Today I will talk about a work of art from the famous Patek Philippe Maison. The dramatic part of the watch I’m going to review in this article is that Patek no longer produces it. The 5098 model only had the “right to life” for 10 years, from 2007 to 2017. Today, I will make a deep comparison between the original model that made history, and its replica counterpart. Even if the 5098 imitations are rarely available in the replica industry, the manufacturers reproduce them most professionally, so that we, who love the replica watch hobby, can continue to admire this beauty.
My spirit while writing this review
In most cases, I review replica watches that refer to new watch models. But, today, I am writing this review feeling a sort of nostalgia and regret. The reason lies in the fact that the original Patek Philippe 5098 watch was discontinued from production for a very long time. And I feel a kind of regret because, in my opinion, it was a watch that deserved to remain available in Philippe’s heritage for many decades to come.
This Gondolo watch has a distinct shape and design, as you will see in this article. Its aesthetic is extremely close to the Art Deco style, making it absolutely unique in the entire Patek collection. I don’t know what the brand’s exact reasons are for withdrawing it from production. But, I definitely think it should have remained available… forever.
Today I will focus on the highest quality replica watch to honor its history and greatness. The watch I will review is a 1:1 clone, platinum case, and a movement cloned from the original model. I hope you find it as fabulous as I do.
My first, unique and memorable meeting with an authentic Gondolo
I suppose that my passion for this watch has its roots in my first experience with it. A few years ago, when I still knew very little about watches, imitations, and Patek Philippe, I had the opportunity to hold a genuine Gondolo in my hand. Then, I didn’t even realize what value I was actually holding in my hand.
Some time ago, I visited an old friend from Innsbruck with my wife for Christmas. My friend’s wife had bought him a Patek Philippe Gondolo 5098 as a Christmas present. At that time, these models were hardly available, but it was possible to buy one.
I remember perfectly how my friend removed the cellophane from his brand-new watch. I still remember the specific Swiss “smell” that has been imprinted in my subconscious until today. Now, I’m so sorry that I skimped then and didn’t buy one myself, while it was still possible.
Today, I have to settle for just an imitation. Thank God, the imitation is very promising and qualitative, which eases my regret at least a little.
All my history with the original Gondolo has a moral: if you resonate with a certain watch, don’t hesitate to buy it! Don’t put it off until later, because “later” may not exist anymore. I know that a potential solution would be a pre-owned Gondolo watch. But I know for sure that I will not have that “Swiss smell” that I felt in Innsbruck when I unpacked the new watch. A pre-owned watch has many benefits, but it certainly lacks the appeal of a brand-new watch.
For this reason, I am more prone to a replica version, provided that it is of superior quality. And here it is, available on AAAReplica: a replica watch of rare beauty and surprising quality.
Have you ever wondered where the name “Chronometro Gondolo” comes from?
The collection name it’s not random at all, actually. Back in 1872, the brand started collaborating with a Brazilian retailer named Gondolo & Labouriau. Apart from commercial relations, the 2 parties also enjoyed a beautiful friendship for more than 60 years. In light of these fruitful relationships, Patek began to produce a series of special models specifically for the Brazilian retailer. These appeared under their specific name “Chronometro Gondolo” featuring a design different from traditional Patek Philippe watches. The Chronometro Gondolo series came with tonneau and cushion-shaped silhouettes, as well as square and rectangular cases.
Today, the Gondolo collection still retains strong Art Deco elements as a distinctive feature. The watches from the Gondolo family come in a variety of complications from the simplest (time only) to the most complex, including annual calendars. The modern Gondolo collection is for people who appreciate the beauty of watches through refinement and exquisiteness. The 5098 model remains a historical model yet of rare beauty.
Replica Patek Philippe Gondolo 5098 watch
Now that you know the historical details about this remarkable model, let’s move on to the direct description of the replica watch. A few years ago, manufacturers produced this model in 2 versions: platinum and rose gold. Today, only the platinum model (Ref 5098P) is available in our store.
The replica watch is rich in surprising aesthetic details. One of them is the poire-style hands for both minutes and hours. The second hand is missing from the “painting”, specifically to emphasize the minimalistic indexes of time. In a word, the watch has a simple mission: to illustrate the essence of time in the simplest way possible.
Another eye-catching element is the wavy Ghuilloche pattern on the dial. We see this pattern in the center of the dial and on its extremity, being interrupted by the circle of Arabic numerals. By the way, the hour numerals have a gorgeous silhouette, adding a tick for increased legibility. To delimit the transition between the frame of the hour markers and the guilloche pattern, the manufacturers have added 2 elegant and refined Saute Pique lines.
