Patek Philippe
Nautilus 3800 Mid-Size
3800/1A
The Nautilus scaled for versatility — mid-size steel for a quarter-century.
An estimate from current market data — not an offer. Your actual value depends on condition, completeness, and authentication.
Get an instant offerFree insured shipping. Paid within 48 hours of inspection.
Overview
The Patek Philippe Nautilus 3800/1A is the stainless-steel, mid-size expression of Gerald Genta's iconic porthole-inspired design, measuring 37.5 mm across the case. Positioned between the original full-size 3700 and smaller ladies' references, it offered a proportion that appealed to a broad range of wrists without compromising the line's signature integrated-bracelet architecture. Powered by the in-house Calibre 335 SC, it combined the sporting aesthetic of the Nautilus with reliable, self-winding timekeeping.
History
The 3800 series entered production in 1981, arriving as the Nautilus line was already establishing itself as a benchmark for luxury sport watches. The stainless-steel 3800/1A remained in continuous production for roughly 25 years, a remarkable run that reflects both enduring collector demand and Patek Philippe's confidence in the reference. Over its long production life the reference was offered in several dial variants — including black, blue, and white — each subtly shifting the character of the watch while retaining the embossed horizontal-stripe motif that defines the Nautilus family. Its discontinuation around 2006 has since elevated the 3800/1A to a sought-after position among Nautilus collectors.
Notable points
- 37.5 mm stainless-steel case with the Nautilus's characteristic rounded octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet.
- Calibre 335 SC: an automatic movement with a rotor visible through the exhibition-style architecture of the case back.
- Dial variants across the production run include black, blue, and white, all sharing the embossed horizontal-stripe decoration.
- Produced continuously from 1981 to approximately 2006 — one of the longest production spans of any Nautilus reference.
- The mid-size format bridged the original 3700 and the smaller ladies' Nautilus, broadening the line's appeal across wrist sizes.
Specifications
Related watches
