Introduction
Released in 1932 and named after the cross that the Calatrava Knights paraded around Spain and Portugal during the 12th and 13th centuries, the Patek Philippe Calatrava was released as a simple timepiece with broad appeal that would help secure Patek Philippe's finances following Jean and Charles Henri Stern's investment in the brand in the same year. Designed with a strict Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic in mind, the Calatrava used, and continues to use, simplicity as its means of establishing intrigue around the craftsmanship required to construct such a stunning timepiece. Without a complicated movement or a busy design, collectors gravitate towards the Calatrava's clean aesthetic and practicality, and the ref. 2588J we have here embodies that same design language perfectly.
Launched in the late 1950s, the ref. 2588J features a 33mm 18kt yellow gold case in the same understated style that the Calatrava had become known for. Featuring a simple silver dial with a two-handed display and large three-dimensional applied golden indices, the ref. 2588J’s display boasts an impressive level of depth. Still practical for a modern collector, the ref. 2588 merges the Calatrava's original design brief in its purest form with a diameter and styling that contemporary collectors can enjoy to this very day with its swooping beveled lugs and discrete winding crown.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$6,000 – $12,000
The Details
Brand
Patek Philippe
Dimensions
33mm
Model
Calatrava
Movement
Manual-wind
Reference
2588J
Bracelet
Leather strap
Year
Circa 1967
Condition
Excellent
Material
18kt yellow gold
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
Silver
THE DIAL
Featuring an understated silver dial with three-dimensional applied indices and only two hands for its time-telling function, the ref. 2588J's display is an experiment in thoughtful restraint.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Featuring a wonderfully elegant 33mm 18kt yellow gold case, the ref. 2588J's swooping beveled lugs and discrete crown combine to create a wearing experience unlike the majority of Calatravas from the same time period.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall excellent condition. The yellow gold case shows light surface scratches and small marks, while the case back retains a well-defined personal engraving. There is a still-legible hallmark visible on the back of the mid-case near the crown. The Calatrava cross-embossed crown remains in excellent condition. The dial shows a couple of surface marks along with some degradation around the hour markers at two, three, and four o’clock. The hands remain clean. It is fitted with a new black leather strap and a gold-toned pin buckle.
Please Note: Due to CITES considerations, if the watch is to be shipped outside of the USA, the exotic skin strap will have to be removed.
Our Perspective
Infamously understated as per its Bauhaus design inspiration, the Calatrava has come to embody timeless watchmaking design, and this ref. 2588J with its simple two-handed display and discrete crown stand as proof of that design brief.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
