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. 3445 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. Measuring a svelte 35mm in diameter by today’s standards, but rather large for the time, the ref. 3445J's 18kt yellow gold case is a wonderfully executed reminder of Patek Philippe's craftsmanship with its thin stepped bezel, straight lugs and recessed crown all combining 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, its boasts thin applied indices and thin sword-shaped hands to match, with a small subdial at 6 o'clock and a bordered date aperture, that all combine to give the ref. 3445J a surprisingly complex dial, even though it might seem simple at first. With small dots marking the minutes, the ref. 3445J’s display continues where its construction took off by showcasing that Patek can squeeze a lot of design into a watch that is seemingly simple and understated.

Entirely classical in its design and execution, the Calatrava ref. 3445 is a wonderful representation of the Calatrava's Bauhaus design ethos and luxurious, yet understated, aesthetic.