On the bottom of the dial, just above the 6 o’clock indicators, we see the inscription “Chronometro Gondolo”. This suggests that the watch belongs to the exclusive range that was dedicated to the partnership with the Brazilian retailer. Below the 12 o’clock index, we find the inscription of the brand and the city of Geneva.
One nuance that is missing from the replica watch is the diamond that should be fixed on the case. In the original model, this detail sits between the lower lugs and is specific to most of the platinum watches in the Patek Philippe collection. The replica manufacturers either omitted this detail or intentionally excluded it. In any case, this difference is not critical because the diamond in the authentic model is hardly visible. Respectively, its absence in the replica model is unnoticeable.
Technical differences between the original Gondolo and the replica
The beauty of the genuine watch also lies in its movement, besides its stunning aesthetics. And when I say “beauty”, I really mean it because one can see the charm of the mechanism through the transparent prism of the watch’s caseback. The model works on Caliber 25-21 REC, which has a rectangular shape. I want to mention that the watch has a tonneau shape and Patek faced a real challenge to fit the mechanism in such an unconventional shape. However, there is nothing impossible for a brand like Patek. Therefore, it framed the mechanism in the most beautiful way possible in the case of the watch, without obstructing the aesthetic aspect. In the context of a full winding, it seems that the authentic watch lasts up to 44 hours.
In contrast…
The Gondolo replica watch works on a clone mechanism, which tends to reproduce accuracy and precision as much as possible. Obviously, the imitation does not offer the same 100% accuracy, but the alterations are not exactly critical. The Gondolo replica watch also benefits from a transparent caseback that allows the owner to admire the inner mechanism.
To an untrained eye, the difference between the genuine and cloned mechanism is minimal. I, who know a little about the differences between original and fake watches, notice small finishing and engravings errors.
The resistance of the replica watch lasts approximately 36 hours, in the condition in which it is fully wound.
Quick Notes
The platinum imitation that I reviewed refers to the reference number 5098P. You will also find reference number 5098R in the replica industry, which refers to the rose gold model. The last one has not been produced for some time and if you find it available, it means that it is part of the releases from a few years ago, and its condition might not be very good. So, be cautious with them and discuss their general condition in detail with the dealer.
The platinum replica watch has a tonneau-shaped case with the proportions of 42mm*32mm. The height of the replica watch is 8.9mm, being identical to the proportions of the authentic model.
This imitation is NOT water resistant. That is, the manufacturers claim that it is resistant up to 10 meters, but in practice, such a profile is quite sensitive to humidity. I advise you to avoid contact with water, in order to keep the watch in perfect condition. In the same context, even the original watch is not exactly competitive in terms of water resistance. It keeps up to 30 meters because it was not designed to be a diver.
The replica watch benefits from a sapphire crystal on both sides, being covered with a layer of anti-reflective coating. The imitation works on an automatic mechanism and has a time-only function (hour and minutes). Last, but not least, the watch is available with a crocodile leather strap featuring large scales.
Closing Remarks
It is certainly difficult to decide on a tonneau-shaped timepiece, in the context in which modern round watches have taken the watch industry by storm. Round shapes seem to be the most trendy, versatile, and comfortable. For this reason, I assume that a replica Gondolo watch will not be your number one option.
These watches are for a special audience. Those who resonate with the Art Deco style and can discern the delicate aesthetic will definitely appreciate the Gondolo 5098 model.
The replica watch does not benefit from the same Gyromax system as the authentic model. But surely, the replica watch does exactly what it has to do: it indicates the correct and precise time. The strong point of this replica watch is its aesthetic, which is so rich in refined and delicate elements.
I don’t know exactly how long the replica manufacturers will produce this model. For this reason, I want to avoid the mistake I made with the authentic watch when I avoided buying it in Innsbruck. I will buy this imitation for myself because I am highly content with how well it is executed. Of course, I won’t wear it every day, and you probably won’t either. This imitation deserves to sparkle in a formal, elegant, and exquisite environment. Exactly like the appeal of the watch.
Nota bene!
This replica watch may seem quite expensive in comparison to other alternatives available in other stores. The reason is that its case is made of platinum and the condition of the watch is of the highest quality.
Be careful with what other stores offer you. I don’t want to influence your decision of where to buy; I just want you to be aware of the risks.
Also, I do not exclude that some dealers will offer you this model at a much more advantageous price, around $100. However, a replica watch of such a price is unlikely to benefit from a platinum case, sapphire crystal, and clone movement. My recommendation is to make sure that the dealer you buy from offers guaranteed quality and accepts a refund, in case you are not satisfied with the watch you received. Buy wisely!