Oversized Calatrava with decentral seconds two-tone dial.

Some watches impress at first glance and are easy to comprehend, others - like the reference 570- reveals itself more gradually. The longer you look at it, the more convincing it becomes.

When Patek Philippe introduced the ref. 570 in 1938, it wasn’t a radical departure from the ref. 96, more a thoughtful evolution. The original Calatrava of 1932 had already defined the maison’s modern dress watch, but at 31 mm it reflected the scale of its time. The 570, at 35.5 mm, felt different. Not oversized in a contemporary sense, but confident. Purposeful. For the late 1930s, it must have carried real presence on the wrist.

What makes the 570 so compelling is its sense of proportion. The polished, flat bezel is slim and precise, allowing the dial to breathe. The lugs are long and gently arched, giving the case an elegant stance without appearing fragile.

The two-tone dial is where the watch truly settles into its own rhythm. The opaline surface has a softness that catches the light without glare. Applied yellow-gold hour markers and Arabic numerals at the quarters provide structure, while the fine minute track frames the composition gracefully. The slender needle hands seem almost weightless as they move across the dial. And then there is the subsidiary seconds at six o’clock; a small detail, customary for the period, that anchors the entire design and gives it depth.

This example dates to 1946 and remains in great condition, especially after eight decades of life. The case retains its shape and definition; the dial has no blemishes or other defects. Still showing the raised enamel lettering on the "long signature".

It comes with an extract from the Patek Philippe archives and is fitted with a PP black alligator-leather strap and an 18k yellow-gold ardillon buckle by Patek Philippe.