LVMH Breathes New Life into Watch Brand Gérald Genta

[PinkDiamond]

Not being a watch aficionado myself, or having seen his watches before, I had no idea who Gérald Genta was in the world of timepieces so it was interesting to read of his achievements and what he did for so many watch brands, and makes it obvious why they're relaunching his own line. As lovely as the watches shown below are, they have too many dials for me. All those extra dials make me think of gauges on the dashboard of a car indicating the fuel level or RPMs, but hey, I'm a girl so what else do you expect?

All kidding aside, check these out and 'watch' for the relaunch. Pun intended.

LVMH Breathes New Life into Watch Brand Gérald Genta
August 2, 2023



The master designer’s work is getting a relaunch. Here’s a look at what to expect.

"One of history’s most important and prodigious watchmakers, Gérald Genta “was groundbreaking in that he was really the first independent watch designer,” says Eric Wind, founder of luxury pre-owned watch retailer Wind Vintage.

Born in 1931, Genta studied as a goldsmith and jeweler in Switzerland and was later recruited by watch manufacturer Universal Geneve. It was there, at the age of just 23, that he designed the SAS Polerouter — a watch issued to pilots of the Scandinavian Airlines System, and one of the brand’s greatest successes. During the mid-1960s, several Swiss watchmaking firms called on the young designer to create what would become their most emblematic models. At Omega, he renewed the Constellation collection; Audemars Piguet approached him to design the Royal Oak; and at Patek Philippe, he created the legendary Nautilus.

“Prior to him, companies used in-house designers who were not named,” explains Wind. “Genta became larger than life by designing watches for essentially all of the important Swiss companies.”



Gérald Genta platinum skeletonised minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch. (Christie's)Gérald Genta platinum skeletonised minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch. (Christie’s)


Alongside his collaborations with these brands, Genta launched his own company in 1969. Today, it is set to relaunch under La Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuitton’s specialist watchmaking operation. With creative direction from renowned watchmaking duo Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini — who previously worked for Genta in the ’80s and ’90s — what can we expect from the revived Genta brand? Wind has some ideas.

“Iconic shapes including…octagonal cases, and bracelets — perhaps the famous rounded, Tic-Tac-shaped bracelets — found on the original GG watches,” he speculates. “He has an incredible design catalogue, and his fingerprints are felt through many of the iconic watch designs today. I am also hoping we see some of the Disney characters” — a reference to the line of Genta watches featuring icons like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.

Dealers should also anticipate a renewed interest in some of Genta’s oldest vintage models, says Wind. “That has been the case with Daniel Roth watches since [that] company relaunched this year. Values on the older pieces generally ... "
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