So I am bidding on this Patek 3574, in steel with a silver Calatrava cross dial. Too few records of auction results for this specific dial. Best records I can find are Christies - had the last 2 at $18,500 and $31,400 with B&P, so its a big spread. See those results below: https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/patek-philippe/calatrava/ref-patek-philippe-3574/lpi The dial is positively intriguing. Check out the zoomed in pics of the one from Christies - are those made by machine or by hand? Also the distortion of that dial makes it hard to know if the logo printing is original https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/...-always-time/tonneau-shaped-ref-3574-30/28402 Short video on IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BGHLxasDoSv/ Below is the watch I am looking at - with the provided pictures its very had to know whether or not the dial retains all the fine details
It looks a little lopsided to me... or the texture of the dial is throwing me off. But I'm thinking lopsided.
The photo is a bit lopsided. Lets see, straightening it out. I also think that the picture is not taken 100% head-on. I can see some of the inside of the left lugs from the photo. Supposedly this is a silver dial - so its basically the raw dial, then the logo gets printed on it - no lacquer similar applied to the dial?
Personally I would want this authenticated and to see movement shots. This is sending me the wrong signals. Not a PP cognoscenti though.
These pictures are all I can get.The timegrapher says its keeping pretty good time, but large beat error - so probably needs a service, but that's not too much of an issue. I can return it if it's fake or franken. The main concern is that dial. Not a PP expert as well, but the font looks right if you consider all that distortion from the dial. Poor pictures are not helping. Conversely, could be an opportunity.
I'm not feeling the love for that one. I think the dial is probably fine, but you say it will likely need service. That's not a trivial exercise in dollars. What concerns me is all the glop on the backside of the case. Is that rust? pitting? or just miscellaneous crap? I tend to think the former rather than the latter. If it were just miscellaneous crap surely they would have cleaned that up before taking the auction photos. I/m not a big fan of steel Pateks in the first place, but I certainly don't want five figures of rust and pitting. Just my $0.02.
Fortune favors the brave, so I took a risk and just won it. Anxious until I can have it opened up and authenticated
good luck. for me it's remarkably un-Patek in it's form and aesthetic. don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a C Case Patek, but... meh.
I suspect that the dial is fine. Printing on textured dials will invariably appear distorted relative to a smooth surface.
Too many question marks for that kind of money Although you have kind of committed to it ……Walk away & leave it be …wait… until you find example where, all the boxes ticked unequivocally
Not a huge fan of c-cases but I'd bet the texture of that dial is pretty incredible in person. Good luck!
The dial looks like flock wallpaper that's been painted over. If you're paying that kind of money there are plenty of classic Pateks about. Or check out the '50's to '70's Vacherons that are I think a bit cheaper but also look great and have lovely movements.
Well, its arrived! Had to chase the mailman's truck as I was out when he attempted to deliver. Its very casual looking and probably would not catch notice until the sun hits the dial, so hard to capture in photos. The caseback just had body lint (yuck) not corrosion. Anything look off with the movement?