Patek Phillipe’s Gondolo Serata Zebra: The Timepiece That Feels Unapologetically ‘You’
Patek Phillipe’s new Gondolo Serata pays tribute to the zebra’s unique stripes, showcasing unapologetic individuality that should inspire us all as we enter 2026
When January rolls around there is a homogenous move towards the obvious: we all reach for salad over sugary carbs, gym kit over pyjamas, new skincare routines, new resolutions, the new, new, new. We move as a herd. But the truth is, there is no need to radically reinvent ourselves overnight. None of us are who we were a year ago; we have already unavoidably evolved little by little over the last 12 months. Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on fostering our individuality this coming year, rather than us all trying to fit into the same lycra-clad, flattummied, full-lipped, identikit mould before Eid al-Fitr?
My mantra for 2026 is to be more zebra. The zebra is the poster-girl of individuality. Each bearing bold stripes as unique as our fingerprints, a zebra’s unapologetic originality is on show from ear tip to tail. Animal prints of all ilks dominated the A/W25 collections, but zebra print reigned supreme – Nina Ricci, Balmain and Gabriela Hearst all celebrated its singularity with full-looks on the runway. For those who aren’t quite fierce enough to brave zebra top-to toe, however, Patek Philippe has wrangled the trend into the horological world with its Gondolo Serata Ref. 4962/200R – a dress watch that might just remind us all to revel in our own distinctiveness.
Patek Philippe has, in fact, celebrated this majestic monochrome creature on multiple occasions. The 2022 Golden Ellipse Zebra – part of its Rare Handcrafts offering – was a key reference point for the new Gondolo Serata, which boasts a similarly detailed face featuring the handsome beast. The sapphire crystal dial has been engraved, painted and varnished on both sides to create voluminous, life-like relief for the zebra’s physique, this time to suit the square dial of the ‘waisted’ Art Deco-esque Gondolo Serata silhouette. And if the tonneau-shaped case wasn’t unique enough already, it is set with over two carats of ombre spessartites, sweeping from tangerine to cognac tones. Bonkers? Yes. But brilliant? Absolutely.
The key to complementing this wonderfully whimsical watch is to choose timeless pieces that provide a chic, understated canvas against which it can stand out, while picking up the striped theme with key accessories. Choose a simple Acne shirt and Khaite’s well-cut jeans paired with a zebra-stripe belt by Déhanche to echo the Gondolo Serata’s wild side, adding glittering accents with jewels by La Double J and Cartier.
Alternatively, if you’re the go-bigor- go-home type, invest in Nina Ricci’s belted zebra-stripe coat, and choose classic all-noir accessories such as Celine’s Halfmoon Soft Triomphe bag and Alaïa’s chic Cube Wedge 75 Mules. There are many who will prefer to follow the flock with a predictable, plain timepiece for 2026, but there’s a little known fact about zebras that might convince you to be a little braver – a group of these hooved heroes is called a dazzle. And if that isn’t a word to cling onto in 2026, I don’t know what is.
Imagery Supplied
Fashion Edit by Charlotte Marsh-Williams
From the Harper’s Bazaar Arabia January 2026 issue
