CALATRAVA MODEL, REF. 96, MOVEMENT NO. 828'996, CASE NO. 295'784, CIRCA 1938

Please note that Christie’s has applied for an ‘Extract from the Archives’ from Patek Philippe Archives but the Extract has not yet been issued and may not be available by the date of the auction.

The present timepiece is offered in a highly attractive and collectible 'pink on pink' configuration, combining a pink dial with a pink gold case. The key symbol numbered 4 stamped inside the snap-on back identifies the case maker as Antoine Gerlach, one of Geneva’s most esteemed case makers of the period. The dial’s 'FAB. SUISSE' designation indicates that the watch was destined for the French market, further confirmed by the French import hallmark, an owl, found inside the caseback and on the lower left lug.

Reference 96
Following the Stern family's purchase of the company and their efforts to modernize and restructure production, reference 96 was one of the first Patek Philippe models to be given a reference number when it was first introduced in 1932. Reference 96, widely regarded as the quintessential Calatrava, established the design standards for succeeding generations and continues to be among the brand's most recognizable wristwatches.