THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: PATEK PHILIPPE
MODEL: 570J
YEAR: 1947
BOX/PAPERS: NO/YES (archive & service)
CASE DIAMETER: 35.5mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND

The Calatrava has been a cornerstone of Patek Philippe's lineup since 1932, rescuing the brand from economic crises during the Great Depression and the Quartz Crisis. Renowned for its simple, elegant, and slim design, the Calatrava has evolved over the past 90 years, with the Ref. 570 remaining close to the original Ref. 96.

Featuring an upsized 35.5mm case from the petite 31mm Ref. 96, the Ref. 570 was a tremendous success for Patek Philippe. Produced between 1938 and 1972, around 2,000 units were made in various forms, including steel, yellow, rose, white gold, and the rarest, platinum. Dial variations included sector, baton with drilled minutes, hand-carved Arabic numerals like this example, and the ultra-rare Breguet numerals.

This watch houses the manually wound Calibre 12-200, the first iteration of the movement lineup, which still runs flawlessly. The dial is in wonderful condition, complemented by elegant leaf hands. In many older Calatravas, the numerals were hand-carved and secured into the dial using soldered brass feet posts. Slight misalignment of the numerals is common for watches made in the 1930s and 1940s, adding to their charm and authenticity.

Recently serviced by Patek Philippe in Geneva, the watch has undergone a full movement service. The case and glass were polished to restore their original lustre. This timepiece comes with two brand new straps, its yellow gold pin buckle, and an Extract from the Archives.