Patek Philippe Calatrava Cloisonné 'Tropical Leaves II'

First presented in 1932 with the Reference 96, the Patek Philippe Calatrava is the benchmark for classic men’s dress watches. This groundbreaking collection set the stage for nearly every piece Patek has released since, and became the blueprint for other brand’s approaches to classy men’s timepieces. Heavily influenced by the Bauhaus design philosophy, the Calatrava was then considered extremely modern with its minimalist, less-is-more approach to watch design.

In the years since 1932, Patek has released dozens of Calatrava references, each with its own idiosyncrasies. Almost all share the underlying DNA of the 96, prioritizing subtle elegance above all else.

This piece, a Reference 5177G-020, may at first seem like a far cry from the collection’s sparsely-decorated origins — however, this “Rare Handcrafts” watch deftly combines the Calatrava’s more minimalist underpinnings with the stunning savoir-faire that allows Patek Philippe to stand out from crowd. Housed in a 38mm 18K white gold case with a signed crystal, a clous de Paris bezel, and a sapphire crystal, it features a stunning scene crafted in enamel with tropical leaves set against an olive brown background.

Powered by the Patek Philippe Calibre 240 automatic micro-rotor movement and paired to a signed, green alligator leather strap with a white gold pin buckle, this piece is an exceptional combination of the traditional Calatrava design and the maison’s artisanship. Accompanied by its factory goodies, it’s truly a work of miniature, wrist-worn art.