Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1954 Reference No: 570 Movement No: 723’301 Case No: 306’431 Model Name: Calatrava Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 12”’400, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Gold plated pin buckle Dimensions: 35.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1954 and its subsequent date of sale on 10th November 1954.
Catalogue Essay
Introduced in 1938, the Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 570 has been a favorite among collectors, due to its clean aesthetics featuring an oversized case, a flat bezel and a simplistic dial. Earning its nickname the “Calatravone” (Large Calatrava in Italian), the reference was the enlarged variant of the acclaimed ref. 96. The reference was available in various case materials including stainless steel, yellow gold, pink gold and platinum with examples featuring either center seconds or small seconds. Launched in three series, the first series examples featured cal. 12”’200, seconds series examples were fitted with cal. 12”’400 and the third and last series were powered by cal. 27 AM 400, which was antimagnetic.
The present example in 18K pink gold from 1954 confirmed by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives belongs to the second series powered by cal. 12”’400 featuring small seconds at 6 O’clock.
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.