Patek Philippe is almost no need to introduce the brand. In the watchmaking world, the brand is known for producing high quality, extraordinary complexity and highly sought after timepieces. In the real world, Patek Philippe has been hailed as one of the most prestigious brands in the world, a symbol of wealth, status and taste. Patek Philippe Calatrava Replica is also a pioneer of many technological advances, including the earliest perpetual calendar, the earliest calendar, and the first solid quartz watch without moving parts (surprisingly), the brand has always been at the forefront of innovation. Patek Philippe Timepieces is one of the most understated collections, but it has been proven by innumerable facts to preserve its value forever. For example, humble low-key Calatrava watch, also known as the model is a formal dress. This series of articles will give the reader a detailed history of the Patek Philippe Calatrava, starting with the Reference 96 watch from 1932.

(Left) Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 Original design drawings, David Penney; (right) An early Calatrava Collection Reference 96 watch, Patek Philippe Museum
A brief history of Calatrava
The idea that Patek Philippe is in financial crisis today seems incomprehensible and even absurd. The Swiss watchmaker has proved itself immune to the ebb and flow of the industry in the past two years and the downturn has failed to stop the brand momentum. However, this (in a financial crisis) is exactly what the Patek Philippe faced in the early 20th century. Despite numerous patents and awards, and a broad client base, including some of the most famous collectors of the time in the world, the company was in trouble.

Jean Stern and Charles Stern
Jean Stern and Charles Stern became the savior of Patek Philippe, the brothers in 1932 acquired the company’s controlling stake. Prior to this, their family already owned the Fabrique de Cadrans Stern Frères, a factory that supplies dials to Patek Philippe. The brothers know that to stabilize the situation, there is a need to introduce a simple, mainstream watch that will make Patek Philippe timepieces attractive not only to high-end collectors, but while still maintaining the brand’s design and manufacturing excellence and reputation for excellence. Their solution is the Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 watch.

Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 watch
In the early 1930s, the watch was still relatively new, but the best replica watches review became popular quickly after it was widely used in the First World War. In the tide of the times, the watch has become a practical and reliable tool, even for those far away from the battlefield. In the meantime, with the advent of cars and airlines, the pocket watches, which are closely linked to the railways, become increasingly obsolete. Accuracy and reliability are the buzzwords of the time, surpassing design and aesthetics. Recognizing this market shift, Patek Philippe introduced a timepiece that perfectly combines precision with prestige.
Calatrava A Calatrava Cross originating from the ornate Calatrava Cross. In 1158, for the first time in a war against the Moors and defending the Calatrava fortress, a knight regiment used the emblem on march flags. On April 27, 1887, the Calatrava Cross was registered as a trademark and registered with Patek Philippe, but it was not until the 1960s that the symbol appeared more regularly on the crown and movement of the Patek Philippe watch. The series, named after Calatrava, shows its importance to the brand and has indeed played an important role since its inception.

1940s Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 Watch Advertising
Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 watch is a symbol of low-key elegant, but also by many as a blueprint for the ultimate dress table, but also the first introduction of digital numbers Patek Philippe watch. Inspired by the Bauhaus-style principle of compliance, David Minney’s minimalist design simplifies the luxury replica watches for sale to the purest of essentials. No extra detail, no overstatement, and since its introduction in 1932, its concept has remained almost unchanged over the past 85 years. It is no coincidence that antique Calatrava watches are still sought after by collectors. However, before I discuss it in detail, I think it is necessary to find out about the Bauhaus Institute in order to fully understand why the original design is everlasting.

After the First World War, architect Walter Gropius founded an unorthodox art school in Weimar, Germany, in 1919, which was closed 14 years later (1933, one year after the Calatrava series was launched). The core idea is the unified concept of design in all aspects of life, that is, art and industrial design can be unified. The focus is on functionality through a simplified geometry that allows new designs to be copied easily without cutting the end-user experience. The college teaches students to focus on practicality and necessity while focusing on functionality and ease of use. It also extends to typography, which is seen as a practical means of communication and artistic expression, first of all emphasizing visual clarity.

Understanding these, the Bauhaus effect on the design elements of the David Penney Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 96 watch is also evident. First, the 31 mm diameter round case reflects the shape of the internal movement and the passage of time. Case is only 9 mm thick, with a smooth bezel and snap back. At the same time, the lugs are not welded but integrated into a three-piece case with a gradual taper to ensure a perfect fit to your wrists and comfortable fit. This type of architecture is considered commonplace today, but much of this is due to the far-sightedness of the Reference 96 watch as it elevates the lugs from insignificant footnotes to an integral part of the overall design.
However, what sets the Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 apart from the rest is the minimalist modern dial design. Like the case, the dial avoids the complex finishing touches of the previous Art Deco era and reflects the philosophy of obedience to the Bauhaus form. Focus on the clearest, most attractive way to show time, and only time. In the original version, a gold trapezoidal hour marker was attached to the outer edge of the dial, a small seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and two pointy faceted gold tweezers to indicate hourly information. If the layout looks familiar, it’s because it has been repeated thousands of times by Patek Philippe and those trying to emulate the style of the former.

Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 watch equipped with a diameter of 12 points of the movement
Original Patek Philippe Calatrava Series Reference 96 watch equipped with a product movement, the movement diameter of 12 points. Previously, Patek Philippe had been buying movements from Jaeger-LeCoultre, but that changed quickly after the brothers Stern and Charles Stern. Since 1934, the Jaeger-LeCoultre movement has been replaced by a Patek Philippe self-made movement of 12 “diameter 120. At that time, Patek Philippe’s technical department was headed by Jean Pfister and the diameter of 12” 120 homemade Movement, is the first R & D results of the technical department. However, it is said that some early wristwatch applications are still the old movement, those movements probably acquired the remaining inventory. This is not uncommon in the field of antique watches, after all, the implementation of unified norms at that time is less than what it is today.