Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1943 Reference No: 96 Movement No: 924'063 Case No: 629'942 Model Name: Calatrava Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 12-120, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle Dimensions: 31mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1943 with silvered dial, Breguet numerals in steel and dots (radium) and its subsequent sale on June 15, 1944.
Catalogue Essay
Cased in stainless steel, this reference 96 most notably features luminous dots and hands along with Breguet numerals, all of which are confirmed by the Extract from the Archives. Fresh to the auction market, it is preserved in excellent condition and is the seventh known example with the present dial configuration.
The dial is incredibly stunning and the case retains strong and full proportions. Most interestingly the caseback is engraved "Frank B. Hart Affectionate Remembrance of Loyal Service to Popular Mechanics Magazine 1909 H.H. Windsor Jr. Press 1944". A noted watch connoisseur, H.H Windsor Jr. was the son of H.H Windsor, the founder of Popular Mechanics magazine. Following his father’s death in 1924, H.H. Windsor Jr. became editor and publisher of the publication.
Patek Philippe watches appear to have been a favoured gift for members of the Popular Mechanics community. In November 2016, Phillips had the honor of selling a pink gold reference 1518 that was presented to H.H. Windsor Jr. in 1952. The present example was presented to Frank B. Hart in 1944 from H.H. Windsor Jr. in remembrance of his loyal service. The stainless steel case and luminous dial make sense, given the technical nature of Frank B. Hart's line of work.
Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.