Patek Philippe Calatrava 3426

Patek Philippe Calatrava 3426 18k YG

Released in 1932 and named after the cross that the Calatrava Knights paraded around Spain and Portugal during the 12th and 13th centuries, the Patek Philippe Calatrava was released as a simple timepiece with broad appeal that would help secure Patek Philippe's finances following Jean and Charles Henri Stern's investment in the brand in the same year. Designed with a strict Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic in mind, the Calatrava used, and continues to use, simplicity as its means of establishing intrigue around the craftsmanship required to construct such a stunning timepiece. Without a complicated movement or a busy design, collectors gravitate towards the Calatrava's clean aesthetic and practicality, and the ref. 3426 we have here embodies that same design language perfectly. Launched in the 1960s, the ref. 3426 features a traditional 32mm case that is only slightly larger than original Calatrava’s 31mm case, as used by the ref. 96. While svelte by today’s standards, the ref. 3426 merges the Calatrava's original design brief in its purest form with a slightly larger diameter that will allow contemporary collectors to enjoy to this intensely elegant 18kt yellow gold timepiece much in the same way that original buyers of the Calatrava would have back in the 1930s. THE DIAL Boasting a golden dial with golden applied indices and hands to match its 18kt yellow gold case, the ref. 3426 makes up for its svelte construction with its bright aesthetic that is a delight to wear and enjoy. THE CONSTRUCTION Measuring just 1mm larger than the original Calatrava, the ref. 3426 offers an authentic experience of what it would have been like to wear a Calatrava back when the collection first debuted in the 1930s. TIMING MACHINE READOUT This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.