Patek Philippe Ellipse Gondolo 'Onyx'

Not every timepiece from the world’s greatest watchmaker fits neatly into the mould of an overarching theme or collection.  While we love a simple Calatrava, a sporty Aquanaut, or a complicated perpetual calendar as much as the next guy, the oddball, more overlooked and usually limited-production, shaped watches made by Patek Philippe in second half of the 20th Century are often some of the most innovative and charming in the brand’s oeuvre. Take this Gondolo for example. Dating to the 1970s, this Reference 3633 is housed in a beautiful, 29mm x 34mm 18K yellow gold ‘ribbed’ case with a glossy black onyx dial with matching onyx cabochon winding crown and a yellow gold “dauphine” handset. It is powered by a manual-winding Patek Philippe Calibre 177 movement and comes fitted to a signed, black alligator leather strap with a signed 18K yellow gold pin buckle.  Fantastic! To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with a classic Calatrava if what you’re after is a handsome, reliable dress watch that slides easily under the radar. But for those in search of something a bit…more, this piece, beautiful and truly scarce, is a piece of wearable art — and there's no telling when one of these in any condition will surface again.