hello everyone.
As I have mentioned several times in the past, this time I would like to introduce the vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava 18KWG (white gold) "Ref. 3445" and talk about the archives. This is a product that will be on sale from now on, so I hope you will find it useful.
Calatrava 18KWG (white gold) "Ref.3445"
"Ref. 3445" is a Calatrava that was manufactured from the 1960s to the 1970s and is one of the most representative vintage Patek Philippe models.
This is a highly recognized model, and I think the reasons for its popularity are the 35mm case diameter, which was considered slightly large at the time, and the screw-back case back, which provides high levels of waterproofness.
The movement used is the Cal.27-460M, which is widely regarded as the best among automatic winding movements.
The first automatic movement from Patek Philippe, the Cal.12-600AT, is said to be beautiful and impactful, with an elaborate guilloche engraving and a rotor made of 18KYG (yellow gold). On the other hand, the Cal.27-460M has a thinner rotor for lighter weight, and the rotor shaft uses ball bearings to improve winding efficiency, making it much more practical.
This watch has scratches on the crystal and the dial shows some wear (deterioration) due to aging, but the case is relatively sturdy and the engravings on the back of the lugs are clearly visible.
We recently obtained the archives and found that it was manufactured in 1964 and sold in 1965.
In addition, we have purchased a new alligator strap and 18KWG (white gold) buckle from Patek Philippe Japan. We will be overhauling the watch as part of our pre-sale maintenance, so please wait a little longer.
archive
From here, I would like to take a look at the actual archive and see what kind of content is written there. I will explain each item by numbering them.
❶Type of watch
It says "Wristwatch," so we can tell it's a wristwatch.
❷Movement No
The movement number is listed.
❸Caliber
The type (name) of the movement in the watch is listed. Looking at this, we can see that it is an automatic "27-460 M".
➍Case No
The case (individual) number is listed.
➎Style
The watch reference (model number) and material are listed.
➏Type of dial
There may be some information about the dial. For this watch, only 3445 is written.
❼Date of manufacture
The year of manufacture is stated.
❽Date of sale
You might mistake this for ❼, but this shows the date it was sold.
➒Bracelet/Leather strap
It will state whether it is a bracelet or a leather strap. As you can see, it says Leather strap, so you can tell it is a leather strap.
➓Remark
If there are any special notes, they will be noted here.
The text at the bottom of the archive states, "The contents of the archive are registered with Patek Philippe based on the case number and movement number of the watch. The contents of the archive are written here. We do not guarantee the authenticity of the watch."
"Ref.5396G-011" Annual Calendar 18KWG (White Gold)
Here's one more piece. The model I wrote about in my last Patek Philippe article has just arrived, so I'd like to introduce it to you as well.
"Ref.5396G-011" Annual Calendar 18KWG (White Gold)
This time, we received a relatively new watch with a warranty date of December 2019. Another nice point is that the manufacturer's warranty period remains until December of this year.
The dial features a simple and clean dot-shaped minute scale, baton-shaped three-dimensional hour markers, and Dauphine (dolphin) hands, making it the very first "Ref. 96". The design is reminiscent of the current Calatrava "Ref. 5196", making it a timeless model that can be used for a long time in a variety of situations.
As the name suggests, an annual calendar requires calendar adjustment only once a year (in February) , but considering its practicality and the relative ease of calendar adjustment, I personally think it is a watch that is suitable for everyday use.
This watch has some minor scratches and scuffs due to use, but the case appears to be unpolished, so we are selling it without finishing the exterior. The leather strap shows some signs of use and wrinkles, but there are no sweat stains or odor transfer, so we recommend this watch.
summary
As we have said many times before, there are far fewer Patek Philippe watches on the market compared to Rolex and other brands.
This is a brand that offers a strong element of discovery, so I hope you will gain some knowledge about it and find a piece that you won't regret.
As for me, I will continue to work hard every day to procure a lot of products, provide useful information, and introduce as many products as possible to everyone (laughs).
Lastly, regarding the rumor that the Nautilus Ref. 5711 will be discontinued, I heard from a customer I spoke to today that it is a strong possibility... I wonder what will happen, but I think it's best to wait and see...
see you!