Patek PhilippeChronometro Gondolo

Between 1872 and 1927 Gondolo & Labouriau, based in Rio de Janeiro, were Patek Philippe’s best client, absorbing almost a third of the company’s annual production. While Europe struggled with war and economic difficulties, Brazil enjoyed an economic boom and Gondolo & Labouriau were there to service it. In recognition of their importance, not only was their name added to the dial or inner case back but an entire movement designation was also termed the ‘Chronometro Gondolo’. This meant that the train wheels were cut from 9ct gold rather than brass and the movement architecture had to follow a specific patented design. 

This example has a white enamel dial with black Roman numeral hour markers and an Arabic minute track. The gold hour and minute hands are in the ‘whip and spade’ style, with a sub-seconds dial at 6. The case back is engine turned in a barleycorn pattern with a vacant central plaque. The gold inner movement cover is engraved with the retailer’s name along with the model name. The movement has ‘wolf-tooth’ winding wheels, a screwed compensation balance, a Breguet overcoil balance spring and a snail-cam precision regulator. 

The watch is in remarkably well-preserved condition. The dial is clean and free of cracks, the case has only light marks and scratches, the movement has light wear to the gilding of the winding bridge but is in otherwise clean condition. The watch winds fully and runs well. It is offered with an extract from Patek Philippe’s archive confirming the date of sale as of July 3^rd 1912.