at the six o’clock position indicate that the indices and hands are made of 18K white gold.

This 3800 is in excellent condition with a sharp case. The bracelet, a later service replacement, is in fine condition as well, featuring moderate stretch and the upgraded butterfly clasp. Supplied with the extract of the archives.

Introduction

Patek PhilippePatek Philippe’s mechanical masterpieces are usually made from precious metals but its sporty steel Nautilus and Aquanaut lines have been popular as well since their introduction in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively.NautilusAfter the roaring success of Audemars Piguet’s Gerald Genta-designed Royal Oak, Patek decided that it also needed its own luxury steel sports watch.As the story goes, Gerald Genta drew the initial design of the Nautilus while observing a group of Patek executives having dinner during the Baselworld watch fair. When the Nautilus was introduced in 1976 it was advertised as a watch that worked equally well with a wet suit as with a dinner suit. Not quite incidentally, it was also the most expensive steel sports watch available in the market.Ever since the very first Nautilus, the Patek and Nautilus names have become inseparable. Over the years, many variations, with different materials, dial colors and layouts, and complications, have been added to the Nautilus lineup. However, Genta’s original design elements have remained in all these executions: a rounded octagonal bezel inspired by the portholes of a ship with ‘ears’ on the sides of the case that look like the hinges of a porthole.

Specifications

Shipping

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping by insured courier. Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped by private courier, PostNL, FedEx or Ferrari group; depending the value and destination. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For all destinations tracking is available.