Though Patek Philippe is known first and foremost as a house of horology, there are times where it combines its watchmaking excellence with the art of joaillerie as well. Concealing the workhouse caliber 215, a manually-wound, 10-ligne movement featured in most Calatrava references, is an exquisite amalgamation of diamonds and gold, accented by sapphires.

The bezel is made up of immaculate baguette-cut diamonds, with a bar of channel-set diamonds acting as concealment for the bracelet. The bracelet itself is made of rows of pavé set round brilliant diamonds, with additional rows running down the sides of the bracelet and covering the clasp. This bracelet design differentiates the reference 3994/2 from its sibling the 3994/1, which features the same dial and case configuration, but a bracelet set with rows of round brilliant and square diamonds. Within the pavé diamond dial, at the quarter hours, baguette-cut sapphires act as an hour index as a touch of elegant practicality.

Though production numbers have not been made public, our research shows that this example of the 3994/2 is the only one of the reference ever to appear at public auction, having first appeared at Phillips Hong Kong in 2015. Lavish and extravagant, yet wearable, it is a glittering example of Patek Philippe’s high jewelry and watchmaking savoir faire.