THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: PATEK PHILIPPE
MODEL: 3590
YEAR: 1974
CASE DIAMETER: 35mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND

The Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 3590 here dates to the first year of the model’s production in 1974, seemingly a reasonable time for a “new” model to be introduced. However, by then, the Calatrava line had already amassed over four decades of heritage, with dozens of preceding references. Just a year earlier, the ref. 3520 had debuted, featuring a 35 mm case, an effort by the brand to offer a slightly larger dress watch along with the now-iconic “Clous de Paris” guilloché bezel.

The 3590 followed shortly after, housing the ultra-thin 28-255C movement (based on the JLC 920). The present example is among the earliest to have left the Patek Philippe factory, and over 50 years later, it has barely aged a day.