Thoughts on the Nautilus 3800?

[Watchesnyc106]

Hello everyone. Wondering what everyone’s thoughts here were on the Nautilus 3800. It seems to me it has the same bones as the highly sought after 3700 (except for the seconds hand) but just slightly smaller at 37mm. Great potential value?




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[lock0ut]

3800s wear very small.

[GB-man]

If you have a 6” wrist it’s a damn home run.

[BobDyl]

Also check out this thread on the 5800, the modern successor to the 3800. Extremely rare, it was produced for a very short time. I threw in a wrist shot and comparison to the 5711.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...highlight=5800

[.db]

Originally Posted by GB-man

If you have a 6” wrist it’s a damn home run.

Agreed. A friend of mine has one and it looks perfect on his wrist. Feels tiny on mine.

[chows99]

anyone here owned a PP 3800? I have a smallish wrist at 6.5 inch and would like a 3800 since it fits me and its much more afforable for me to join the nautilus game.

Thanks for sharing!

[vintagehartmann]

Originally Posted by chows99

anyone here owned a PP 3800? I have a smallish wrist at 6.5 inch and would like a 3800 since it fits me and its much more afforable for me to join the nautilus game.

Thanks for sharing!

7.08” wrist here. Had the 5711 and thought it was too large. Love the 3800. Same with the 15202 & 14790 wth AP.

You might recognise the surroundings. :-)

[chows99]

Hi, the surrounding looks familiar... In Singapore?

Btw your 3800 diamond markers are just so unique! Love it!

Btw, do you ever have any issues with the 3800 winding stem pulled out issue? There's someone who have this perpetual issue with his 3800 and it can happen as 3800 movement is a spilt stem.

Thanks for sharing

[vintagehartmann]

Yes, that’s Pickering Street!

Had no problems with the crown or anything else so far.

[chows99]

Do you come to Singapore for work trips? I would love to meet you and discuss watches. Let me know. Thanks!

[Passionata]

Originally Posted by vintagehartmann

7.08” wrist here. Had the 5711 and thought it was too large. Love the 3800. Same with the 15202 & 14790 wth AP.

You might recognise the surroundings. :-)
]

Perfect proportions !

[chows99]

Alot people here dissed 3800 though... Say it's feminine and like a bracelet... Really pouring cold water...

[cascavel]

Originally Posted by chows99

Alot people here dissed 3800 though... Say it's feminine and like a bracelet... Really pouring cold water...

I don't understand the idea that the 3800 is to small or that it's a woman's watch, not that there's anything wrong with that. Twenty years ago it was marketed as a man's watch and today the most expensive vintage stainless steel watch, the manual wind Daytona, is of approximately the same dimensions and no one questions whether that's a man's watch. Not every watch we own has to be the same size, it's okay to have some classic size pieces in the mix.

[chows99]

Rising values in 5711/5712 has also increased the asking price of 3800. But the fact is 3800 has a smaller audience pool due to the smallish size and thus largely neglected by most.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by cascavel

I don't understand the idea that the 3800 is to small or that it's a woman's watch, not that there's anything wrong with that. Twenty years ago it was marketed as a man's watch and today the most expensive vintage stainless steel watch, the manual wind Daytona, is of approximately the same dimensions and no one questions whether that's a man's watch. Not every watch we own has to be the same size, it's okay to have some classic size pieces in the mix.

I tend to prefer small watches but the 3800 felt small for my 6,5-6,75 inch wrists when I tried it on. It was less the case size but the small dial of the 3800 that had me pass when it was still trading at 10k. The dial of the 3800 was considerably smaller than that of my little 34mm 3998 Calatrava. For the Nautilus shape I prefer the 5711 or even better 3700.

[cascavel]

Originally Posted by ts3

I tend to prefer small watches but the 3800 felt small for my 6,5-6,75 inch wrists when I tried it on. It was less the case size but the small dial of the 3800 that had me pass when it was still trading at 10k. The dial of the 3800 was considerably smaller than that of my little 34mm 3998 Calatrava. For the Nautilus shape I prefer the 5711 or even better 3700.

All good points. The large bezel on the 3800 does squeeze the dial size down. The thinner bezels of most Calatravas leave lots of room for the dial.

