Forget about the ‘Jumbo’ Nautilus. The mid-size 3800 Nautilus is perfection and the factory diamond setting on this exceedingly beautiful ref. 3800/3 is just the icing on the cake!

Patek Philippe introduced the ref. 3800 as the midsize brother of the original ref. 3700 Nautilus, clocking in at a diameter of 37.5 mm. The 3800 wasn’t just a shrunken Nautilus, but introduced some important improvements vis-à-vis its big brother. For instance, the 3800 was the first Nautilus to feature an in-house automatic movement: the caliber 335 SC. Unlike the ‘Jumbo’ Nautilus, the 3800 also came with a central seconds hand (as indicated by the “SC”, which stands for seconde centrale). While this might seem like a minute (pun intended) detail, the sweeping seconds adds loads of dynamism to the original Nautilus’ rather static dial.

The iconic Gerald Genta designed case and integrated bracelet on this mid-size Nautilus are executed in 18k yellow-gold. The 3800/3 is an uncommon sub-reference of the 3800 that features a factory-set diamond bezel. Furthermore, the traditional baton markers on the dial are replaced with factory-set brilliant cut diamonds.

This exceptional reference 3800/3 Nautilus dates back to 1987, as indicated by the original Certificate of Origine and is accompanied by its wooden Patek Philippe box. We notice some light wearing marks on the bracelet and case, but we can't deny that this piece is in an incredible condition. Given the tight bracelet and thick case proportions with sharp hallmarks, it has been only enjoyed carefully.