Walter2
2308
I am not sure that we can talk about DESIGN when we talk about the Calatrava.
For me this is a "grown" design after the twenties. The only one what reminds that there is design, are the long lugs and may be the bezel.
Patek was not the only house who had this case, i have a LONGINES of this years with the same case. I have seen Vacherons in Calatrava style too and others.
My Longines, now my mother wears this watch every day, is from 1935, 18 kt. gold and 31mm. You can observe the long lugs in relation to the case.
I dont think that the design in this years was an important thing, first of all the case were to protect the movement.
May be what we call today design, was the time waste and sometimes we can see some elements of art directions like ART DECO.
Best Walter
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History of Calatrava design?
Greetings, An article on the History of the Calatrava design published recently on the watch webzine « Monochrome » claims (without any source as a back up) that the Calateava design was inspired by Bauhaus. I’m somewhat skeptical and was told on another ...
Since Bauhaus was a popular, progressive style at the time of the original Calatrava's design...
...I would think even if the Bauhaus movement wasn't consciously considered, it would have been an obvious influencer to any designer who wanted to appear 'modern' at that time. The look of the Calatrava certainly can be said to follow the Bauhaus design ...
Much appreciated input....
but I'm specifically looking for information which is positively sourced. I have lost interest in the watch-webzine fashion of unsupported assertions. Thanks and best regards
I recall reading an article in a Patek magazine specially about this !
If I can find the magazine I’ll advise you in due course Regards Darma
I am not sure that we can talk about DESIGN when we talk about the Calatrava.
For me this is a "grown" design after the twenties. The only one what reminds that there is design, are the long lugs and may be the bezel. Patek was not the only house who had this case, i have a LONGINES of this years with the same case. I have seen Vac...
Your statement about the case being "to protect the movement, rather than design" accurately sums up one of the Bauhaus movement's principle philosophies...
Bauhaus focused on geometrical minimalism. It appreciated the look of mass production but stressed the importance of hand craftsmanship. This perfectly sums up the design of the original Calatrava. Although I don't know if it was originally designed withi...
Why not call it « design »?
Not sure why you don’t think design is an appropriate word. Design in the modern sense has existed at least since the turn of the 20th Century with Jugendstil in Vienna, and if there was no design we would not be able to distinguish 1930s watches from 192...
I know you're asked this question of Walter, but I'd like to give you my interpretation of Walter's design comment...
I read his comment to mean that the design is overly simple and almost appears to be lacking in design, that the case was designed with the purpose of housing the movement as opposed to being overly complicated or 'flashy'. It's not designed to look like ...
Calatrava
Dear Emil, excuse my late answer, i was five days off line. I think it is difficult to answer, because you think it is Bauhaus, I think it is coincidentally. I understand, that you will tie up Calatrava to the flat bezel, but Calatrava also had other beze...
Walter, I appreciate your reply, but your description is exactly fitting with the Bauhaus school's philosophy.
Your description that the original Calatrava "has a case, nothing more" is literally a main defining point of the school -- form follows function. Bauhaus stresses that the importance of the case should be simply to house the movement. Although I understa...