Model: Calatrava Reference: 565 Date: Manufactured 1944, Purchased 19th February 1945 Movement: Jewelled Cal.12-120 manual wind, No.925859 Dial: White, black baton hour markers with applied polished Arabic numeral quarters, black outer minute track with 5 minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6, polished pointed baton hands Case: Brushed and polished round, screw down back stamped FB for Francois Borgel, inner cap, No.634116 Strap/Bracelet: Black Patek Philippe alligator leather Buckle/Clasp: Signed steel buckle Signed: Case, dial & movement Size: 35mm Accompaniments: Extract from the Archives 注脚 In 1938 Patek Philippe released the reference 565, predominantly in gold but also stainless steel like the present lot and with numerous dial variations and sweep centre seconds or a subsidiary seconds dial at 6. The reference 570 was launched in the same year, both coming six years later than the reference 96, Patek's first Calatrava. Perhaps most importantly and when compared with the reference 96, the reference 565 has a case that is 5mm larger, 35mm as opposed to 30mm and it also features a screw down case back, making it Patek's first truly water resistant Calatrava, further enhanced by the two piece case construction. It was one of the first Patek Philippe wristwatches to be part of a series with a stainless steel case. The reference appealed to a public with an increased appetite for outdoor pursuits and certainly met their needs. The reference was phased out in 1952 by which time it housed the updated calibre 12-400 as opposed to the 12-120.