Comments:
What a catch. Looking forward to seeing more of this one when it comes back from service. The dial is gorgeous.
I can see it was a tough choice with Rolex, but I think you know you made the right choice.
Dean
I only own a watch to wear it. Simple as that. Every watch I own gets worn. Otherwise, what is the point?
Patek 3541G
My visit to Paris did not have the intention of buying a watch. But when I saw this, I had to move on it. I will provide a much fuller article on this watch in due course, but for the moment, and because my excitement is high, I will provide just a few glimpses and tastes of this watch.
Produced in 1966.
Satiné silver dial.
Cal. 27-460 M
Diameter 36mm
This watch has never been serviced. It has hardly ever been worn. When I looked at the movement, I think it was the first time the case back had been removed. It comes with its original white gold bracelet that is absolutely NOS condition....totally unstretched. It comes from its original owner. This is the closest I have ever come to buying a 50yr old watch that is essentially brand new. The 3541 in yellow gold can, occasionally, be found. In white gold......much much harder. I was intending to bid in the Geneva auction for a 3445 white gold. The 3541 is essentially a bigger case version of the 3445. I had to have it....!!
Paris is dangerous city
combined with Nicolas and Mr. M it is hazardous to health
Great catch indeed we need en face and movement pictures please
this is too much teasing
Looks like you had great and fruitful time indeed
Best
Damjan
Regrettably....
......the watch is now heading to Patek, Geneva,.....no service in 50 years....it needs a little care
A superb linen dial. A great case, and a nice movement.
You are spoiled, my friend.
Excellent decision!
Huge congratulations.
Nicolas
stunning pristine piece!
Love these old automatic pieces esp in such good condition
Julian
Yes...like a new watch.
Having said that, it desperately needs a service. The movement needs oil....the hands are not working with accuracy...etc etc. This is what one would expect from a watch that has never been serviced in 50 years. The dial, bracelet, case etc are like new.
The movement is one of the best automatic movements Patek have made....to have a vintage piece like this is a total thrill for me.....for sure.
well done!
Congratulations on a wise purchase - In its current mint condition and after a full service by Patek, it will be a constant source of pleasure to you. Last year I bought a lovely 1947 IWC and sent it back to IWC for a lengthy but thorough restoration. It now looks brand new and best of all it is accurate to minus 2 seconds daily which is quite incredible for a 67 year old watch. Bearing in mind, your Patek is 19 years newer, you should expect similar results at the very least.
PS. I did buy a Saxonia manual at the end of the day - perfect size, ultimate elegance!
Indeed...
.....in 6-9 months time, i will have, essentially, a new watch. For me, the fact that the dial, case and hands are like new and that Patek will not touch these aspects is an added bonus.
Oooh, what a delight !
What a catch. Looking forward to seeing more of this one when it comes back from service. The dial is gorgeous.
I can see it was a tough choice with Rolex, but I think you know you made the right choice.
Dean
A number of things to consider....
.....first, my Rolex collection is not empty.
...second, I have become a little bewitched by these 1960s Pateks....i find the simplicity and purity quite special....and on this front, my Patek collection is very empty.
I also think that opportunities to buy a watch that is in such unusual condition is very rare.
27-460
27-460 is most probably the best simple automatic movement from Patek. Design, hand finish and reliability, it has simply everything.
NOS grade of a vintage watch is a dream. The condition is the most important criterion for such a piece.
White gold is understated, elegant and rare.
You have them all. Big congratulations!
Many thanks.....
.....when i saw the watch, it was quite something. We left and had a coffee...i had to go back straight away to secure it. I just had to jump on it.
Yes, sad to see it leave immediately for Patek Geneva, but it needs some love there.
An awesome catch.. Unusual but elegant linen dial.. Very noble also.. Congrats !! :))
.. now I know, why nothing else this time ..
The old saying again confirmed "
"Never leave Paris with empty hands !.. "
Wear her in the best of your health !!
Best, hs
The old saying again confirmed "
"Never leave Paris with empty hands !.. "
Wear her in the best of your health !!
Best, hs
Many thanks, H
Yes, I think it is safe to say that I did not plan this one....but nonetheless am delighted to have found it.
And as the old saying goes....when you ave to shoot......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYGRIGwR7Uo
Another scan.....
Apologies for no more detailed shots....
Catching the dial in the right way is spectacular with this one.
