Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Nautilus Wristwatch Ref 3800 circa 1987
About the Item
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Case Dimensions:Width: 1.46 in (37 mm)Length: 1.54 in (39 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1987
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Munich, DE
- Reference Number:Seller: 151831stDibs: LU525289392
Patek Philippe
It shouldn’t be surprising that a Patek Philippe holds the world auction record for a watch ($31.2 million for a Patek Grandmaster Chime, sold at Christie’s). Known for impeccable craftsmanship and some of the most complicated timepieces ever created, the brand is considered by many to be the height of fine watchmaking. Collectors simply love Patek Philippe watches.
The house was founded in Geneva in 1839 by Polish expats Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. Czapek left the firm, and in 1845, Patek partnered with French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Catering to the glitterati of Europe, the pair counted among their clients Tolstoy, Pope Pius IX and Queen Victoria, as well as Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, for whom they created the first Swiss-made wristwatch in 1868. They also had their eye on the American market and in 1851 entered an arrangement with Tiffany Co. still in effect today.
During the Great Depression, brothers Jean and Charles Stern, who had previously supplied Patek Philippe with watch dials, bought the company, and it continues to be run by the Stern family today.
Under the Sterns, the house has developed some of its most famous models, including the Calatrava, an elegantly minimal dress watch introduced in 1932 and named for the Calatrava Cross (the company’s logo since 1887), and the Nautilus, the brand’s first sports watch, conceived by legendary designer Gérald Genta in 1976.
Despite the house’s longevity, it’s rumored that it has manufactured fewer than a million Patek watches, making each one all the more coveted. (The brand's pieces are understandably attractive to counterfeiters — make sure you know how to spot a fake Patek Philippe watch.)
Find authentic Patek Philippe watches, cufflinks, bracelets and more on 1stDibs today.
You May Also Like
Late 20th Century Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Wrist Watches
18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Vintage 1960s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
White Gold
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
White Gold
Vintage 1930s Swiss Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Still Thinking About These?
All Recently ViewedRead More
Patek Philippe’s Calatrava Watch Is an Icon of Understated Elegance
Launched in 1932, the model has become emblematic of quality craftsmanship and timeless design.
Globe Hopper? This Patek Philippe Watch Can Give You the Time in 24 Cities
A true icon of the much-coveted category of World Time watches, this rare model represents an important milestone in the history of one of the brand's signature complications.