Today's offering showcases this very rare 1950's Patek Philippe ref. 2555 Calatrava , one of the company's iconic watches. A successor to the famous ref. 96 and brother to the 2457, it is essentially the sweep seconds and waterproof version of the first Calatrava. It is one of the original Calatravas...true classics that occupy prestigious places among the great wristwatches of the 20th century.

Featuring an elegant, understated face and beautiful case, the watch showcases sleek lines and subtle elegance, expressing artistic originality at its very finest. As Patek Philippe aptly describes, "These inimitably elegant men's watches are impervious to short-lived trends, recapturing the hearts of each new generation."

It is in beautiful original condition and its dial is stunning - one of or perhaps the nicest dial of any Patek that has ever passed through our halls. It is original and untouched and yet looks near new-old-stock.

We purchased an incredibly impressive collection of sixteen special Pateks and Rolexes including this one from a doctor who was a collector's collector - a gentleman with tremendous knowledge, discerning taste, a disciplined eye for detail. Each rare watch has its original buckle and many have original boxes.

This awesome 2555 is fully Patek down to the dial, all hands, winding crown, band, and 18K buckle. The buckle is later period. The band is older vintage and may be watch's first original band, but we cannot confirm that. All of the other components of the watch are not only Patek, but original to the watch.

Its Calatrava case is better than near mint with light signs of having ever been polished. Despite what the blurred photo suggests, the hallmark on the underside of the lug is crisp. And its high-grade, Patek Philippe movement is running strong and true.

Photos of the inside available upon request.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.

The approximately dozen that have come up for sale in the last 15 years at the major auction houses normally achieve auction prices of at least $11,000 - $13,000 USD with the occasional one going much higher through a bidding war, and this is as fine or finer of an example than any that we have seen. For offering prices for a number of these please follow this link:

Please inquire if you would like us to obtain an Archive Extract.

Accompanying it is its Patek box. It comes with Patek band and buckle making it ready for immediate enjoyment.

• Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
• Country of origin: Switzerland
• Serial no.: 709,941
• Year built: c. late 1950's to early 1960's
• Model: Ref. 2555
• Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
• Designed for: Men
• Case material: 18K gold
• Case markings (inside): Patek Philippe & Co, Geneve, Swiss, 0.750
• Case condition: Better than near mint with fairly light signs of polishing
• Dimensions: 32mm wide (excluding crown), 40mm long lug tip-to-tip
• Dial: Silver "sigma" dial with applied solid gold baton indexes, outer 1/5 second register, original and untouched, near new-old-stock condition
• Hands: Original, gold, "batons"
• Movement type: Cal. 27 SC stamped twice with the seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodium-plated, fausses côtes decoration, 18 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator
• Movement markings: Patek, Philippe & Co., Eighteen (18) Jewels, Adjusted Five (5) Positions, Three (3) Heat, Cold, Isochromism, Geneve, Swiss, 709,941
• Band: Patek Philippe, remborde, good condition showing fairly light wear, equipped with later period 18K Patek Philippe buckle
• Width between lugs: 18mm
• Crystal type: Acrylic, excellent condition
• Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
• Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
• Box/Papers: BOX - Patek box; PAPERS - PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
• Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee