Perhaps the most iconic dress watch collection ever, the Patek Philippe Calatrava embodies the very essence of what a classically-styled timepiece should look like. Creating the entire dress watch niche in 1932 when it was released, the Calatrava has become a mainstay within Patek Philippe’s offerings, with the ref. 3425 that we have here existing as one of the mid-century Calatrava references that helped grow the collection’s name into what it is today. Launched in 1960 as part of Patek’s collection of waterproof automatic Calatravas, the ref. 3425 measures a svelte 35.5mm in diameter by today’s standards, but it was rather large for the time. A wonderfully executed reminder of Patek Philippe's craftsmanship with its thin stepped bezel, straight lugs and recessed crown, the ref. 3425J's 18kt yellow gold case combines various details into one harmonious design. Even its lugs, while they appear simple, boast a sharp angle that only made the watch more complex to create. Boasting a silver dial that is also surprisingly complex, it boasts thin applied indices and thin sword-shaped hands to match, with a small subdial at 6 o'clock that gives the ref. 3425J a surprisingly complex dial, even though it might seem simple at first, similar to how its screw-down caseback added to the timepiece's difficulty to manufacture.

A great entry into vintage Patek Philippe collecting. The 3425J is simple, well-proportioned, and timeless automatic dress watch that is practical, beautiful, and classic Geneva watchmaking through and through.