Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1903 Movement No: 122’052 Case No: 231’323 Model Name: Chronometro Gondolo Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 21”’, lever escapement, stamped “PAT. Jan 15 1891 Dimensions: 56mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and cuvette signed Accessories: Delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the present timepiece with engraved initials F.B. in 1903 and its subsequent date of sale on 2nd July 1903.
Catalogue Essay
With an established history of creating some of the world’s most impressive pocket watches, the Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo is certainly one packed with an interesting background. Rewinding back to the mid-1800s, the firm established a successful connection with a group of Brazilian gentlemen known as the members of the Gondolo Gang, which was an exclusive watch collector’s club created by Rio de Janeiro based retailer Gondolo & Labouriau.
In 1902, Patek Philippe created a series of pocket watches with the inscription “Chronometro Gondolo” above the signature on the dial equipped with a specific request for gold gear trains with keyless winding. Furthermore, the cuvette is engraved with the retailer’s signature.
The present example in pink gold is preserved in attractive overall condition boasting a clean dial. With a cal. 21”’ movement, the main bridge is further engraved with “PAT. 15 Jan 1891” delivered with an Extract from the Archives confirming the engraved “F.B.” initials on the caseback, which was most likely the initials of one of the members from the original Gondolo Gang.
Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.
