Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 1972 Reference No: 3574 Movement No: 1’213’092 Case No: 520’708 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 23-300, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 35mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Patek Philippe Japan Service Center Registered Card for Guarantee, product literature, brochures, cloth, original numbered envelope, folio and fitted presentation box. Further delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1972 and its subsequent date of sale on 10th August 1972.
Catalogue Essay
Released to the public in 1970, the Patek Philippe ref. 3574 was manufactured for less than five years with an estimated total output of around 500 pieces. Offered in stainless steel with various dial options including a silvered matte or a Calatrava patterned dial. Over the years, no more than 30 pieces have resurfaced to the market, making this subtle reference rare.
The present example Patek Philippe ref. 3574 fitted with a silvered matte dial from circa 1972 is offered in excellent overall condition. Accompanied by its full set of accessories that has been well-preserved from the previous owner, the present example is definitely one of the nicest examples of the reference to have resurfaced in recent times.
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.