.JPG "Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref 96 circa 1955 vintage")
Status: NOT Available
This is a 50’s vintage 18K Patek Philippe Calatrava ref 96 with 18 jewel cal-400c manual wind movement and fit with a 9K gold wristband. Watch has been lightly polished to remove minor scratches seen in photos and is in excellent working condition. This small size men’s watch is also suitable for women.
Photos are not actual size of watch, the case measures 30 mm across x 38 mm lug to lug and is fit as found with a 9k (non Patek) strap. On longest setting fits a maximum 18 cm wrist. If preferred gold strap can be changed for a high quality leather bracelet.
The first Calatrava reference 96 was introduced back in 1932, the same year Patek Philippe was acquired by the well known Stern family. Despite the world’s economic conditions at the time, this watch turned around Patek’s sales with its now famous elegant smooth bezel, and almost Bauhaus-esque dial design. The 31-millimeters wide, and incredibly slim 9-millimeter thick case, housed Patek’s in-house calibre 12-400. This manually wound movement incorporated 18 jewels, and was finished exquisitely with Geneva stripes on its curved, pocket watch-like bridges. Some examples even qualify as somewhat of a tool watch (hardly!), as some movements were “Adjusted To Heat, Cold, and Isochronism”. Today, the reference 96 has become an especially collectible Patek, as they’ve becoming increasingly more and more difficult to find in top condition.