Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo 18ct Rose Gold Pocket Watch

Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo 18ct Rose Gold Manual Winding Pocket Watch, Circa 1905

An antique Patek Philippe ‘Chronometro Gondolo’ 18ct rose gold manual winding pocket watch. Comes with original certificate of originality.

Date of Manufacture 1905. Made in Switzerland, Geneva

Signed “CHRONOMETRO GONDOLO, FABRICADO EXPRESSAMENTE PARA GONDOLO & LABOURIAU, RELOJOEIROS, RIO DE JANEIRO, MOVE”

Made for ” Gondolo & Labouriau Rolojeiros”.

Dimensions –
Pocket watch size : 7.5 x 5.4 x 1.4 cm
Weight : 118 grams

• Movement No : 133.482
• Calibre : 21”’, gold wheels, lever escapement
• Case No : 240.200
• Style : Open-face, bassine, 18kt rose gold
• Type of Dial : Enamel, Roman hour markers, black numerals, small second hand

Condition : Pre-owned, minor wear, no damage, excellent condition.

Carlos Gondolo and his partner, Paulo Labouriau came up with an idea not too dissimilar to Breguet’s ‘souscription watch’ concept. They founded a buyers’ club for 180 watch enthusiasts. In the first week, members paid ten dollars a week and then drew lots, with the winner acquiring a Patek Philippe. The celebrated Chronometro Gondolo, a calibre specially created for Gondolo and found in no other Patek Philippe timepiece was the coveted prize. The second week, the remaining 179 members again paid ten dollars, and so on until the last 79th week, when all the remaining members, each of whom had paid 790 dollars, received their own Patek Philippe watch. Besides being a huge success with businessmen, who found this method of buying by lottery amusing, the club enabled the Brazilian distributor to sell 180 Patek Philippe timepieces in less than two years. These types of watch were sold between 1902 and the early 30’s.