On May 15, 2017, Christie’s will sell a Patek Philippe Calatrava in Geneva which could be one of the most significant watches to sell in the modern collectible watch era, of course that might not just the reason you are thinking about. Surely, there’s no doubt that watch is a unique one, and actually would cost much in price. The Calatrava is one of the least common references made by Patek Philippe, and when they come up for sale it’s generally big news. But that isn’t why you’re reading this story. No, this Calatrava coming to Christie’s is such a fascinating lot because its result may finally open up a discussion long held in the back offices of Milanese pushers, of Swiss auction houses, and penthouse apartments of Asian mega-collectors. When will replica watches become OK to own? Or are real watches the only ones worth anything and shall those that have been refreshed keep efficiently outcast? Now we will give the answer to you, but first let’s talk about the basic topic of what the Calatrava is. 
This sale was a significant one as that lot validated that the 530 was indeed made not only as a chronograph but as a time-only Calatrava.
Generally speaking, before we vilify Christie’s, it is well-known to you all. First, they announced that this watch was sold publicly with a silver dial and that a black dial was added within the past 10 years. Second, the watch was born with a black dial! That means this new black dial is actually more correct than the silver dial with which we became first acquainted. The archive extract for this watch reads “Type of dial: Black, raised hour markers in steel.”
So things become more interesting in this way, the watch for Christie’s, for the consignor, and for any potential buyer. It is completely obvious here that this fake watch wasn’t born with this dial. But that doesn’t make the dial incorrect for it.
Will A Strong Result Mean It’s OK To Modify A Watch If It’s Done Well?
So, let’s think about the watch here and what it might mean to the industry. Now it seems as if only original watches are worth buying and paying full price for. If a watch has been cleaned, or retouched, or modified in any way, it is a quick turn off to most purchasers. The huge values placed on condition and originality are rather recent phenomenon, and some of the most crucial vintage watches in the world feature dials that have been cleaned or corrected in some way, and that was, well, seemed so nice. But because we currently live in a world where it seems that a handful of dealers and auction houses are able to produce “untouched” replica watches with some regularity, and the world’s wealthy continually pay record-setting prices for them, what happens to the rest of the watches?