Patek Philippe Calatrava
 | |
| Type | Automatic, Manual |
|---|---|
| Display | Analogue |
| Introduced | 1932 |
The Patek Philippe Calatrava is a line of dress watches built by Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe.[1] Known for its simple and elegant design, the Calatrava wristwatch has been a flagship model of Patek Philippe since its introduction.[2][3][4] The first version of the Calatrava was launched in 1932, inspired by the Bauhaus principle.[5][6][7]
History
Patek Philippe Calatrava wristwatch was introduced in 1932, and the first model was Ref. 96.[1] It took its name from the Order of Calatrava, one of the most notable Christian knighthood orders, which played a major role during the crusades.[8][9] The watch was originally designed by Henri Stern soon after his father, a dial manufacturer, acquired Patek Philippe in 1932.[10][11] Calatrava was introduced to help the company pass through the Great Depression smoothly.[10]
The original Calatrava Ref. 96 was produced for over 40 years. Its successor models include Ref. 2526, Ref. 3520, Ref. 5196, and so on.[3] Introduced in 1985, Ref. 3919 was the most popular model in the Calatrava range, with its signature guilloché "Clous de Paris" bezel.[12] After 21 years, it was replaced in March 2006 by the slightly larger 5119 model.[5] This change in size reflected a growing trend for larger watches.
Watch specifications
Patek Philippe has developed a quartz movement, but it is not currently used in the Calatrava range.[13] The only Calatravas earlier using a quartz movement were the 3744 (E27 movement, no date, no second hand) and 3944 (E23 movement, date, second hand).
Some Calatravas (such as the 5227) feature a date function, whereas others (such as the 5116, 5119, 5120, 5123, 5196) display only hours and minutes (and, in some cases, seconds).[14]
Price record
A Calatrava 2526 model retailed by Tiffany & Co. in 1954 was sold for US$642,500 at an auction in 2018.[15]
References
- ^ a b "Patek Philippe | Company | History". Patek Philippe SA. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ Lim, Terence (2017-10-11). "Patek Philippe And Its German Art Movement Connection". Philippine Tatler. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ a b Clymer, Benjamin (May 18, 2016). "In-Depth: The Patek Philippe 2526, And Why It's A Watch To Pay Attention To". Hodinkee. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ Shapira, J. A. (2016-04-27). "The Patek Philippe Calatrava: Complicated Simplicity". www.gentlemansgazette.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ a b "Patek Philippe Company". Patek Philippe SA.
- ^ "History of the Patek Philippe Calatrava Part 1 - The Reference 96". Monochrome Watches. 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ "The History of the Patek Philippe Calatrava | The Loupe, TrueFacet". 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ "Patek Philippe". www.hautehorlogerie.org. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
- ^ "Patek Philippe". www.thehourglass.org. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
- ^ a b "The Inspiring Story of The Calatrava". The Hour Glass Official. 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ "Patek Calatrava | Patek 5127 J : The Once and Future King". www.thewatchbox.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ "Introducing Patek Philippe Calatrava "Clous de Paris" 6119 Hand-Wound". Monochrome Watches. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ "Patek Philippe | All Models | Luxury Watches & Timepieces". Patek Philippe SA.
- ^ "Patek Philippe | Calatrava Collection | Classic Watches". Patek Philippe SA.
- ^ "Patek Philippe Calatrava Leads Heritage Auctions With World-Record $642,500". Antiques and The Arts Weekly. 3 May 2018.
External links