Hey guys - hope you all had a great Christmas!

I had a question on a Patek Calatrava I have found for sale online recently.

The listing and caseback indicate the watch is a reference 2568-3 / 4. However, I'm struggling to find another Calatrava of this reference which matches the dial or the case shape of the watch in question. The key differences being that many of the other examples of this reference (more specifically the 2568-3) seem to have different lugs, and also seem to be missing the plots on the outer rim of the dial, which is more consistent with what you’d expect to see of a 2588. I have attached some pictures below for reference.

Does this suggest the dial, case, or simply the caseback of the watch has potentially been swapped somewhere down the line? Or was it relatively normal for Patek to have some variance in design amongst the same reference number? Could it be possible that the 2568-3 / 4 is distinct from a 2568-3, and therefore their designs could be different?

I am somewhat new to the world of Patek so any help of guidance would be much appreciated before I dive in!

Thank you.

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The watch in question (2568-3 / 4):


Comparison found online (2568-3):


Comparison found online (2588):

 

I couldn't really follow the OP, but those three watches appear to be three different references to me. If you do some more research and find 5-10 examples of the various references, I suspect that you will learn to distinguish them by the shape of the case and lugs, and you will know if one has been frankenized or mis-labeled.

 

Apologies if it was unclear in my post - but the three watches I have presented here are the result of my having done this research.

To summarise:

1. I've looked into the reference 2568-3 / 4 but found no examples that looked identical to the model I found for sale (which is shown in picture 1).

2. When I did look into other examples for the reference 2568-3, they mostly had different dials and, more notably, different case shapes (as showcased in picture 2).

3. If we now turn our focus to the dial - I could not find any 2568 references with dials that features the outer plot makings seen on the watch in question, and when I did find a similar dial, it was for a different reference, namely the 2588 (as showcased in picture 3).

My findings would suggest that there may be something off or "franken" about the watch I have found for sale - but I don't feel like I am familiar enough with Patek Philippes to draw any certain conclusions on this.

 

If the other ref 2568 examples you found have a different case, then you have your answer. No further analysis needed IMO.

 

I'm not very familiar with that model, but having done a few minutes of research, I would say that it's clear that the reference was produced in at least three distinct case designs. They were also produced in two and three handed versions! For expediency, I'll simply post supporting links (below).

My inference from this is that the one that the OP is considering is likely original.

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sub-second versions with lugs like the first in the OP's post:

https://www.europeanwatch.com/watch...alatrava-18K-Rose-Gold-Manual-Wind-21617.html

https://www.vintagewatchesmiami.com/content/article_detail.lasso?article=8494

two-handed version with no lugs, and an integral bracelet:

https://ermitagejewelers.com/watches/Patek-Philippe/Calatrava/2568/3/1332WPP

three-handed, hooded lug version:

https://www.artcurial.com/en/lot-pa...1950-montre-bracelet-en-or-boitier-rond-anses

a variety of the styles:

https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/watches/patek-philippe/calatrava/ref-patek-philippe-2568/lpi