[cascavel]

Originally Posted by ts3

I tend to prefer small watches but the 3800 felt small for my 6,5-6,75 inch wrists when I tried it on. It was less the case size but the small dial of the 3800 that had me pass when it was still trading at 10k. The dial of the 3800 was considerably smaller than that of my little 34mm 3998 Calatrava. For the Nautilus shape I prefer the 5711 or even better 3700.

Have you ever had an opportunity to try on a 5800? It's sized between the 3800 and the 5711 and has the exact same look as the 5711.

[bobernet]

Originally Posted by cascavel

Have you ever had an opportunity to try on a 5800? It's sized between the 3800 and the 5711 and has the exact same look as the 5711.

The 5800 is pretty sexy at 38mm. Its size compliments the thin dressy look even though it’s a “sport” watch. Of course you’re not really saving any money over a 5711 which was one of OP's stated goals.

[yessir69]

Originally Posted by lock0ut

3800s wear very small.

This. Except you need another “very”.

[ts3]

Never saw a 5800 in the flesh but I have been tempted to get one now and then before going down the 5711 from the AD route. The 5800 is certainly much more under the radar than the 5711. Compared to the 3800 I would prefer the 5800 for a number of reasons including the extra 1mm of size across the "ears" and the more substantial hands. I would still need to see it live to make up my mind as the dial seems as small as that of the 3800.

In all honesty I also can't see myself paying 50k or 60k for a small Nautilus. While the 5800 is rare, demand will also remain low compared to the 5711.

Similar story w the 5165 and the 5167 where the rare, smaller, and less loved 5165 has even outpaced the 5167 in terms of asking prices lately.

[cascavel]

I think the 5800 also has the newer case shape that it shares with the 5711 vs the flat flange case of the 3700, 3800, 3710 and 3711.
There's a niche group of buyers for the 5165 and 5800 who want a watch that isn't oversized for their wrists. They also recognize that a rare, discontinued watch will always have a limited supply. However you want to slice it, the 5711 is still being produced and some buyers are getting theirs for $30K NIB. Anyone buying a 5711a on the secondary market is already throwing caution to the wind.

[chows99]

Hi everyone, is buying a good condition 3800 with archives only at $26k usd, considered as excessive?

[dannyp]

Ironically, aside from its dial design, the 7118 would have made for a far more ideal unisex watch, given its relatively thin bezel and case size identical to the 5060/5066.

[chows99]

Hi I am referring to the Nautilus 3800 at 37mm.

7118 is a ladies watch and in my opinion, not suitable for men's.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by chows99

Hi I am referring to the Nautilus 3800 at 37mm.

7118 is a ladies watch and in my opinion, not suitable for men's.

I know. I’m saying that dial design and marketing aside, the proportions of the 7118 make for a good unisex watch due to the larger dial appearance (narrower bezel width) and historical precedent (5066/5060). But I agree, as sold today, no man would buy.

[cascavel]

Originally Posted by chows99

Hi everyone, is buying a good condition 3800 with archives only at $26k usd, considered as excessive?

Which dial does it have, that's the critical feature? But for any of the all stainless 3800s that seems very reasonable depending on condition and originality.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by cascavel

Which dial does it have, that's the critical feature? But for any of the all stainless 3800s that seems very reasonable depending on condition and originality.

Personally, I would only consider pieces w the 330 rather than the earlier 335 movement, ideally last series from around 2000 to 2006 w both the current-style Nautilus clasp and date wheel as well as superluminova lume. Even if it was a last series stainless 3800 w blue stick marker dial in excellent condition and w box and papers, I would have a very hard time paying $26k... which may be why I haven't got one yet LOL.

[chows99]

And the ship would have sailed past you for your procrastination...

[ts3]

Not necessarily as I didn't bond w the 3800 when trying it on years ago and at this point I am content w the 5711 I picked up instead...

Let us know if you pulled the trigger yourself plus pics please if yes...

[cascavel]

I think the first dial configuration was blue/blue date window, then blue/white date window, then black/Roman numeral indicators, which was the last series and is the least expensive.
In good condition any 3800 is a beautiful watch.