Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1960 Reference No: 3416 Movement No: 783’841 Case No: 2’610’686 Model Name: Calatrava Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 23-300, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 33mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1960 and its subsequent sale on 17th March 1960.
Catalogue Essay
Since the introduction of the first Calatrava ref. 96 in 1932, the model has evolved over the decades and is the longest in production model by Patek Philippe. The present Patek Philippe ref. 3416 in yellow gold is one of the less seen and mentioned models from the 1960s. Featuring a 33mm diameter two-piece yellow gold case made by F. Baumgartner identifiable via key no. 2, it encases the manual cal. 23-300. The present example with a silvered sunburst dial with baton indexes is a wonderful dress watch that can easily be transformed into a casual timepiece with the change of a strap.
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.