A benchmark era of all things wild and experimental, 1970s was liberation for the mind and the right to embrace style. For Patek Philippe, it meant creativity and exploration of possibilities, particularly on precious stones, decoration and forms. Fast forward to recent times, while luxury sports model and high complications draw most attention from collectors, there’s a breed of understated offerings hailing from the 70s that are relatively under the radar.

The present yellow gold ref. 3733/1 Gondolo from 1976 with an extremely well-constructed ribbed bracelet is the perfect example. A power combo of yellow gold and jet-black onyx dial, the horizontal ribbed design seamlessly blends the case and its bracelet together harmoniously. Crafted by Ateliers Réunis (Key 28) and powered by the Geneva sealed manual wind cal. 215, the present timepiece was sold on the 27th of October in 1977. With stone dials being known to be fragile, the present onyx dial is well-preserved with no signs of fissure or cracks. A spectacular design both visually and in terms of wearability, the construction of the ribbed bracelet flows flush to the wrist with absolute comfort.