Swiss 18k pink gold Chronometro Gondolo with 24h dial Circa 1908

Pink gold lever by Patek Philippe
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A fine and rare Swiss, 18K pale pink gold, keyless Chronometro Gondolo with a 24-hour dial, circa 1908. Delivered on 13 October 1908 to Gondolo & Labouriau, Relojoeiros, Rio-de-Janeiro. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives. An engine-turned case, hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with radial Arabic numerals, Red chapters 6-12-18-24, outer minute track and subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hands. A gilt brass movement, gold wheel train, 21 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring with Patek Philippe patented micrometric index. Dial, case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Patek, Philippe & Cie Genève
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The case is slightly rusted.
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This watch was serviced by Patek Philippe in September 2005. Chronometro Gondolo. Between 1902 and the early 30s, Patek, Philippe produced high-quality watches of precise characteristics, called Chronometro Gondolo, exclusively for its Rio de Janeiro agent Gondolo & Laboriau. Several types were offered: cases of gold, silver, or niello silver; a choice of 12- an hour or 24-hour dial; and various types of hands. Diameters ranged from 32 to 57 mm. The movements varied between 10 and 22. The movements were required to possess the following characteristics: An ebauche based on a drawing registered by Adrien Philippe, with wolf tooth winding and a crown. François Wilmot’s patented micrometric cam regulator, A 9K gold train.
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A straight line moustache lever escapement with cut bimetallic compensation balance and a Breguet balance spring. A minimum of 18 jewels (there were either 18, 19, 20 or 21 jewels). Certain models had a centre seconds hand or a chronograph mechanism. Although a fairly large number of Patek Philippe movements made during the 19th century had gold wheel trains, after the Chronometro Gondolo, Patek Philippe made no other watches with gold trains. During the 1920s, the first Gondolo wristwatches appeared. They were made in various shapes: round, square, rectangle, tonneau or cousin. Art Deco Chronometro Gondolo watches were made, either ultra-slim or of a carré galbé shape.
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Gondolo & Laboriau introduced a novel kind of marketing for the Chronometro Gondolo, which was also a brilliant public relations operation: the buyers of the watches paid by instalment. They remitted the equivalent of ten Swiss francs per week for a period of 79 weeks maximum, and in return become part of an exclusive club of 180 members. Special outings and picnics were held, each member received a hat with Patek inscribed on it, and in addition, they could take part in a special lottery. Weekly drawings were held, the winner receiving his Chronometro Gondolo. We thank Arnaud Tellier and the Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva, for the information kindly provided by them.