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. 3919, launched in 1985, standing as one of the best-known Calatrava references from over the decades of the collection’s production. Launched as a more accessible watch than Patek’s typical Haute horology offerings, the ref. 3919 was universally well-received. Measuring 33mm in diameter, the ref. 3919J’s 18kt yellow gold case features a Clous de Paris guilloche engraved bezel with thin elegant lugs that make it a wonderfully wearable watch. With an understated white porcelain dial contrasting its complex bezel, the ref. 3919J is a masterclass in watchmaking craftsmanship that has resulted in a watch of the ages, with its eventual discontinuation in 2005 providing Patek with the opportunity to launch new Calatrava variants inspired by its iconic design and aesthetic.

Unapologetically classical in its design, aesthetic, and execution, the Calatrava ref. 3919J stands as one of Patek's best-selling watches of the 1990s and it is for good reason.