Verdict
The authentic Patek Philippe 3700/11 wins. It wins on case thickness, movement finish, dial printing, and bracelet hardware. A super clone costs about 1% of the original and shows the gap under a loupe, on a scale, and on the wrist.
Replica Patek Philippe 3700/11 Reddit Review
Buy the authentic if the budget exists. Buy the clone as a stand-in for a watch you handle with care.
Patek Philippe 3700/11 Copy Watches: A Comprehensive Buying Guide
What the 3700/11 is
Patek Philippe launched the Nautilus in 1976. Ref. 3700 came first. Case: 42 mm wide, 7.6 mm thick, steel, one-piece middle case, 120 m water resistance. Gérald Genta drew it. The dial carries horizontal ridges, a date at 3 o'clock, and no seconds hand. Inside sits caliber 28-255C, a thin automatic built on the Jaeger-LeCoultre 920 base.
what to check when buying patek philippe 3700/11 replica
The base reference 3700 carries suffixes. The /1A marks the steel bracelet. The /11 suffix appears in auction catalogs and dealer lists. Source documents disagree on the exact meaning. Ask for the Patek Philippe extract from the archives before any purchase.
what to check when buying patek philippe 3700/11 replica
Case and thickness
Original: 7.6 mm. Most super clones measure 8.5 mm to 9.5 mm at the caseback. The extra height comes from the movement. A Miyota 9015 is 3.9 mm thick. Caliber 28-255C is about 3.05 mm.
The original case runs flat across the back edge. Clone cases use a screw-down caseback with a gasket, so a step sits at the seam. Run a finger across it. One line versus two.
Dial
- Printing. Original logo strokes are thin and level. Clone ink sits higher and shows ridges under 10x magnification.
- Grooves. Original horizontal ridges run edge to edge and stop at the chapter ring. Clone grooves fade before the ring.
- Date font. The original uses a narrow "1" and a flat top on the "3". Clone fonts run wider.
- Lume. First-series 3700 hands carry tritium that no longer glows. Clones use Super-LumiNova and glow bright.
Movement
Original 28-255C: 21,600 vph, thin automatic, winding in both directions, bridges with Geneva stripes and polished bevels. With the caseback removed, the balance sits under a bridge with hand-finished edges.
Clone movements fall in two groups. A Miyota 9015 at 28,800 vph, undecorated and reliable. Or a Chinese automatic with glued decorative plates. Look for screws that hold nothing and a rotor with a printed finish.
Bracelet and clasp
Original links join with screws. Edges are beveled, and the bracelet tapers toward the clasp. The clasp is a fold-over with a stamped Calatrava cross and a sharp edge.
Clone bracelets use pins, not screws. Edges are softer. Clasps are stamped with less depth. Check the screw heads on each link with a loupe.
Price
Steel 3700/1A auction results over the past five years run from about $70,000 to $250,000. Dial type and condition drive the spread. A super clone runs $400 to $1,500. Service at Patek Philippe costs several thousand dollars and takes months.
Options
1. Authentic, auction
Best match to the reference. Ask for the extract from the archives, service papers, and photos of the caseback engraving. Budget for a service.
2. Authentic, dealer
Higher price, more recourse. Confirm the suffix on the papers.
3. Super clone, top tier
$900 to $1,500. Thin case, decorated movement, screw-link bracelet. Ask for caliper photos of case thickness and a photo of the movement with the caseback off.
4. Super clone, entry tier
$400 to $700. Thicker case, pinned bracelet, printed rotor. Accept the height or skip it.