13 Patek Philippe A fine, rare and well-preserved, Calatrava, automatic wristwatch in yellow gold with integrated bracelet, Certificate of Origin, made for the IOS (Investors Overseas Services) and Rothchild & Co. Bank.

Estimate: € 8.000 –⁠ 16.000

• Model Calatrava
• Year 1971
• Reference 608131
• Case Material 18K yellow gold
• Case Number 2'695'953
• Bracelet Material 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet, approximate length 225mm
• Movement Automatic, cal. 27-460M, 37 jewels
• Movement Number 1'118'128
• Dimension 35mm Diameter
• Signed Case, dial and movement
• Accessories Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated January 1971 and fitted presentation box.
• Literature An identical watch was previously sold in Phillips Hong Kong "THE HONG KONG WATCH AUCTION: XVI" auction May 25th 2023, as lot 1025 for HK$ 228.600.

Between 1968 and 1971, a remarkable chapter in watchmaking and financial history unfolded when Patek Philippe created a special series exclusively for Bernie Cornfeld’s Investors Overseas Services. Reference 3565/1J, crafted entirely in yellow gold, was conceived as a tangible emblem of success. Many examples were later engraved on the caseback with the coveted “Million Dollar Associate” title, a discreet yet powerful declaration of achievement. The case, produced by the esteemed maker Francis Baumgartner, reflects the crisp proportions and quality for which mid-century Geneva case specialists are admired. Its integrated gold bracelet flows seamlessly from the case and fastens with an unusual belt-loop style buckle incorporating a concealed steel clasp. The present example stands apart as one of the very few known to bear the Rothschild & Co. bank logo at six o’clock, adding another layer of historical intrigue. Preserved in excellent condition and accompanied by its accessories, it captures the ambition, glamour and volatility of a defining era in international finance. The desirability of the model is further reflected in the auction market: an identical example was sold by Phillips in Hong Kong in May 2023 for HK$228,600.