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Lot Essay
Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture of the present watch with silvered dial and enamel hour markers in 1936 and its subsequent sale on 2 September 1937.
This watch has never been offered at auction before and is thought to be the only example of a reference 96 with such a "roulette" dial to appear in public to date. A particularly attractive example of reference 96, it combines several highly desirable features such as the stainless steel case, the three-tone silvered dial with the superb 1930 design and the celebrated calibre 12'''SC with indirect centre seconds. This ébauche was the result of Louis Cottier's and Patek Philippe's collaboration, where the centre seconds mechanism was ingeniously added to the existing 12'''120 "subsidiary seconds" movement.
Never out of fashion, the finest examples of reference 96 reveal to the best extent how architectural and timeless design remains modern even three quarter of a century after its creation. In such wonderful and original condition, the present watch is one of the worthiest specimens of this landmark model.
Production of the famous Calatrava model with reference 96 was launched in 1932. In 1972 it was replaced by reference 3796.
For another example of a reference 96 in stainless steel see Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 183.
This watch has never been offered at auction before and is thought to be the only example of a reference 96 with such a "roulette" dial to appear in public to date. A particularly attractive example of reference 96, it combines several highly desirable features such as the stainless steel case, the three-tone silvered dial with the superb 1930 design and the celebrated calibre 12'''SC with indirect centre seconds. This ébauche was the result of Louis Cottier's and Patek Philippe's collaboration, where the centre seconds mechanism was ingeniously added to the existing 12'''120 "subsidiary seconds" movement.
Never out of fashion, the finest examples of reference 96 reveal to the best extent how architectural and timeless design remains modern even three quarter of a century after its creation. In such wonderful and original condition, the present watch is one of the worthiest specimens of this landmark model.
Production of the famous Calatrava model with reference 96 was launched in 1932. In 1972 it was replaced by reference 3796.
For another example of a reference 96 in stainless steel see Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 183.