Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 1992 Reference No: 3923 S Movement No: 1’831’025 Case No: 2’923’741 Model Name: Calatrava Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 215 S, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 32mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by blank Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Patek Philippe Japan Service guarantee, product literature, leather folio, leather portfolio, cloth, slip case and travel pouch.
Catalogue Essay
First introduced in 1986, the Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 3923 was produced for approximately 13 to 14 years. Predominantly produced in yellow gold and pink gold with bullet indexes and dauphine hands. Featuring a 32mm diameter two-piece snap back case made by Ateliers Reunis, the Calatrava style case is simply timeless. Powered by the firm’s cal. 215 S manual caliber it features the robust Gyromax balance. Well-received, the reference was also launched in limited edition series for the Japanese in market in stainless steel and for Taiwanese retailer Wu Shang in pink gold with ruby indexes.
The present example Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 3923 in yellow gold from circa 1992 was originally sold in Japan. Accompanied with its Certificate of Origin and preserved in excellent overall condition, the present timepiece will surely delight collectors of Calatravas.
Since 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.