Patek Philippe Gondolo 'Tiffany & Co.', 2010s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

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 Calatrava, a sporty Aquanaut, or a complicated perpetual calendar as much as the next guy, the oddball, overlooked, and typically limited-production shaped watches made by Patek Philippe in the second half of the 20th century (and into the 21st) are 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 in Rio De Janeiro. Patek Philippe and Brazilian retailer Gondolo & Labouriau enjoyed a fruitful relationship between 1872 and 1927, with the Brazilian retailer selling over 22,000 Patek "Chronometro Gondolo" models during this period. Veering away from the traditional aesthetics of round-cased watches, the Chronometro Gondolo — which honors the brands' relationship — gave rise to Patek's so-called ‘form’ watches. Indeed, the importance of the Brazilian firm to the maison has been surpassed only by that of Tiffany & Co in New York. This particular Tiffany-signed Gondolo watch, a Reference 5098R, dates to the 2010s and features an 18k rose gold tonneau case with screw-set lugs, a curved sapphire crystal, a signed crown, and an exhibition caseback showcasing Patek’s manual-winding Calibre 25-21/176 movement. Its silver dial features a mesmerizing guilloché finish, a gold chapter ring housing stylized 'Arabic' indices printed in a brown tone, a nickel-blackened, white gold ‘spade’ handset, and a ‘Tiffany & Co.’ signature connecting the paralleled history of these two storied retailers. Fitted to a signed brown alligator leather strap with a model-specific 18K rose gold pin buckle, this piece is in excellent condition and offers something a bit off the beaten path. A regular production 5098R is fantastic, but a Tiffany & Co.-stamped dial adds an additional cool factor while connecting to a fascinating piece of the maison's history!