Patek Philippe Nautilus 3712 on a Tanker

dr.kol · 2013-05-23T14:02:31Z

Dr.kol shares insights into the challenging crude oil shipping industry, featuring his Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3712 on a tanker deck. Discover the realities of maritime business and the unexpected role of a luxury watch.

dr.kol

WPS member · Patek Philippe forum

24 replies5155 views3 photos

Dr.kol offers a rare glimpse into the challenging world of crude oil shipping, contrasting the industry's financial struggles with the unexpected utility of a luxury timepiece. His post highlights the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3712 in an unconventional, demanding environment, prompting readers to reconsider the 'professional' nature of high-end watches.

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One of our vessels happened to visit Estonia and loaded 100,000 tons of crude oil from here to north China, Singapore or US Gulf. We don't know as the cargo is not sold yet. Anyhow, where ever the ship sails, I'm loosing one Nautilus every second week.

Shipping has been terrible during the past years. In my shipping company the pictured vessel is the best performer with average losses "just" around 2 k per day, 365 days per year. The worst ship, a huge 330,000 DWT VLCC is loosing some 12 k per day meaning a Patek Minute Repeater every month.

Even shipping is depressing, the deck of a tanker looks impressive from the bridge.

Naturally the deck looks much better when focusing to a Nautilus 3712:

My favorite place is not the engine room but my wife wanted to see the whole vessel. In this engine room we burn when sailing over 30,000 kg bunkers every day costing some $ 20,000.

You can imagine how the Captain and Chief Engineer looked like when they explained the engine room to my wife and I took pictures of my left wrist!

Shipping, especially tankers, have been a miserable business for the last 5 years. However, the positive part is that I can wear a Patek Philippe Nautilus and claim that it is a professional's watch mandatory in our business.

Best, Kari

About the IWC Portuguese Chronograph Ref. 3712

The IWC Portuguese Chronograph reference 3712 represents the brand's approach to classical chronograph design within the Portuguese collection. This reference features a blue dial configuration and positions itself as a dress chronograph option within IWC's offerings.

The 40.9mm stainless steel case houses an automatic movement and is fitted with sapphire crystal. The fixed bezel maintains clean lines consistent with the Portuguese aesthetic, while the watch provides 30 meters of water resistance. The blue dial serves as the defining visual characteristic of this particular reference within the chronograph series.

Reference 3712 appeals to collectors seeking a refined chronograph with contemporary sizing and automatic functionality. The stainless steel construction and blue dial combination offers accessibility within the Portuguese chronograph range, making it suitable for those wanting IWC's chronograph capabilities in a versatile package that balances sporting function with dress watch sensibilities.

Specifications

Caliber: 79350

Case: Stainless steel

Diameter: 40.9 mm

Dial: Blue

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The shipping industry, particularly tankers, experienced significant financial losses for several years, with large vessels losing thousands of dollars daily, making luxury acquisitions challenging.
Despite the financial downturn, the author maintains an optimistic outlook for the shipping industry, predicting market improvement after consolidation, though not in the immediate future.
A Patek Philippe Nautilus, while a luxury item, is humorously presented as a 'professional's watch mandatory in our business,' contrasting with the Captain's practical Omega Seamaster.
The pictured vessel is an Aframax class tanker, approximately 250m long, 42m wide, and capable of loading 100,000 tons of crude oil, while larger VLCCs can load 2.1 million barrels.
A fellow forum member provided an external article from the Wall Street Journal to help explain the difficulties faced by the shipping industry, adding external context to the discussion.
The post sparked interest in the scale of oil tankers, with a user inquiring about 'super tankers' and expressing a desire to see such vessels firsthand.
The author's personal journey from aspiring captain to 'office idiot' highlights a shift in perception regarding who acquires luxury items in the shipping business.

The Discussion

Andy

May 23, 2013

Just a small holiday boat then..!!

That's quite a view from there..!! Surely this can't always make a loss or you'd make no money for all these gorgeous watches :) Hope your visiting the UK when your passing :) Yours my friend, Andy.

dr.kol

May 23, 2013

Haa Andy!

I have made incredibly much losses during the last five years. I have left just my underwear and a couple of watches. Anyhow, these tankers are fun to look at. Darja was very impressed and she wants to jump onboard one of the vessels and sail somewhere to UK or Continent. It is a nice 5 days voyage from here. I can just imagine the poor Captain answering her endless questions for five days and trying to catch her sense of humor. Tough! I guess the Captain will ask for early retirement after such

Andy

May 23, 2013

That's one trip that would be fun :-)

Pity your not over the week before as I'm off work that week and would def have come down to London to meet you and funny Darja :) But I'm sure the local Purists will take care of you this time. Have fun my friend, Andy.

dr.kol

May 23, 2013

We will perhaps stay till Sunday,

let's see. My daughters consider London one of the top spots of the world. No, they do not speak about museums or musicals - they speak about shopping. Best, Kari

Andy

May 23, 2013

OK, will see about a day trip on the Sat :-)

Spellbound

May 23, 2013

Hang in there

Shipping is cyclical, and I am sure it won't be too long now (although yesterday's China PMI numbers are worrying). A Nautilus belongs on the captain of the ship. Ahoy there!