Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Calatrava Fab Suisse / 96 Stainless Steel from 1937/38 / serviced

Here we have a truly special piece: a Patek Philippe Calatrava 96 that has remained in the previous owner’s family since it was first acquired. He inherited the watch from his great-grandfather (1870–1966), an engineer based in Paris, who purchased it in the 1930s. This watch is unmistakably French in character. At the very bottom of the dial, you will find the inscription “fab suisse.” This marking stems from a late 19th-century French law requiring imported goods to indicate their country of origin—an elegant historical detail that ties the watch closely to its Parisian past. The flat indices and leaf hands are entirely consistent with reference 96 models of the 1930s. Based on my research, and considering the individual case and movement numbers, this example was most likely cased in around 1937/38, but the movement was produced earlier, which was common practice back then.