Live Auction 1383Important Watches
Patek Philippe. A rare and unusual mid-size stainless steel wristwatch
Lot 294

Patek Philippe. A rare and unusual mid-size stainless steel wristwatch

SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE CO., GENÈVE, CALATRAVA MODEL, REF. 438, MOVEMENT NO. 912'266, CASE NO. 634'058, MANUFACTURED IN 1945

Closed14 November 2011

Price Realised

CHF 6,875

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

Patek Philippe. A rare and unusual mid-size stainless steel wristwatch
Signed Patek Philippe Co., Genève, Calatrava model, Ref. 438, movement no. 912'266, case no. 634'058, manufactured in 1945
Cal. 10'''110 nickel-finished lever movement, 17 jewels, protective cap, silvered matte dial, black enamel baton and applied stainless steel Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, circular water-resistant-type case, flat bezel, screw back, case, dial and movement signed
28.5 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvered dial and raised steel hour markers in 1945 and its subsequent sale on 8 July 1946.

Reference 438, launched in 1935, is a rare variant of the celebrated Calatrava model, distinguished by the water-resistant case with screw back and its boy-size. The model was available in the three gold versions and in stainless steel.

The present example is believed to be one of only six references 438 in steel with this dial layout to appear in public to date.