Vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava Yellow Gold Wristwatch Ref. 2452J
About the Item
- Creator:
- Design:
- Case Material:
- Movement:
- Case Dimensions:Diameter: 1.38 in (35 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1949-1951
- Condition:Replacements made: minute and second hand seem to have been replaced. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. seconds hand and three o'clock hour marker are slightly chipped.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: W10361stDibs: LU609312717362
Patek Philippe
It shouldn’t be surprising that a Patek Philippe holds the world auction record for a watch ($31.2 million for a Patek Grandmaster Chime, sold at Christie’s). Known for impeccable craftsmanship and some of the most complicated timepieces ever created, the brand is considered by many to be the height of fine watchmaking. Collectors simply love Patek Philippe watches.
The house was founded in Geneva in 1839 by Polish expats Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. Czapek left the firm, and in 1845, Patek partnered with French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Catering to the glitterati of Europe, the pair counted among their clients Tolstoy, Pope Pius IX and Queen Victoria, as well as Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, for whom they created the first Swiss-made wristwatch in 1868. They also had their eye on the American market and in 1851 entered an arrangement with Tiffany & Co. still in effect today.
During the Great Depression, brothers Jean and Charles Stern, who had previously supplied Patek Philippe with watch dials, bought the company, and it continues to be run by the Stern family today.
Under the Sterns, the house has developed some of its most famous models, including the Calatrava, an elegantly minimal dress watch introduced in 1932 and named for the Calatrava Cross (the company’s logo since 1887), and the Nautilus, the brand’s first sports watch, conceived by legendary designer Gérald Genta in 1976.
Despite the house’s longevity, it’s rumored that it has manufactured fewer than a million Patek watches, making each one all the more coveted. (The brand's pieces are understandably attractive to counterfeiters — make sure you know how to spot a fake Patek Philippe watch.)
Find authentic Patek Philippe watches, cufflinks, bracelets and more on 1stDibs today.
Over three generations, the Malakov family has built a business that extends from the Central Asian Silk Road to Europe, New York, and beyond. The name Roman Malakov is now synonymous with quality jewelry and watches. From engagement rings to wedding rings to estate pieces and high-end jewelry, the firm carefully handcrafts all its pieces, understanding that each one immortalizes a special relation or memorable experience in a client’s life. The stones used are sourced straight from the mines and inspected by experts to make sure they meet strict quality standards. In addition to customization, Roman Malakov offers alterations, to make sure a piece perfectly matches the customer’s tastes and desires, as well as restoration and repairs.
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