Patek Philippe Nautilus Two-Tone Quartz 3900
Although it's perhaps the single hardest watch to get at retail nowadays, Patek Philippe's Nautilus came as a surprise to the industry when it initially launched. Alongside the more aggressive and angular Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, the Nautilus has the illustrious title of being a watch that arguably saved the Swiss watch industry from its darkest times.
In the 1970s, the industry was being outwitted by Japanese quartz watch manufacturers, who produced watches which were not only far more accurate, but also vastly cheaper than their Swiss counterparts. To stymie this decline, watchmakers looked to radically change the nature of the industry. The Royal Oak and Nautilus were infamous for costing over 10 times more than contemporary steel watches, and yet it took a few years for the first references to actually sell out.
The ref. 3900 was Patek Philippe's second quartz Nautilus, being released in 1981. It was designed as a unisex watch for more traditional tastes.
PATEK PHILIPPE
To many, Patek Philippe is the epitome of the high-end watchmaker. Throughout its nearly two centuries' of existence, it has weathered everything from the World Wars to the Quartz Crisis of the 1980s. Even today, it's widely acknowledged to be amongst the most successful and prestigious watchmakers, with its creations gracing wrists of everyone from bankers and politicians to rappers and actors.
Patek Philippe began its life as Patek, Czapek & Cie. in 1839 and made its name by making some of the most accurate watch movements. By the turn of the century, Patek was venturing into the realm of high complications, including split-seconds chronographs, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters. The latter made it into wristwatch-form in 1924 as a piece unique for Ralph Teetor, the inventor of the cruise control function.
In 1932, the company ownership changed hands to the Stern family, who still run Patek Philippe. In that same year, the Calatrava wristwatch was introduced. By the 1970s, seeing the damage which the Quartz Crisis had done to the industry, Patek Philippe decided to introduce a bold new steel watch. Thus, the Nautilus was born.
Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, solidifying its reputation as one of the finest Swiss watchmakers. From the highly-desirable stainless steel sports watches, to the famed high complications, down to the "humble" Calatrava, Patek Philippe proves that it can do it all.
LessAlthough it's perhaps the single hardest watch to get at retail nowadays, Patek Philippe's Nautilus came as a surprise to the industry when it initially launched. Alongside the more aggressive and angular Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, the Nautilus has the illustrious title of being a watch that arguably saved the Swiss watch industry from its darkest times.
In the 1970s, the industry was being outwitted by Japanese quartz watch manufacturers, who produced watches which were not only far more accurate, but also vastly cheaper than their Swiss counterparts. To stymie this decline, watchmakers looked to radically change the nature of the industry. The Royal Oak and Nautilus were infamous for costing over 10 times more than contemporary steel watches, and yet it took a few years for the first references to actually sell out.
The ref. 3900 was Patek Philippe's second quartz Nautilus, being released in 1981. It was designed as a unisex watch for more traditional tastes.
PATEK PHILIPPE
To many, Patek Philippe is the epitome of the high-end watchmaker. Throughout its nearly two centuries' of existence, it has weathered everything from the World Wars to the Quartz Crisis of the 1980s. Even today, it's widely acknowledged to be amongst the most successful and prestigious watchmakers, with its creations gracing wrists of everyone from bankers and politicians to rappers and actors.
Patek Philippe began its life as Patek, Czapek & Cie. in 1839 and made its name by making some of the most accurate watch movements. By the turn of the century, Patek was venturing into the realm of high complications, including split-seconds chronographs, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters. The latter made it into wristwatch-form in 1924 as a piece unique for Ralph Teetor, the inventor of the cruise control function.
In 1932, the company ownership changed hands to the Stern family, who still run Patek Philippe. In that same year, the Calatrava wristwatch was introduced. By the 1970s, seeing the damage which the Quartz Crisis had done to the industry, Patek Philippe decided to introduce a bold new steel watch. Thus, the Nautilus was born.
Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, solidifying its reputation as one of the finest Swiss watchmakers. From the highly-desirable stainless steel sports watches, to the famed high complications, down to the "humble" Calatrava, Patek Philippe proves that it can do it all.