With the Replica Patek Philippe x Tiffany co-branded Ref.5711/1A-018 watch fetching a high price of $6.5 million at the Phillips auction in December last year, the market for Nautilus watches has become more and more hot. Market enthusiasm has sparked public interest in exploring the rich history of this iconic collection, which includes many refined and rare models such as the Ref.
The Nautilus’s illustrious reputation stems mainly from stainless steel models, but rare platinum models are also favored. Although this watch is small in diameter, only 37.5 mm, it is made of platinum precious metal, so it is quite heavy to get started. Compared with the predecessor Ref.3700, the Ref.3800 is smaller in size and still has a slender silhouette, which better combines elegance and fortitude. In this regard, the precise automatic movement played a crucial role, and at the same time, the watch also introduced a central seconds hand.
The uniqueness of this Ref.3800/1 watch is the refined grey dial that perfectly complements the platinum case and bracelet. Even by the eyes of the year, the watch looks very modern. This rare dial is an original configuration, which has been around since the 1980s. However, watches with such dials, especially platinum watches, are very rare. This watch may even be an orphan, because as far as is known, there is no Ref.3800/1 watch with the exact same configuration.
In 2018, Phillips sold the watch for CHF 212,500, which was estimated to be CHF 80,000 to CHF 120,000. Just a few short years ago, this was a sizable investment. There is no doubt that the consignor will be rewarded handsomely if the watch is once again on the auction market. With public interest in the Nautilus collection at an all-time high, even modest models command impressive premiums, and this rarity is hard to come by.
