1951 Patek Philippe Calatrava (Ref. 2457) 18K YG W/ Box & Extract from the Archives

'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 92. 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.

The Patek Philippe Calatrava is the truest essence of a dress watch, and while there are nearly countless options and iterations of Patek's classic dress watch line, we love the Calatrava ref. 2457 for its classic, yet sophisticated style and charming dimensions. The ref. 2457 features the Patek Philippe in-house cal. 27 SC manual winding movement, which was the successor to the legendary 12-120 SC, and featured an impressive direct seconds driving wheel that modernized center seconds wristwatches that were becoming popularized during the 1940s and 50s. A truly impressive movement for a beautiful 18k yellow gold Calatrava.