Patek Philippe Gondolo

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 relationship, 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, a Reference 5024J, features a