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Lot Essay
This interesting and unusually well-preserved collection of three different-sized "Chronometro Gondolo" pocket watches is beautifully presented in a custom-made box.
The “Chronometro Gondolo” was available in several sizes, mainly in openface pink gold cases, fewer in yellow gold, or silver. Diameters ranged from 32 to 57 mm., movements from 10''' to 22'''. The "Gondolos" were Patek Philippe's only timepieces made with a gold wheel train in the 20th century.
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. 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.
The “Chronometro Gondolo” was available in several sizes, mainly in openface pink gold cases, fewer in yellow gold, or silver. Diameters ranged from 32 to 57 mm., movements from 10''' to 22'''. The "Gondolos" were Patek Philippe's only timepieces made with a gold wheel train in the 20th century.
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. 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.