From a golden era of Patek watches. Simplicity. Elegance. Yes, as a collector of mainly vintage Rolex, this offers something quite different and to be honest very appealing.....
That is a stunning catch, Baron! :)
Huge congratulation, my friend!
Looking forward to read your full report on this one Best
Blomman
Question
And now for the $64k dollar question- will you wear it?
Ridiculous as it sounds, a vintage NOS Patek can be both a blessing and a curse if you're faint of heart.
Will this remain a trophy piece, highly coveted but pristine and untouched? Or shall it be enjoyed as intended, a pleasure perhaps denied by its original owner.
easy
I only own a watch to wear it. Simple as that. Every watch I own gets worn. Otherwise, what is the point?
I was discussing this with Blomman....
.....he will tell you what I feel...namely that IF a watch doesn't get onto my wrist, then I think of selling it. The only purpose of a watch is to wear it, appreciate it and enjoy the feeling it brings.
Congatulations
Honestly speaking I am a little surprised by this purchase which does not fit what
I am used to seeing in your collection. But what a fantastic purchase!
Elegant and sophisticated - the dial is beautiful.
A splendid watch. Big congratulations. And many fun evenings with it.
Best Edmond
Ah, Edmond....
.....perhaps my style is a little more eclectic that you imagine.
From Reverso Rouge, to Patek 5070, from 1950s JLC to 2014 GMT. Maybe I don't have quite the narrowness of taste that my Sea-Dweller theme portends.
What I will say is that this watch is timeless. It has aged 50 years and yet looks totally comfortable on the wrist today as it did 50 years ago. Patek Calatrava, like Rolex Submariner, manage to capture timelessness in a way that virtually no other watches do. Add Reverso to that list. Name me a vintage Rolex that one can really wear appropriately at a Black Tie or evening event? Its actually hard. I think one could put forward one or two suggestions, but actually JLC and Patek do formal much much better. To think about why I would purchase such a watch as this?
1) 50s and 60s were a golden era for Patek watchmaking. The 27-460M is one of the finest automatic movements made by Patek. The 3541 is an unusual reference as it is effectively the 3445 but with an enlarged case....which of course makes it very usable today. Unlike today's watches, this was not mass-produced in any sense.
2) 3541 in yellow gold would not suit my taste. But in white gold, it is not only beautiful but in all likelihood I will never see another one for sale again...and certainly not in NOS condition from the original owner. Auction records show just one sold in the last decade. Procrastination is not a great skill when it comes to situations like this.
3) Timelessness is a theme in itself. To be able to find watches that are timeless is something that sits well with me. Yes, the adage that one buys a Patek to pass on as inheritance.....LoL...but with a timeless watch, that is actually true. True for Submariners too.
4) Variation of style is something I mention a lot when discussing collecting. As a vintage Rolex guy, I suffer the same fate as most in my position...namely the question from my wife..."Why have you got so many watches that look exactly the same?" LoL. So, as a foil to that process I look for my non-Rolex watches to add a certain variety and difference to the overall collection. 1960s, white metal Patek Calatrava offers a perfect balance to my mind. It makes total sense to me. You think that the 3541 is just an evening watch? That would be just wrong in my view. Ask Blomman..... it has a dial which offers something special and works just as well as a casual day watch or , with the white gold bracelet, as an evening watch.
Simplicity, timelessness, variety, history. This Patek is, for me, a really obvious part of my collection. It is one of the reasons that Patek is Patek. Yes, I know that the forum is populated with modern Patek wonders, super-complications, Nautilus, Chronos etc.... but actually, what is "central" to Patek derives from classic timelessness. Take a look at the 1950s and 1960s Calatravas. It is a treasure trove of discoveries.
I thought this link was funny... i thought i was completing a theme....I was just starting!!
very interesting view Baron
Evening watch?
In White Gold like this, this is imho the perfect everyday watch, classy in a suit and tie, perfectly elegant in smoking as well as with Tshirt and jeans. And if it is waterproof, I would even dare to take a shower with it. I love it and its rarity add something that tickles me a lot 
Enjoy this beauty.
Yep....
.... it wasn't me that suggested just evening wear...it was Edmond's comment that made me respond. I agree....no reason why this is just evening at all.
Evening mostly
well you could wear it with a nice shirt on a summers /autumn day.
But I am not a fan at all of when collectors wear such watches with Jeans (thankfully I own not one single pair) and a t-shirt.
No this watch looks best with a nice Ironed shirt from Naples. Or saville row.