Writer Giorgia Mondani spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Watch author and collector authority Giorgia Mondani was photographed wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus in its classic two-tone configuration — a sighting that carries particular weight given Mondani's status as one of the world's foremost Patek Philippe bibliographers. The image, shared via her Instagram account, shows the watch on the wrist in natural light, with the blue dial and integrated bracelet clearly identifiable.

The watch in question appears to be the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3800/1 in its steel and yellow gold (J/A) configuration — the 'J' denoting yellow gold bezel and bracelet accents, 'A' denoting stainless steel case and bracelet body. Introduced in 1981 as a reduced-size successor to the iconic Ref. 3700, the 3800 measures 37.5mm across and houses the Caliber 335 SC — a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve. The blue dial features the signature horizontal relief pattern with gold applied index markers and dauphine-style hands, a layout unchanged in its essentials from Genta's founding vision.

From a collector's perspective, the Ref. 3800 in two-tone occupies a fascinating position in Nautilus history. It bridges the brutalist originalism of the 3700 era and the more refined modern Nautilus 5711/5726 generation. Two-tone references have historically traded at a moderate discount to all-steel equivalents due to shifting taste, but recent re-evaluation of 1980s and 1990s two-tone sports watches has begun reversing that dynamic.

That this particular watch is on the wrist of Giorgia Mondani is anything but coincidental. Mondani Editore has produced the definitive reference books on Patek Philippe, Rolex, and other major marques — her encyclopaedic knowledge of Patek references means her own Nautilus is likely well-documented, well-maintained, and entirely intentional as a statement piece.

On the secondary market, a Ref. 3800/1 two-tone in good condition with original bracelet typically changes hands between $18,000 and $28,000 depending on dial condition, bracelet stretch, and documentation. Original retail on these pieces in period was approximately $6,000–$8,000 — a multiplication factor that speaks to the enduring desirability of the Nautilus line in any era.