Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G-001

Think of investment in luxury watches and one of the first watch brands that springs to mind will be Patek Philippe. Ditto dress watches. And heirlooms. If you want a timeless aesthetic, superb craftsmanship, quality and elegance, the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G-001 is an excellent choice. Some would say the Calatrava is the very embodiment of the family-owned Geneva watchmaker's philosophy, their commitment to excellence, and the constant pursuit of perfection, beauty and timelessness. I'd have to agree.
The secret is in the simplicity. Patek Philippe are all about sleek, elegant, slimline timepieces that denote enduring style rather than flash-in-the-pan fashion trends. Patek Philippes do not follow fashion. That's because they don't need to. Heritage is what's important here. For the first Calatrava, they followed the first principle of 20th Century modernist architecture: form follows function. Updated for the 21st century audience it might be, but the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G-001 is still undoubtedly a descendant of the original 1932 Ref. 96, with its 37 mm case size, silver dial, small seconds at 6 o'clock, and manual movement.
The white gold case and gold-applied baton hour and minute hands give the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G-001 a modern vintage kind of look and feel. The same goes for the small seconds subdial at 6. The sunburst-style design of the subdial is very '50s revival. The black leather strap and white gold buckle add to that effect.
The Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G-001 has a calibre 215 PS mechanical manual movement with a height of just 2.55 mm. So very slender. It boasts a grand total of 130 parts, 18 jewels, 5 bridges, and bears the Patek Philippe seal. The 215 movement is renowned for reliability, accuracy and longevity, and has a power reserve of 44 hours minimum. It displays hours, minutes and the aforementioned seconds at 6.
Patek Philippe watches are loved and worn by some of the most famous faces on the planet. Russian president Vladimir Putin has a comprehensive watch collection that includes a Calatrava. Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have similar tastes; both own a Patek Philippe Aquanaut. Brad Pitt loved his Nautilus so much he bought then-fiancée Angelina Jolie a Minute Repeater. Even the Dalai Lama has a Patek Philippe, albeit one gifted to him by the late President Kennedy. That's a pretty broad spectrum that includes musicians, actors, legendary musicians, a politician, and a Buddhist monk. On a serious note, it's testament to the understated elegance that lies at the core of the brand.
The Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G-001 is water resistant to 30 m, and that's just fine because this is the polar opposite of a divers watch. Also, you do not drop your Patek Philippe in water. It would be more than just bad form. If you're reading this, you're probably a collector. A budding enthusiast at the very least. So you'll understand that accidents do not happen when you're wearing a Calatrava.
The care and attention is well worth the joy and the reward – let's not forget the prestige – of owning and wearing this particular luxury watch.
You can view our latest unworn Patek Philippe watches as well as the newest additions to our collection of pre-owned luxury watches currently in stock here.
Images Credit – officialwatches.com vedere di piu falso rolex e Chopard Grand Prix De Monaco Historique