Released in the 1970s before the Nautilus collection, the Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 3574 is a wonderful marriage between typical sporty design and Patek’s refined elegance. Extremely rare and not too well documented, the ref. 3574 is a departure from Patek Philippe’s typical designs, thanks to its stainless steel construction. Exceptionally rare amongst Patek’s offerings before the Nautilus and Aquanaut, the ref. 3574’s stainless steel case positions it as one of the foundational references that enabled Patek Philippe to broaden their catalog with other steel watches. Manually wound and employing a thin tonneau-shaped case, this is certainly not like the modern Patek Philippe timepieces we see today. So, it’s difficult not to appreciate this obscure reference and all it stands for, even if we don't know as much about it as Patek's modern stainless steel watches.

An obscure offering from Patek that we don't see very often, the ref. 3574 is an elegantly designed watch that would have largely departed from Patek's typical style when it was released. No doubt, it was a risk at the time, but now it has given us a stunning watch that collectors lust after.