Released in 1976 as Patek Philippe's response to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, an avant-garde luxury stainless steel sports watch borne from AP's necessity to survive the Quartz Crisis, the Nautilus was Patek Philippe's attempt to go head to head with AP's increasingly popular sports watch. Designed by Gerald Genta, the same man that had created the Royal Oak, the Nautilus was inspired by a porthole and thus features a rounded-over octagonal bezel and hinge-like protrusions on either side of its case. Featuring its signature horizontally embossed dial and iconic integrated bracelet, the Nautilus has become the most sought-after watch in the market today as collectors clamor over examples thanks to its iconic design, extreme exclusivity, and impeccable craftsmanship.

Long established as one of the most iconic watches of all time, it is often forgotten that the Patek Philippe Nautilus did not receive a positive reaction upon its release on account of its large 42mm case and sporty design that contradicted Patek’s market positioning at the time. Knowing these aspects were turning away most potential customers, Patek Philippe decided to debut a rather unique variant of the Nautilus that leaned on one of their better-known models, the Golden Ellipse. Launched in 1980, the ref. 3770 that we have here blended the Golden Ellipse’s oval-shaped case construction with the Nautilus’ overarching deisgn to create something truly unique. An oddity that didn’t sell tremendously well, the Nautellipse was produced into the early 1990s and quickly became an afterthought for collectors. Today it represents a quirk of the brand’s history and lives on as a wonderfully whacky piece of Patek heritage. Offered with a silver Tiffany & Co. co-signed dial, this example, complete with its Archive Extract, is the one to have if you are in the market for a special Nautellipse.

Watch is in overall excellent condition. The steel case shows surface scratches and scuffs, while the case back has a few light nicks. The sigma Tiffany & Co.-signed dial is excellent, with a couple of small surface marks and some discoloration to the lume plots. The hands are clean, with light discoloration to the lume. It is fitted with a bracelet showing light surface marks and light play between the links. The original Tiffany hand scratched stock number is still visible on the upper right corner lug. The bracelet is fitted with 20 links, 3 of which are removable, and fits approximately a 7¼” wrist. Comes with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives.