22Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 96
Calatrava “Tiffany & Co.”
An exceptionally rare and well-preserved yellow gold wristwatch with subsidiary seconds and Breguet numerals, signed Tiffany & Co.
Full-Cataloguing
• Fresh-to-the-auction market
• One of only 2 known in this configuration signed Tiffany & Co.
• Beautifully preserved case with strong hallmark
Sophisticated and elegant, Patek Philippe’s reference 96 is the perfect example of a timeless design.
First manufactured in 1932, this model, with its long downturned lugs and large flat bezel, remains relevant nearly 100 years later. Though the official production of the reference 96 ended in 1973, new iterations have taken its place, thus the Calatrava has never truly been out of production in the modern era. It defined the Calatrava “style” while also being the first model to introduce numbered references to Patek Philippe’s timepieces.
Much like Rolex’s Day-Date, Patek Philippe also used the Calatrava as a blank canvas to experiment with an array of dial treatments and configurations. One of the more classic iterations pairs the Bauhaus-inspired case with Breguet numerals. Adding an additional layer of exceptional rarity is the coveted Tiffany & Co. retailer signature above the Patek Philippe long signature. Likely produced towards the end of Patek Philippe’s long signature (which ended circa 1948), the present example is fresh-to-the-market and is only the second yellow gold example to be discovered in this configuration, and the 4th across all metals.
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.