While Patek’s best known dress watch might be the Calatrava, they have indeed produced a wide plethora of dress watches that speak to their traditionalistic view of horology and their classic aesthetic. Speaking to that very viewpoint is the ref. 406J that we have here. Launched in the 1930s following the Art Deco period, this timepiece is inspired by the zeitgeist of its period with an 18kt yellow gold rectangular construction that boasts a variety of angles and edges for Patek’s craftsmanship to show through. This same craftsmanship is on display behind its 18kt yellow gold snap caseback with its finely finished manual-wind movement. Boasting an elegant silver dial with applied gold Arabic numerals and elegant leaf hands, with a railroad track chapter ring and equally elegant sub-seconds dial, this timepiece is the same embodiment of elegance that you might expect from a brand with Patek Philippe’s prestige.

A timelessly elegant design, as evidenced by the number of rectangular watches we still see today, the ref. 404J is the perfect example of how a brand like Patek Philippe can maintain such relevance over such an impressive amount of time.