The Patek Philippe Gondolo | family history
The Gondolo name honors Gondolo and Labouriau, a Brazilian retailer that commissioned special-shape Patek Philippe cases in the early 20th century. The contemporary Gondolo 5200 carries a rectangular case with the cal. 215 PS hand-wound movement: Patek's clearest design statement in dress watches that is not a complications reference.
Patek's art-déco rectangular collection, named for the Gondolo & Labouriau jewellery house that commissioned many early Patek pocket watches. A refuge from the tyranny of the round case.
1900s-1920s · Gondolo and Labouriau commissions
Gondolo and Labouriau, a leading watch retailer in Rio de Janeiro, commissioned special rectangular and cushion-shaped pocket watches and early wristwatches from Patek Philippe in the early 20th century. These were sold under the Gondolo name and became associated with the design-forward special-shape tradition within the Patek catalog. The name lapsed and was revived by Patek in the 1990s.
No references from this era in the catalog yet.
1993-present · The modern Gondolo
Patek relaunched the Gondolo in 1993 as a modern rectangular dress watch family, drawing on the original retailer commissions for case geometry. The 5200A (steel) and 5200G (white gold) carry the caliber 215 PS, a manually wound movement with a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. The rectangular case is proportioned to balance wrist presence with elegance; it is Patek's most design-forward non-complications reference.
How to read this family
Two questions for Gondolo buyers:
- Is the Gondolo 5200A steel or gold the right choice? The 5200A in steel is the most accessible Gondolo entry point and trades at a significant discount to the white gold 5200G. Steel Patek dress watches are also more versatile for daily wear. Buyers who are new to rectangular Patek watches often start with the 5200A and find they prefer the steel aesthetic for a watch worn regularly.
- How does the Gondolo compare to the Calatrava for a first Patek? The Calatrava is Patek's round dress watch, the more traditional entry, and trades more frequently on the secondary market. The Gondolo is the design-forward choice: a rectangular case is a stronger aesthetic statement and carries more risk of not suiting a particular wearer. If you know you prefer rectangular cases, the Gondolo is the right Patek. If you are uncertain, the Calatrava is safer.
Related families: Calatrava · Aquanaut
References in this family
Which ref to buy
The Gondolo takes its name from the Gondolo & Labouriau retailer in Rio de Janeiro, one of Patek's most important early 20th-century clients. Reference 5124 is the current rectangular Gondolo -- an Art Deco case format with in-house caliber 215, Patek's ultra-thin manual-wind movement.
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Gondolo 5124 -- rectangular Art Deco Patek, ultra-thin manual-wind caliber 215, historically grounded and underrated within the catalog.
- The case for it:
- The 5124 is one of the most historically informed references Patek currently makes. The rectangular case references Gondolo's commissions from the 1920s. Caliber 215 is among the finest thin manual-wind movements in production. Within the Patek catalog, the Gondolo is often overlooked, which keeps secondary market prices relatively accessible compared to Calatrava.
- Consider instead if:
- Rectangular Patek cases attract a narrower collector base than round references. The Calatrava has stronger secondary market support. Buyers who want Patek resale performance should prioritize round references.
Rankings last reviewed 2026-06-07. Editorial perspective only. Not financial advice.