Today, when someone says , perhaps you think of a Nautilus, a Calatrava, or if you’re like us, a Reference 3940 perpetual calendar.
These larger-than-life pieces have made Patek the brilliant behemoth it is today. And yet, equally valuable are Patek’s quirkier, more acquired pieces, which present an exceptional value, and as much, if not more personality than their conventional references. The Reference 5135J Gondolo in particular has always been one of those pieces.
The Gondolo collection has a fascinating history rooted in Rio De Janeiro. Patek enjoyed a fruitful partnership of nearly 60 years with the Brazilian retailer Gondolo & Labouriau. From that, the Chronometro Gondolo was born. Veering away from the traditional aesthetics of round-cased watches, the Chronometro Gondolo challenged conventional approaches to watch design. The tonneau case of the 5135 is a bit more playful and retro, and it plays well with the other vintage rooted details of the complication layout. The nostalgic tonneau case shape from Patek Philippe was often extended to Patek’s more complicated configurations — perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, and annual calendars among others.
The Reference 5135 is an annual calendar — convenient, reliable, and serviceable. Executed here in a 39mm 18K yellow gold case, this Reference 5135J features a sapphire crystal, a smooth bezel with polished finishing, signed crown, and a sapphire exhibition caseback framing the maison’s self-winding Calibre 324/205.
Fitted with a silky smooth champagne dial, this piece features day-date-month indicators north of center, a 24-hour subsidiary register with moonphase display, a matching dauphine handset, & applied ‘dart’ indices, and Breguet indices at 3 and 9 respectively.
Outfitted with a signed brown alligator leather strap with a yellow gold pin buckle, this 5135J comes to us with a host of factory goodies including outer box, inner box, signed leather folio, pamphlets, pusher setting tool, and a Certificate of Origin dated October, 2007.
While the tonneau case layout evokes a bygone era, the complication layout is actually quite contemporary for Patek, with an array of apertures across the dial displaying a suite of full calendar indications — a perfect fusion of vintage aesthetics and modern refinements.