Beschreibung:

Patek Philippe Ref. 3700/1
Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1978 Reference No: 3700/1 Movement No: 1'306'579 Case No: 540'643 Model Name: "Jumbo" Nautilus "Oman" Material: 18k white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 28-255C, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18k white gold bracelet Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm. Width Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by fitted presentation box and Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of production in 1978 and date of sale on January 14, 1980 Literature: The present watch is illustrated in The Collection by Davide Parmegiani page 217 Catalogue Essay The present Patek Philippe reference 3700 takes a very prestigious position as being amongst the rarest, most exclusive, and certainly the most coveted examples of a Nautilus ever offered at auction. Amongst its many virtues, its bold, white Khanjar at 6 o’clock makes it an extraordinary watch of Royal provenance – and amongst the rarest of all Khanjar watches known to exist. At a similar level of importance, it further stands out with a solid 18-karat white gold case and bracelet – an exceptionally rare and ultra-luxurious configuration for such an early Nautilus. Manufactured in 1978, the present lot is one of less than 10 white gold examples to have appeared at auction since the model’s original launch in 1976. Made on special commission for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, this “Khanjar” watch was without a doubt given by him as a gift to a close, high-ranking associate or foreign dignitary. According to scholarship, the tradition of gifting watches by His Majesty began following his defeat of the Dhofar Rebellion working in partnership with the British government. As an expression of his gratitude to the teams of Britain’s elite Special Forces branch, the SAS, he presented “Khanjar” watches to the SAS soldiers who were instrumental in defeating the rebellion. Shortly after the victory, His Majesty commemorated the occasion by surmounting the Khanjar with a crown. All watches made for him since then feature this attractive, crowned Khanjar. As there were no authorized retailers in Oman at the time, nearly all of these watches were ordered and sold through Asprey London. On rare occasion, very few were sold through Asprey Geneva, as the present lot. Accordingly, the watch is accompanied by its original box, stamped with the identical crowned Khanjar as found on the watch’s dial. On the box’s inside cover, the prestigious stamp ‘Asprey, 40 Rue du Rhone, Geneva’ is found. This particular example is preserved in exceptional condition. With hardly any signs of wear and never having been polished, the sharp bevels, angles and curves are perfectly preserved. The dial is original and absent of any restorations, with beautifully aged luminous baton hour markers that match perfectly the original hands. The Extract from the Archives of course confirms the case and bracelet as white gold, as well as the dial, with its steel baton hour markers. The present lot’s historical significance, royal provenance, immaculate condition, and, superb rarity make it one of the most exciting and important Patek Philippe Nautilus watches to appear at auction in recent years. Read More