The Calatrava logo comes from the Order of Calatrava, one of the oldest orders (1158) established in the Iberian Peninsula. As for the choice of symbol, there is no record of the reason for this choice in the Patek Philippe archives.
However, one of the reasons that could explain this choice, in addition to aesthetic reasons, could be linked to the origin of the company's founder, Antoine-Norbert de Patek (1812-1877), originally from Poland and very faithful to the Catholic religion.
From the 1870s onwards, the cross-shaped logo was integrated into numerous watch cases from the Geneva manufacture, especially those intended for export.
In the 20th century, starting in the 1960s, the Calatrava cross was applied to all wristwatch movements and crowns, as well as in business communication.
The Calatrava collection, birth of a legend
Adopted by Patek Philippe at the end of the 19th century, the Calatrava cross has represented, for more than 60 years, the symbol of perfection and mastery. Far from being a simple aesthetic symbol, this emblem has its roots in the Middle Ages.
When warrior monks like the Templars ensured the defense of the Holy Land from the conquests of the Crusaders, Spain faced the invasion of the Moors. Thus, in 1158, the order of Calatrava, the oldest and most important of the Iberian chivalric orders, was founded by a Cistercian abbot to defend the Castle of Calatrava located on the border of the Muslim zone.
In 1487, when its last grand master died, the order was associated with the Spanish crown and its knights, alongside the Catholic Monarchs, set out to reconquer Granada, the last Moorish stronghold. Whether as a proud ornament of Christians or as a delicate detail on a timekeeper's crown, Calatrava's cross symbolizes victory. Today we continue to follow a crusade: that of the conquerors of the domain of time.
Calatrava is one of Patek Philippe's most emblematic collections, to the point of being named after the brand's symbol. It is also one of the great references of watchmaking elegance. With its refined and timeless aesthetic, it stands out as the quintessential round wristwatch.
Its first version appeared in 1932, inspired by the minimalist principles of the Bauhaus, a German school of architecture and applied arts whose maxim was “the form of an object is determined by its function” or “less is more”.
Hence its round case, which perfectly reflects the circular architecture of the movement, and its clean dial that favors clarity and legibility.
Since 1932, this great art of simplicity has been reinterpreted in countless male and female versions, giving rise to one of the richest collections of Genevan manufacture.