The look of the classic Calatrava is relatively formulaic. Applied stick indexes, flowing midcase, coin edge or hobnail bezel, silver dial, etc.
Dressy, simple — Bauhaus.
That said, not every Calatrava was treated to the elegant design ethos from which the the maison built the model's foundation on. The blueprint for the sporty, water resistant Calatrava was set by the Reference 565 released in 1938 alongside the iconic 570. A modern 35.5mm at the time, the 565 had a sportier case and screw back.
In 2006, in celebration of the brand new Patek Philippe boutique in Geneva, the brand released the Reference 5565A. A STUNNING sporty Calatrava that maintains the classicism of the model DNA, while providing a sector dial, two tone dial, and other field watch details making this particular piece an ideal everyday watch. Luminous syringe hands, dot indices, applied Arabic numeral and sticks, the eclectic mix of finishes makes this watch a modern masterpiece.
Limited to just 300 examples with an engraving on the caseback to commemorate the boutique's opening, this piece is indeed very, very special. Actually, you can say the same for any steel Calatrava.
Housed in a stainless steel, 36mm case, this piece wears incredibly comfortably. If that’s not enough for you, it’s also a manually-wound piece! This just builds the field watch prominence, and adds some romance to the design.
Looking for a different take on the Calatrava? This is your watch!