Patek Philippe Calatrava 6006G "Tiffany & Co"

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A contemporary Calatrava, the 6006G is a modern interpretation of Patek Philippe’s classic dress line with an asymmetrically positioned subseconds and two distinct chapter ring. Marked with the stamp of famed jeweller "Tiffany & Co", this collaboration remains elusive among modern Patek Philippes.

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This is the Patek Philippe Calatrava reference 6006G. Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is a name synonymous with high horology. A company that has always been privately owned, Patek has been manufacturing watches for almost two centuries without interruption. The company is currently owned by the Stern family, whose heritage dates back to when they were supplying dials to Patek in the 1920s. Incidentally, the Calatrava was also the first model released by the Stern family as the staple time-only watch in the brand’s collection.

To understand the Calatrava, one must hark back to the roots of the model with the reference 96. The first Calatrava was also the debut of the brand’s first in-house caliber, the cal. 920. Produced over a 40-year span, the 96 would set the foundations of all future Calatravas. Dimunitive, minimalist and dressy, these characteristics would go on to define the future references within the line as the brand’s flagship dress piece. The reference 570 was released during the same period as the 96 with a larger case size, though the smaller case size was more favourable during that time period. Fundamentally, the idea was the same, spawning later variations such as the aforementioned 6006G.

Introduced in Baselworld 2017, the 6006G is an evolution of the original reference 5000 which was introduced in the early 90s and replaced the 6000G in the brand’s lineup. As much as the reference 5000 was distinct, the 6006 is aesthetically as different from the others as a Calatrava can be. Long known as a discreet dress piece, the 6006 was a display of contemporary design from Patek Philippe. The dial features two distinct chapter rings - an inner minute track surrounded by the hour markers and an outer track featuring the date indicated by a hand tipped with a red arrow. The only distinguishable similarity with the reference 5000 is the small seconds between the 4 and 5 o’clock. With reference to its direct predecessor, the 6000, the case size was increased to 39mm while largely similar in aesthetic.

In addition, this particular 6006G is double-signed “Tiffany & Co” as part of its ongoing collaboration with the famed jeweller. Originally the brand’s first retailer in the United States since the mid 19th century, Tiffany & Co New York is the only retailer in today’s context that produces co-signed models with Patek Philippe and a co-signed Patek Philippe, be it modern or vintage, is highly elusive.

While the 6006G may not be the quintessential Calatrava, its certainly holds its own in being one of the more recognizable and modern variants. Unorthodox and quirky, the 6006 may not be a reference that caters to the purists but is undoubtedly a refreshing take on the brand’s attempt to evolve and modernize a staple dress watch in its lineup.