Not every timepiece from the world’s greatest watchmaker fits neatly into the mold of an overarching theme or collection.
While we love a simple Patek Philippe 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 often 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. Patek enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the Brazilian retailer, Gondolo & Labouriau, for almost 60 years — from that, the Gondolo collection was born. Veering away from the traditional aesthetics of round-cased watches, the Gondolo contains a wide variety of complications in tonneau-shaped cases that explore a more adventurous side of Patek Phillipe’s watchmaking.
This particular Gondolo is of the more complicated ilk, and perfect for those who enjoy their haute horlogerie packaged in an avante-garde format: Housed in a 43mm x 30mm 18K white gold rectangular case with a diamond-set bezel, a signed crown, and a sapphire crystal, it features a handsome, sunburst black dial with applied, diamond indexes, a matching 'leaf' handset, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6. An outer, white minute track completes the picture of a unique, slightly quirky piece of fine watchmaking.
Powered by the manually-wound Patek Philippe Cal. 215 PS movement and paired to a signed, blue alligator leather strap with a white gold pin buckle. While everyone else is zigging, try zagging with this left-of-center Patek masterpiece!