Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1951 Reference No: 96 Movement No: 967'945 Case No: 303'603 Material: 18k yellow gold Calibre: Mechanical, 12-120, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Brown suede strap Clasp/Buckle: 18k yellow gold buckle Dimensions: 30.5 mm. diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with lapped gold indexes in 1951 and its subsequent sale on 29 June 1951.
Catalogue Essay
Reference 96 was in production from 1932 until 1973, and was the first Calatrava model that Patek Philippe ever produced. The present watch is fitted with a black lacquer dial and yellow gold lapped indexes and features a hallmark to the right band and gold marks to the case back. The combination of black lacquer, yellow gold case and original condition render this watch a highly desirable example.
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.