*Unpolished* 1950s Patek Philippe Calatrava 18K WG (Ref. 570) 'Cal. 27 SC'

'You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.’ — Patek Philippe started this now ubiquitous marketing campaign in 1966 and never looked back, though they already had an outstanding legacy since the watchmaker was founded in the year 1839. Patek built its reputation on several foundational pillars: tradition, innovation, and excellence, all of which are paramount in every timepiece they make, both old and new. 

If it weren't for the Nautilus or Grand Complications series, Patek Philippe would undoubtedly be best known for the Calatrava. The Patek Philippe Calatrava is the truest representation of the classic dress watch, and was first introduced to the world in 1932 with the model reference 96. The sleek round cases of the Calatrava often feature extremely simple, yet perfectly executed designs with elegant dials that lack all unnecessary obstructions. A true "must-have" for any Patek collector or dress watch aficionado.

While there are nearly countless options and iterations of Patek's classic dress watch line, the early references have captured the hearts of enthusiasts and collectors alike, with the ref. 570 being one of the most coveted and celebrated models in the iconic lineage. Introduced in 1938, the Calatrava ref. 570 was the second Calatrava created by Patek Phillipe, and in many ways a continuation of the original Calatrava design but with the increased case proportions of just over 35mm. Of the 2000 estimated examples produced, there were five metals used for the reference 570, including steel, 18K white, yellow, and rose gold, and platinum – with numerous variations of dial configurations featuring both center seconds and subsidiary seconds options. 

The example presented here employs the Cal. 27 SC movement, which is manual winding with center seconds and is cast of 18K white gold with a classic dial, achieving the Calatrava aesthetic in its purest form.