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Patek Philippe Nautilus "Mini"

4700/1

£54,950

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Now available, an extraordinary Patek Philippe Nautilus "Mini" reference 4700/1 in yellow gold, preserved in quite remarkable original condition.

There are exceptional watches, and then there are genuine time capsules. Introduced in the early 1980s, these first-generation 4700 references perfectly captured everything that made the original Jumbo Nautilus so iconic, simply distilled into a beautifully proportioned 27mm case. Unlike the later 4700 references, whose design evolved considerably with elongated bracelet links and a brighter overall aesthetic, these early examples retain the unmistakable character of Gérald Genta's original vision. Finished here with its deep blue Sigma baton dial, this is perhaps the purest expression of the reference, elegant, understated and unmistakably Nautilus.

Condition is everything with vintage Nautilus, and this example is simply extraordinary. Appearing never to have been polished, and very likely never even sized, it remains astonishingly crisp throughout. The beautifully oxidised yellow gold case retains deep, sharp hallmarks, while the bracelet is wonderfully stiff, standing perfectly on its own with no discernible stretch whatsoever. The flawless blue Sigma dial has aged beautifully, while the creamy tritium hour markers and matching tritium-filled hands provide the perfect warmth against the rich yellow gold case. Aside from the faintest signs of careful storage over the decades, this is about as close to new-old-stock as we have ever encountered with this reference.

Offered today as a watch only, with its Extract from the Archives already ordered and to be included within the sale, this is quite simply one of the finest vintage 4700s we have ever had the privilege of handling. In fact, we genuinely believe it could be amongst the very best preserved examples in existence. The watch is available for viewing in London and purchase worldwide. Please get in touch for further information.