Patek Philippe Nautilus 3712/1A-001 Stainless Steel Moon Phase Watch
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Patek Philippe reference 3712/1A-001 Nautilus automatic wrist watch, all stainless steel with blue dial, date, moon phase, power reserve on Patek integral bracelet strap. Original polish wooden box, certificate and instructions with setting stylus purchased 2006, "When it was launched in 2005, the Ref.3712 was the complicated model in the Nautilus family, what with the asymmetric indications moon-phase, date, and power reserve indication. However, it was produced only for eight months and was eventually replaced by the Ref.5712 to mark the model's 30th anniversary in 2006., as a result, the overall production output is low and with an estimate of 1,700 pieces having been sold. The production of the 3712 can be divided into two series. On the first series, the power reserve indicator features three small dots while on the 'Second series', the power reserve is indicated by four small red dots. Incidentally, the 'Four dots' is also seen on the dial of the Ref.5712., this reference re-introduced the monobloc case construction seen in the original 3700/001A, but the sapphire caseback was novel and displayed the Cal. 240 PS Irm C Lu."
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- Moon Dial - If we imagine life in the 17th century, the only source of ascertaining the time of day or night would have been the local church or municipal clock striking every quarter hour, and able to be heard by all in the village. In England, when longcase clocks became popular and more affordable in the late 17th century, the function of timekeeping and source of time was moved to within the home.
An additional feature on some longcase clocks was to display the phases of the moon, that is the new moon, the full moon and the waning moon over the lunar 29 ½ day cycle. This information was important for farmers for working out cropping schedules; for travellers to know the amount of moonlight on a night they planned to travel; and for those who lived near the sea required knowledge of the tides.
Where included, the moon dial is usually in the form of a disc incorporated into the main dial plate, usually in the arched top section. The lunar cycle starts with the new moon displaying, which is a dark night sky and no man-in-the-moon face being displayed, and then progresses to the full moon face showing on the 15th day of the lunar cycle, and back to no face displaying as the moon wanes. Most lunar dials are partially concealed on each side of their opening in the main dial plate by semi-circular "humps" that allow the painted face to emerge slowly just as the real moon goes out of and back into the earth's shadow.
Nowadays, details of the lunar cycle is published in diaries, almanacs, and newspapers and although some modern longcase clocks are still manufactured with working moon dials, they are more for decoration than for use. - Date Aperture - A date aperture is a cut out section in the face of a watch or clock, displaying the day of the month.
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