When it comes to watch clubs, the Brazilian “Gondolo Gang” or “Clubs Patek Philippe” is nothing short of legendary. Recognizable by their sombrero hats proudly emblazoned with "PATEK", these gentlemen, who cherish exceptional timepieces alongside wine and cigars, began with a membership of 180. The Gondolo Gang is particularly noted for pioneering the concept of the “club watch”, epitomized by their Chronometro Gondolo pocket watch.

Named after a prominent Patek Philippe retailer in Rio de Janeiro, this collection represents the legacy between Patek Philippe and Gondolo & Labouriau from 1872 to 1927. It introduced a novel selling concept to the Brazilian market, where exclusive pocket watches were offered through a lottery system. Retailers sold the Gondolo, valued at 740 Francs, to club members at a more accessible price. Members paid a weekly installment of 10 Francs over 74 weeks until the watch was fully paid. In a weekly drawing, the first member received their watch at no cost, while the next week's winner needed to make only one payment. This continued until every member received a watch, often at a more favorable price.

Cased in pink gold, the present example of the 20-lignes Chronometro Gondolo features a highly rare and well-preserved enamel dial. Accented in red at 6, 12, 18, and 24, this pocket watch distinguishes itself from its counterparts. Research indicates that only 12 examples with this configuration are known. Having been kept in a private collection for 20 years since its last appearance on the market, this Chronometro Gondolo comes with an Extract from the Archives confirming its manufacture date in 1908.