114 Patek Philippe Tasteful and Sophisticated Calatrava Wristwatch in Pink Gold, Reference 96, With Pink Dial with Extract from Archives

Estimate: € 8.000 –⁠ 16.000

The reference 96 is undoubtedly a cornerstone of Patek Philippe production and represents the first example of what is today possibly the most elegant lines of wristwatches: the Calatrava. The 96 was launched in 1932 and further changed the way of defining watches because it became the first model in history to which the reference number was added. The present lot is a wonderful specimen pink-on-pink. The 31 mm 18k pink gold case is simply great for its conditions and still very sharp edges, crisp as they were in 1945 when the watch left Geneva. The hallmark at 4 o’clock is deep, testifying that the present watch has been worm very limited times. The pink dial is very elegant with subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, the dauphine hands, the applied pink gold baton indexes and the outer perlage for the minutes. Discontinued in 1973, this is one of the longest in Patek Philippe production and was equipped with the caliber 12–120, one of the rarest equipped on a Patek Philippe Calatrava. Among connoisseurs, reference 96 is the benchmark par excellence when measuring the elegance of a watch, as well a true example for the category. With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in rose gold in 1945 and its subsequent sale on 8 October 1945.