Patek Philippe Gondolo

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, overlooked and usually limited-production, shaped watches made by the maison in the second half of the 20th century are some of the most innovative and charming in the brand’s oeuvre. The Gondolo collection in particular has an interesting history rooted, not in Geneva, but Rio De Janeiro. The maison enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the Brazilian retailer Gondolo & Labouriau for almost 60 years and from that, the Chronometro Gondolo was born. Veering away from the traditional aesthetics of round-cased watches, the Chronometro Gondolo gave rise to the so-called ‘form’ watches produced by Patek.  This example, a Reference 5098R, dates to 2011 and features an 18k rose gold tonneau case with screw-set lugs, a curved sapphire crystal, a signed crown and an exhibition caseback showcasing Patek’s manual-winding Calibre 25-21 movement. Its silver dial features a mesmerizing guilloche finish, a gold chapter ring housing stylized Arabic indices printed in a brown tone and a nickel-blackened white gold ‘spade’ handset. Fitted to a signed brown alligator leather strap with a model-specific 18k rose gold pin buckle, this piece is accompanied by its signed leather folio containing its books, purchase receipt, hangtags and Certificate Of Origin dated October 2011. With a professionally refinished case and a flawless engine-turned dial, this stunning 5098R offers  something a bit off the beaten path stylistically for Patek Philippe, while connecting to a fascinating piece of the maison's history!