Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First: Color, Shape, and a New Chapter in Jewelry Watches

Patek Philippe has a long tradition of making ladies’ watches, but models with a distinctly jewelry-like design hold a special place in its portfolio. This makes the setting in which the new Gondolo Ladies First was unveiled all the more fitting:

at the Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Milan, a city where jewelry, fashion, and design are particularly closely intertwined. The new Gondolo Ladies First picks up exactly where this intersects—as jewelry watches in which color, gemstone settings, and form take center stage over technical complexity.

^{Cover photo: Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Joaillerie Ref. 7043/250GR-001: white and rose gold, pavé diamonds, and twelve amethysts}

Six models take the Gondolo’s distinctive geometry in a more colorful, ornamental direction while also drawing on an unusual chapter in the brand’s history: the Ladies First Chronograph Ref. 7071 from 2009.

At that time, Patek Philippe deliberately chose to introduce its first in-house hand-wound chronograph movement in a ladies’ watch. The new Gondolo Ladies First builds on this concept—not so much technically as in terms of design. The focus is on form, color, gemstone setting, and a case that bridges the gap between Art Deco and a soft, jewelry-like aesthetic.

The Gondolo Finds a New Sense of Lightness

All six new models share the same case dimensions of 31 × 34.8 millimeters, with a height of 8.03 millimeters. The soft cushion-shaped case lends the watches geometric clarity while also creating a soft, jewelry-inspired silhouette.

Depending on the design, white gold, rose gold, or a combination of the two is used. It is precisely this blend of clean geometry and soft contours that gives the Gondolo its distinctive presence: precise in form, yet not austere.

Opalin, waves, and a delicate diamond frame

Three models feature textured opaline dials and a bezel set with 108 diamonds.

The white gold version comes in blue-gray, the rose gold version in chestnut brown, and the two-tone version in silver. A concentric wave motif lends depth to the dials, while trapezoidal hour markers and small cabochons echo the geometric design.

The diamonds frame the dial without overwhelming it. This creates a relatively understated look, allowing the color, finish, and shape to take center stage.

^{Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Ref. 7043GR-001: White and rose gold meet a silver-colored opaline dial. Rose gold details on the crown, lugs, hour markers, and hands provide a striking contrast.
Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Ref. 7043G-001: White gold, blue-gray opaline dial with a concentric wave motif and a diamond-set flange. The calfskin strap echoes the denim-inspired color scheme.
Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Ref. 7043R-001: Rose gold with a chestnut-brown opaline dial, 108 diamonds on the flange, and a color-coordinated calfskin strap.}

Jewelry in Blue, Green, and Purple

The three joaillerie versions are significantly more opulent. Here, diamonds adorn the dial, case, and lugs. Each watch features a total of 687 diamonds weighing 3.11 carats.

Colored gemstones serve as hour markers: blue topazes in the white gold version, green tsavorites in the rose gold version, and purple amethysts in the two-tone version.

The bracelets also consistently carry on the respective color schemes: peacock blue, green, and violet. This creates three distinct styles without losing the shared Gondolo shape.

^{Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Joaillerie Ref. 7043/250R-001: Rose gold, 687 diamonds, and twelve green trapezoid-cut tsavorites. The glossy green alligator strap continues the color scheme.
Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Joaillerie Ref. 7043/250GR-001: The two-tone version in white and rose gold combines pavé-set diamonds with twelve amethysts and a violet alligator strap.
Patek Philippe Gondolo Ladies First Joaillerie Ref. 7043/250G-001: White gold with pavé diamonds, twelve trapezoid-cut blue topazes as hour markers, and a peacock-blue alligator strap.}

Jewelry Before Mechanics

All six models are powered by the E15 quartz movement. The movement is deliberately kept in the background. Its flat design allows for a slim case and lets the design and aesthetic appeal take center stage.

That is precisely the logic behind this collection. The Gondolo Ladies First is not intended to be a small complication watch, but rather a standalone jewelry watch with a clean design, color, and presence.

A historic design, reimagined

With the new Gondolo Ladies First, Patek Philippe revisits a design language that has always been one of the brand’s more unconventional chapters.