Inspired by the “Chronometro Gondolo” collection that Patek had created in the early 1900s for upscale Brazilian importer “Gondolo & Labourier,” the Patek Philippe Gondolo was launched in 1993 as a means for Patek to embrace the Art Deco designs that were once again becoming popular in the world of watchmaking thanks to brands like JLC, Rolex and others with their Reversos, Cellini Princes and various other watches. Using the Art Deco skyscrapers that split the skylines of the world’s major citites, the Gondolo boasts a beautifully fashioned case that features a stepped bezel and soft curves in between these contrasting surfaces. A dress watch that is removed from the world of plainer round dress watches, the Gondolo adds some flair to the category of watch that is typically more refined, all the while maintaining the tenets of dress watch design, such as its understated dial design, manual-wind movement and precious metal construction on a leather strap. In keeping with these parameters, the ref. 5124G that we have here sports an 18kt white gold case, a stunning salmon dial with a running seconds subdial and a manual-wind cal. 25-21 REC PS movement that exhibits some of Patek’s beautiful finishing beneath its sapphire crystal caseback. A truly stunning watch, this beauty speaks to the elaborate designs of the Art Deco period without going overboard and trying too hard, which demonstrates Patek’s ability as a watchmaker and designer to remain faithful to the adage that sometimes less is more.

Demonstrating Patek's ability to take a 100-year-old source of inspiration and create something contemporary that tastefully pays homage to that inspiration, the ref. 5124G is entirely classical-looking and yet perfectly modern.