Patek Phillippe & Co.

Patek, Czapek & Cie was founded in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek. A great invention, in 1844, Jean Adrien Philippe receives a bronze medal for his keyless winding and hand-setting system at the Industrial Exposition in Paris. By 1945, they patented the keyless winding and hand-setting system.

In 1851, the company name becomes Patek, Philippe & Cie – Fabricants à Genève. Also, the same year, the Great Exhibition takes place in London and England’s Queen Victoria is among those who admire the world’s first keyless watches.

Patek Philippe is also the first to create a Swiss wristwatch in 1868, made for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary. They built their foundation by the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s with multiple patents and creations under their name. Patent for precision regulatator in 1881, patent for perpetual calendar mechanism for pocket watches in 1889, patent for first double chronograph in 1902. Also, by the 1910s, Patek Philippe created the “Duke of Regla” Westminster chime pocket watch in addition to, some years later, the first complicated ladies’ wristwatch with a five-minute repeater, No. 174 603.

By the 1920s, the company sold the first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch, No. 124 824. In 1932, the first Calavatra: Ref. 96 was launched. One year later, in 1933, they created the “Graves” supercom plication pocket watch, No. 198 385, for Henry Graves Jr.

The decade of the 1940s was also filled with many successes and achievements – in 1941, regular production of perpetual calendar wristwatches began. In 1944, Patek Philippe won a record number of first prizes for precision in the Geneva Observatory competition. By 1949, the company registered patents for Patek Philippe Gyromax balance.

The years to come were the key to moving into the future – in 1953 the patent for self-winding mechanism caliber 12-600at. The first all-electronic clock was made by Patek Philippe in 1956 and in 1959, they registered patents for time-zone watches.

One of the greatest recognitions and still existing, a Patek Philippe tourbillon movement achieves the still unbeaten world timekeeping precision record for a mechanical watch, at the Geneva Observatory. In 1977, another patent, the ultra-thin automatic caliber 240. Besides of, in 1985 and 1986, the launch of the ultra-thin Ref. 3940 perpetual calendar and a patent for secular perpetual calendar with retrograde date indication respectively.

In 1989, to celebrate 150 years of Patek Philippe, the company launched the Calibre 89 with 33 complications, it has the most ever in a portable timepiece.

Patents continue, in 1996, patent for Annual Calendar mechanism (Ref. 5035J). Additionally, in 1996, Patek Philippe moved into a new production facility in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. The company also has the Patek Philippe Museum opened in 2001 in Geneva.

With 180 years of invention and trajectory, Patek Philippe is undoubtedly one of the most recognized watchmaking firms that we have had the honor of continuing to enjoy not only its timepieces but also the great contributions and advances in the world of horology. 

 
PATEK PHILIPPE
CALATRAVA
Ref. 3537
18K White Gold
Wristwatch

Triple signed Patek Phillippe & Co. – movement, case, and dial.

In the world of high end, collectible vintage watches, few names surpass Vacheron-Constantin, Audemars Piquet, Patek Philippe, which collectively are often referred to as the “Holy Trinity” of watchmaking.

Typically speaking, Patek Philippe has long been regarded as the ultimate leader of the pack, as well as a symbol of accomplishment, prestige, class, refinement, power, and understated wealth.  Many collectors in the watch world have values that fully align with Patek’s slogan, “You never actually own a Patek Phillippe, merely look after it for the next generation.” 
 
Today, we have the honor of presenting an EXCEPTIONALLY RARE timepiece! Very well preserved, it is a classic vintage extra thin Patek Philippe Calatrava dress wristwatch reference 3537 and dated from circa 1965.
 
It is a manual wind watch powered by the original Patek Phillippe & Co. movement caliber PP 23-300, a common and respected small, thin manual movement. As the name implies, the caliber 23-300 is 23 mm (10 ligne) in diameter and 3 mm tall. New mainspring was installed in July 2023.

It is a Geneva Seal movement featuring 18 jewels, adjusted to heat and cold, isochronism and five (5) positions, 21,600 A/h, Swiss made. For many people, the caliber 23-300 is considered one of the best hand-wound movements ever produced by Patek Philippe.

Greatly respected today, the caliber 23-300 is considered one of the finest hand wind movements produced by Patek Philippe from 1956 to 1975. The compact size made it ideal for the popular Patek Philippe Calatrava and similar smaller watches produced in the era.

This gorgeous timepiece is an authentic Patek Philippe, triple signed, with an original silver brushed clean dial with thin silver baton hour markers and silver matching hands. Please be aware that there is a minor chip on crystal between the center and 8 o’clock. 

Stylishly cased in a 33mm 18K white gold case and lug design and the original crown featuring the Patek Philippe Calatrava Cross.

 This watch comes on a vintage black two-piece leather strap.
  
Considered by many to be the most prestigious timepiece manufacturer in the world, with both vintage and modern Patek Philippes, you are not just buying a “watch”, but rather something timeless that could outlast you and be passed on to your children for generations as a family heirloom.
  
Thank you for looking! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or respectful offers.

Movement: 
Patek Phillippe & Co.
Geneve
No. 1146121
23-300
Eighteen 18 Jewels
Adjusted to Heat, Cold, Isochronism & Five (5) Positions
Swiss

Case Markings: 
PATEK PHILLIPPE & Co.
GENEVE
SWISS
18K
0.750
2657104
3537

Measurements (mm):
Case Diameter 33
Case Diameter w/Crown 34.4
Case Lug to Lug 39
Case Thickness 7
Lug Width 16
Band Width 16

Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.

We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust lighting when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.

The condition is pre-owned.
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended.
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

It will be carefully packed.

Please view our other listings.
Thank you for looking!

WA-0596