137
Patek Philippe
Ref. 570
Calatrava, "Calatravone"
An important, rare and impressive yellow gold oversized wristwatch with champagne dial and Breguet numerals
Full-Cataloguing
- Time only and subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock
- Ref 570 is the oversize brethren of ref. 96
- Extremely rare champagne dial with oversized Breguet numerals
In the history of horology, Patek Philippe’s Calatrava wristwatch has stood as a monument to design excellence and has remained in its collection since the reference 96 was first released in 1932. It is a model that needs no introduction and was offered at a time of change and upheaval for a brand that today is at the pinnacle of Swiss watch manufacturing. In order to ensure the financial success of the firm, the brand chose to design a mainstream model, which would have a broad appeal to the general public. The watch which they offered was the reference 96 Calatrava, named for the cross symbol used by Calatrava knights in the 12th century, and registered by Patek Philippe as its logo in 1887.
The reference 570 is a sibling of the ref 96; keeping its elder’s design language, it offers a larger diameter and a personality of its own. Reference 570 is a potent mix of sophistication and simplicity. A rather large watch, it has been nicknamed "Calatravone" (Italian for large Calatrava), its timeless design with large flat bezel and thick lugs made it a staple within the Patek Philippe catalogue from 1938 till its discontinuation in 1972.
The present watch is distinguished by its mindblowing configuration. Not only it features a champagne dial with Breguet numerals - which already is an extremely rare configuration, with extremely few other representatives (such as no. 727’078) - but furthermore the Breguet numerals are oversized, as immediately obvious when comparing the watch to the aforementioned example: in this instance, the numerals 5 and 7 nearly touch the subsidiary seconds’ dial. Interestingly, numeral 6 has been removed completely - while in the standard size version the bottom half of it is present. Possibly, this was done because in the case of an oversized 6 “too little” of the numeral would be visible.
With a touch of ultimate refinement, the pearl minute divisions are filled with gold ink, to better harmonize with the champagne surface.
An absolutely incredible proposal which any serious collector should seize with utmost eagerness.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.