213 Patek Philippe Extremely Rare and Astonishing Nautilus “Jumbo” Automatic Wristwatch in Steel, Reference 3700/1, White Khanjar Logo Made for the Sultanate of Oman, With Extract from the Archives

Estimate: € 250,000 –⁠ 500,000

Sold € 338,000

Model: Nautilus
Reference: 3700/1
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
Year: 1978
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 28-255C
Case N°: 536187
Movement N°: 1304896
Dimensions: 42 mm
Signed: Dial, movement and case
Accessories: Extract from the Archives

The Patek Philippe reference 3700/1 here offered takes a very prestigious position as being one of the rarest, most exclusive, and certainly the one of most coveted examples of Nautilus ever offered at auction. Fresh to the market, the present lot not only is a highly important new discovery of Nautilus in stainless steel but is part of a very limited series of specimens made under special order for the Royal household of the Sultanate of Oman as testified by the white Khanjar logo at 6 o’clock.This “Khanjar” watch was for sure commissioned to the retailer Asprey of New Bond Street in London since no official watch agents were available in Oman, making necessary to go directly abroad to obtain such a precious piece.Until the appearance of the present watch, only three examples in stainless steel have appeared to the market:- the first bearing case no. 536’201 and movement no. 1’304’954 was sold by Christie’s, Geneva, on 14 May 2012, lot 315.- the second with the immediately preceding case number of 536’200 and movement number of only two digits difference, 1’304’952, was sold by Christie’s, Dubai, on 19 October 2016, lot 137.- the third had case no. 536'186 and movement no. 1'304'895, sold by Christie’s, Geneva, on 20 May 2020, lot 96.The latter one is precisely one number away for both case and movement from the lot offered today, which has case no. 536'187 and movement no. 1'304'896. Both these watches were manufactured in 1978 and subsequently sold on 31 July 1978 as confirmed by the extract from the archives, as a testimony that were part of a special order for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.It is interesting to notice that all four of these exceptional Nautilus watches have serial numbers within close proximity of each other, all between 536'185 and 536’201, suggesting that the specimens produced with this unique dial could be less than 20 units.This particular example is preserved in very notable conditions, with very limited signs of wear and never having been polished, the sharp bevels, angles and curves are perfectly preserved. The dial is surely original and absent of any restorations, with beautifully patina of aging spreading all over, around the luminous baton hour markers and in the lower part of the dial.The present lot’s historical significance, royal provenance and rarity make it one of the most exciting and important Patek Philippe Nautilus watches, a must-have for both the Nautilus collector and the collector of Omani designated watches.