Patek Philippe Calatrava 1591 Stainless Steel

About this reference

The Patek Philippe reference 1591 was produced during the 1940s, with this specific stainless steel execution dating to approximately 1944. Collectors prioritize this reference because it is a perpetual calendar with a central seconds hand and an indirect drive movement, specifically the caliber 12'''120 SC modified by Victorin Piguet. The case features a 35mm diameter and a screw-down back, a rare technical specification for Patek Philippe complications of this era. Only two examples in stainless steel are known to exist, making it significantly rarer than its yellow gold counterparts. On the secondary market, this reference commands prices in the mid-seven-figure range. A notable auction result occurred in 2007 when a stainless steel 1591, previously owned by a Maharajah, sold for over 2.2 million CHF, establishing it as one of the most expensive steel wristwatches ever sold at that time.