Nautilus, 3800/1A, Stainless Steel, Undated Papers

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 3800 takes Gérald Genta’s original Nautilus design and compresses it into 37.5mm. Introduced in 1981, five years after the original 3700, it retained the porthole case, integrated bracelet and horizontally embossed dial while bringing the Nautilus to a smaller proportion that feels particularly relevant today.

This example pairs the steel case and bracelet with the blue dial that has become inseparable from the early Nautilus aesthetic. Beneath it sits Patek Philippe’s automatic calibre 335 SC, adding central seconds and a date to the format while keeping the case remarkably slim. The two piece case construction preserves the broad, uninterrupted shape that gives these early Nautilus references their distinctive profile.

The 3800 offers something the later, larger Nautilus generations cannot recreate: the proportions and construction of an early reference in a size that now feels deliberate rather than small. It is recognisably descended from the 3700, but its dimensions give it an identity of its own.

Our Patek Philippe 3800/1A is presented in very good condition, showing light signs of wear and previous polishing. It is supplied as a complete set with its original Patek Philippe box, book pack and period correct open papers, as expected of a vintage example. It further benefits from a recent Patek Philippe service completed in 2026, therefore covered by a two year Patek Philippe service warranty.