Jean and Charles Henri Stern, purchased a controlling interest in the fledgling company in 1932 and introduce a simplified, mainstream model that would broaden the appeal of Patek Philippe timepieces beyond high-end collectors, while still maintaining the brand’s exceptional reputation for quality and excellence in design and manufacturing. Their solution was the Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 96. The Patek Philippe Calatrava was the first dress watch. Perfectly suited to just about any occasion, it is not by chance that the design of the original Calatrava has remained largely unchanged for decades. The Calatrava takes its name from the ornate Calatrava cross, the cruciform symbol first used on the marching banners of the Calatrava knights who defended the Calatrava fortress against the Moors in 1158. This same symbol was registered as a trademark, alongside Patek Philippe & Cie, on April 27th, 1887, although it only started appearing more regularly on the crowns and movements of Patek Philippe watches from the 1960’s onwards. The use of the Calatrava name for this collection gives an indication of its significance to the brand, and indeed it has played a major role ever since.