Patek Philippe Nautilus 'Lucky Thirteen', Reference 3710/1A-001 | A stainless...
Dial: black, XIII numeral
Calibre: cal. 330 SC IZR automatic, 30 jewels
Movement number: 3'231'384
Case: stainless steel, bezel secured by 4 screws
Case number: 4'175'408
Closure: stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet and folding clasp
Size: 42 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 175 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on February 17, 2004, leather bifold and presentation box with outer packaging
Catalogue Note:
Introduced in 1998, the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3710/1A marked the return of the full sized “Jumbo” format and became the first Nautilus to feature a complication beyond the date. Produced exclusively in stainless steel until 2006, it is distinguished by its black dial with applied Roman numerals and an unusual state of wind indication between 11 and 12 o’clock, earning it the nickname “Comet”.
The present watch, however, is anything but a conventional reference 3710. At 8 o’clock, where the Roman numeral VIII would ordinarily appear, the dial instead displays XIII, giving rise to its celebrated “Lucky Thirteen” nickname. According to the account published when the watch was previously offered at auction, the dial was specially commissioned by a collector who considered thirteen a particularly fortunate number. Examination of both sides of the dial reportedly revealed no evidence of alteration following its completion at Stern Créations, the historic dial maker associated with Patek Philippe. Remarkably subtle, the substitution preserves the balance of the dial, allowing this extraordinary detail to escape notice at first glance.
Powered by the automatic calibre 330 SC IZR, the reference combines central seconds and date with its characteristic state of wind indication. Yet the fascination of the present watch lies in something far more personal than its mechanical complexity. In a world governed by precision, symmetry and tradition, a collector’s belief in the luck of thirteen gave rise to one of the most unusual interpretations of the Nautilus. A seemingly insignificant change of numeral transforms a familiar design into a watch with an entirely individual story.
Consigned by an important European collector, the watch is complete with its its Certificate of Origin and presentation box.
Provenance:
Phillips, Geneva, November 2015, Lot 214
Dial: black, XIII numeral
Calibre: cal. 330 SC IZR automatic, 30 jewels
Movement number: 3'231'384
Case: stainless steel, bezel secured by 4 screws
Case number: 4'175'408
Closure: stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet and folding clasp
Size: 42 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 175 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on February 17, 2004, leather bifold and presentation box with outer packaging
Catalogue Note:
Introduced in 1998, the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3710/1A marked the return of the full sized “Jumbo” format and became the first Nautilus to feature a complication beyond the date. Produced exclusively in stainless steel until 2006, it is distinguished by its black dial with applied Roman numerals and an unusual state of wind indication between 11 and 12 o’clock, earning it the nickname “Comet”.
The present watch, however, is anything but a conventional reference 3710. At 8 o’clock, where the Roman numeral VIII would ordinarily appear, the dial instead displays XIII, giving rise to its celebrated “Lucky Thirteen” nickname. According to the account published when the watch was previously offered at auction, the dial was specially commissioned by a collector who considered thirteen a particularly fortunate number. Examination of both sides of the dial reportedly revealed no evidence of alteration following its completion at Stern Créations, the historic dial maker associated with Patek Philippe. Remarkably subtle, the substitution preserves the balance of the dial, allowing this extraordinary detail to escape notice at first glance.
Powered by the automatic calibre 330 SC IZR, the reference combines central seconds and date with its characteristic state of wind indication. Yet the fascination of the present watch lies in something far more personal than its mechanical complexity. In a world governed by precision, symmetry and tradition, a collector’s belief in the luck of thirteen gave rise to one of the most unusual interpretations of the Nautilus. A seemingly insignificant change of numeral transforms a familiar design into a watch with an entirely individual story.
Consigned by an important European collector, the watch is complete with its its Certificate of Origin and presentation box.
Provenance:
Phillips, Geneva, November 2015, Lot 214
