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Lot Essay
The present "Chronometro Gondolo" is one of Patek Philippe's exceedingly rare examples of this model featuring a hunter case as opposed to the more commonly found openface version. According to research, only five other hunter case Gondolo watches of different case sizes have appeared in public to date, however only one other with the same 53 mm. diameter, rendering this specimen exceedingly rare.
Fresh to the market this Gondolo is furthermore accompanied by the original box numbered underneath with the movement number 132'244, spare crystal with numbered paper and spare mainspring and, most importantly, the original certificate confirminng the “savonnette” or cover for the hunter case as well as the engraved initials J.S.
Interestingly and further underlining the fact that a hunter case is unusual for a Chronometro Gondolo, the designation "découverte" (openface) on the pre-printed Gondolo certificate was crossed out when the certificate was originally completed by hand and the designation “savonnette” subsitituted.
The relatively small number of hunter case Chronometro Gondolo watches that have appeared at auction to date would suggest that the hunter case version was supplied only when requested by a customer.
Chronometro Gondolo
On 12 November 1872, Patek Philippe supplied its first watch to the Rio de Janiero based retailer Gondolo & Labouriau. Until 1927, when the relationship ended, approximately one third of Patek Philippe’s entire production was sold through this Brazilian retailer. Many watches were made that are now known as Gondolo watches and wristwatches and they represent some of the most coveted Patek Philippe watches ever produced. The reasons are simple: the quality of these timepieces is impressive in their unique technical requirements which is how they were originally sold to exclusive members of the ultimate watch collecting club, the Gondolo Gang.
Five basic requirements were requested by Gondolo & Labouriau to distinguish the watches made for them from the watches made for Patek Philippe’s regular production. First, that the ébauche be based on Adrien Philippe's patented design US patent o. 20483 of 13 January 1891, the S-shaped minute train bridge now considered one of the company’s hallmark designs, secondly, a 9K gold train, thirdly, a straight line "moustache" lever escapement with cut bimetallic compensation balance and Breguet balance spring, fourthly, a minimum of 18 jewels, fifth, François Wilmot's patented micrometric cam regulator US patent 129197 registered on 16 July 1872.
Fresh to the market this Gondolo is furthermore accompanied by the original box numbered underneath with the movement number 132'244, spare crystal with numbered paper and spare mainspring and, most importantly, the original certificate confirminng the “savonnette” or cover for the hunter case as well as the engraved initials J.S.
Interestingly and further underlining the fact that a hunter case is unusual for a Chronometro Gondolo, the designation "découverte" (openface) on the pre-printed Gondolo certificate was crossed out when the certificate was originally completed by hand and the designation “savonnette” subsitituted.
The relatively small number of hunter case Chronometro Gondolo watches that have appeared at auction to date would suggest that the hunter case version was supplied only when requested by a customer.
Chronometro Gondolo
On 12 November 1872, Patek Philippe supplied its first watch to the Rio de Janiero based retailer Gondolo & Labouriau. Until 1927, when the relationship ended, approximately one third of Patek Philippe’s entire production was sold through this Brazilian retailer. Many watches were made that are now known as Gondolo watches and wristwatches and they represent some of the most coveted Patek Philippe watches ever produced. The reasons are simple: the quality of these timepieces is impressive in their unique technical requirements which is how they were originally sold to exclusive members of the ultimate watch collecting club, the Gondolo Gang.
Five basic requirements were requested by Gondolo & Labouriau to distinguish the watches made for them from the watches made for Patek Philippe’s regular production. First, that the ébauche be based on Adrien Philippe's patented design US patent o. 20483 of 13 January 1891, the S-shaped minute train bridge now considered one of the company’s hallmark designs, secondly, a 9K gold train, thirdly, a straight line "moustache" lever escapement with cut bimetallic compensation balance and Breguet balance spring, fourthly, a minimum of 18 jewels, fifth, François Wilmot's patented micrometric cam regulator US patent 129197 registered on 16 July 1872.