A rare and highly collectible piece, the Patek Philippe Gondolo was the most sought-after watch among high society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 1872, Patek Philippe entered into an exclusive partnership with Gondolo & Labouriau, a retail store based in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of the Empire of Brazil, which became one of the brand's main distributors in South America.
At a time when the European continent was going through a serious economic crisis, including due to the First World War, the Gondolo & Labouriau store was responsible for selling a third of all Patek Philippe production.
The jewelry store sold Patek Philippe watches to a sophisticated clientele, with the most famous model of the time being the "Chronometro Gondolo", a high-precision pocket watch. Because it became so famous, "Patek" became a substitute for the term "watch", and men would buy a Patek instead of a watch, even if it was not a Patek Philippe watch.
This beautiful piece is made of solid 18k gold and measures 51.5mm in diameter. It is an even more exclusive watch, as it was commissioned and personalized for Victor Caruso, probably a high society man of the time. The beautiful mechanism has been completely overhauled and is in perfect working order considering the age of the watch.