Patek Philippe Nautilus 'Midsize' Ref. 3800/1J - Blue 'Sigma' Dial

The Nautilus. Another Gerald Genta horological icon, sibling to the Royal Oak, and conductor of the Hype Train. Now that we have that out of the way, how did a brand like Patek Philippe get so famous for a steel time-only watch? Well, by accident. The Stern family, which still owns Patek, was constantly being asked back in the late 60s to make a steel sports watch. It turns out that loyal collectors of the brand who would buy their high complication watches and precious metal dress pieces had become so loyal to Patek - that they would only wear wristwatches from the illustrious brand. Not one to disappoint their well-heeled clientele, Gerald Genta was commissioned to design a sports watch worthy of the Patek name. Much like the Royal Oak, the steel case was treated to a wide variety of complex finishing techniques normally reserved for precious metals. While this was a sports piece, it was still to be a Patek Philippe above all else. Unlike the far more rugged Royal Oak, the Nautilus has gentler curves - and certainly no exposed bolts or rivets (can you imagine!).

What we have here is a Reference 3800 — the 'midsize' variant of the first Reference of Nautilus, the 3700. Coming in at 37mm in diameter, these pieces retain all of the exceptional looks, feel, and brand pedigree of the 'Jumbo' sibling, in a slightly more digestible package. This particular example comes to us in fantastic overall condition, with the case, bracelet, and bezel have been professionally restored to factory specification, with defined finishing throughout. It shows very light signs of wear and the bracelet is stretch-free. The dial within is also fantastic. The 'teak' surface is seemingly devoid of any visible wear or patina and retains that gorgeous blue gradient colorway. The Tritium within the applied yellow gold indices also exhibit an attractive patina, which is matches nicely in the handset.

The 37mm size lends itself to, we think, a more comfortable wearing experience for more people. In fact, we'd say virtually any wrist, versus the way the full size 41mm 'Jumbo' which can fit a little odd on some wrists due to how flat it is. These watches strike the perfect balance between the size and value proposition that a vintage Nautilus can offer.

As the saying goes: "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation." This one is ready for it's next lucky caretaker.