Gerald Charles

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Gerald Charles
IndustryLuxury good
Founded2000
FounderGérald Genta
HeadquartersSwitzerland
Key people
ProductsWatches
Websitewww.geraldcharles.com

Gerald Charles SA is an independent family-owned watch company based in Switzerland, founded by Swiss watchmaker and artist Gérald Charles Genta.[1][2][3][4]

History[edit]

Foundation[edit]

Gérald Charles Genta (1931–2011), a Swiss watchmaker and artist, founded his eponymous company in 1969, which was sold by Genta in 1996 to The Hour Glass. In 2000, Gérald Charles Genta founded a new watch brand, Gerald Charles SA. Gérald Charles Genta is best known for creating the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. He collaborated with watch manufacturers, such as Omega, IWC, and Cartier, contributing to models like Omega's Constellation and Cartier's Pasha de Cartier.[5][6][3][7]

Early years[edit]

In 2000, Mr. Gérald Charles Genta founded Gerald Charles, a brand that bore both his first names, establishing a connection between himself and his creations.[1][8][9]

In 2003, Mr. Genta sold the company to a group of investors led by the Ziviani family, who were already distributors of Genta's watches and had a collaborative history with him. Gerald Genta continued to serve as the Chief Designer until his passing in 2011, and Giampaolo Ziviani assumed the role of the company's CEO.[1][6]

Between 2011 and 2018, the company focused on creating bespoke timepieces for a select group of collectors, using original designs originated by Genta.[6]

Recent history[edit]

Gerald Charles Atelier Genève in Rue du Mont-Blanc 3, Geneva

In 2018–2019, Federico Ziviani joined as General Manager and was appointed in 2023 as CEO. At that time, the company started to expand internationally.[1][2][6]

Gerald Charles Museum in the brand’s Atelier in Geneva

The brand chose to maintain the Maestro case, an octagonal design originated by Genta in 2005, while implementing some design modifications to make the watches available to a wider audience. The Maestro case variations were redesigned by the creative director Octavio Garcia and featured diverse dials, a skeletonized style, and rubber straps in colors like blue and green. Garcia, with a significant background in watch design, brought his expertise to Gerald Charles. Having spent 11 years at Audemars Piguet (AP), including five years as its Chief Artistic Officer, Garcia is widely regarded as a prominent figure in the industry, often seen as the successor to Gerald Genta's legacy in terms of design innovation.[2]

In 2020, Gerald Charles released the Maestro Anniversary, inspired by Gérald Genta's 2005 Maestro design. This limited edition saw a successful sell-out of its 252 stainless steel pieces.[6]

In 2021, the "Premier 2021" chronograph and three hands watches have been launched in a limited edition of 25 pieces each.[4]

In May 2021, Gerald Charles introduced the Maestro 2.0 Automatic in Stainless Steel.[2]

In 2022, Gerald Charles launched the new Maestro 8.0 Squelette watch, distinctively designed under Octavio Garcia, featuring an ultra-thin, iconic Maestro case with an open-worked movement and 100 meters water resistance.[2][10][11]

In 2023, Gerald Charles introduced the GC 9.0 Tourbillon Ref. GC9.0-A-01, a tribute to founder Gerald Charles Genta, featuring a 60-seconds Titanium flying tourbillon cage developed in collaboration with creative director Octavio Garcia.[12]

In the same year, Gerald Charles expanded its presence to North Europe and the USA through the establishment of new retail locations.[13]

In February 2024, Gerald Charles opened its first boutique and showroom in Geneva on Rue du Mont-Blanc.[14]

In April 2024, Gerald Charles took part at Watches and Wonders at the Palexpo in Geneva, The company was one of the 6 new entrants to this year’s event and showcased its new Masterlink collection.[15][16]

Overview[edit]

Gerald Charles’ watches are manufactured in Switzerland, and every watch is based on Gérald Genta's original drawings. It has more than 50 points of sales worldwide. The company partners with Swiss watch components manufacturers such as Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and Salanitro.[17][18]

The signature collection of Gerald Charles is the Maestro Collection (first revealed to the market in 2005), with an asymmetrical case with a rippled bezel, and a vulcanised rubber strap, both designed by Genta. Mr. Genta drew inspiration for Maestro cases from a Roman monument from the 17th century, designed by Francesco Borromini, a Swiss-Italian architect. The design is influenced by the interplay of a square and an octagon, featuring a distinctive "smile" at the 6 o'clock position, mirroring the concave nature of the monument's facades. Maestro Collection pieces are designed using medical-grade stainless steel, 18K Rose Gold, and Grade 5 titanium, each finished with a combination of polished and sandblasted techniques.[19][20]

At Watches & Wonders 2024, Gerald Charles presented the Masterlink, the brand's first collection with an integrated asymmetric bracelet, available with a blue or silver dial. The timepiece was made of steel as a tribute to the legacy of Gerald Genta, who championed steel as a precious material.[21][22][23]

Partnerships[edit]

Gerald Charles has a close relationship with the sport of tennis, some of the professional ATP players play tennis wearing Gerald Charles’ GC Sport on the wrist, including Hubert Hurkacz, and Tim van Rijthoven.[24][25][26][27]

The company is also in partnership with UK cricket star Sam Curran. In 2022, Gerald Charles congratulated Sam Curran for winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.[28][29]

As of 2023, the company is a member of Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and Watches and Culture.[30] The company is the official timekeeper at the Austrian Open Kitzbühel[31] and the Kooyong Classic 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.[32]

On January 30, 2024, Office Mugino and Gerald Charles announced a partnership at the Swiss Ambassador's residence in Japan and launched Gerald Charles' distribution in Japan.[33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Corder, Rob (2023-08-22). "Gerald Charles Set For Exciting Debut At WatchPro Salon". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lazazzera, Milena (2022-12-09). "Reviving Gerald Genta's Watch Brand". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  3. ^ a b "Gerald Genta: Revolutionary inventor of a genius concept". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  4. ^ a b "The genius behind the Patek Philippe Nautilus dreamed up this watch – and it defies definition". British GQ. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  5. ^ Crawford, Malaika. "Vintage Watches: A Look At Gérald Genta's 'Postmodern' Period". Hodinkee. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Gerald Charles — dialling into social networks to take on bigger rivals". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  7. ^ Gomelsky, Victoria (2022-02-17). "The Most Prized Watch Brands You've Never Heard Of". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  8. ^ Beckett, Kathleen (2023-11-07). "What's in a (Watch) Name?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  9. ^ Sit, Sky (February 2020). "Secret Gérald Genta designs soon to be revealed". www.europastar.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  10. ^ "The latest Bulgari Octo Finissimo wows the watch crowd again". British GQ. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  11. ^ Doulton, Rebecca (2022-05-19). "Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette - Hands-On, Price". Monochrome Watches. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  12. ^ Girdler-Maslen, Bethan (2023-03-25). "Gerald Charles launches GC 9.0 Tourbillon watch as tribute to founder". T3. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  13. ^ "Gerald Charles begins dynamic North American expansion". www.europastar.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  14. ^ Corder, Rob (2024-02-27). "Gerald Charles Opens Geneva Flagship As It Secures 10 New Retail Partners Worldwide". Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  15. ^ "LUXURY JOURNALS #5: back to the Masterlink, a novelty by Gerald Charles". Luxus Plus. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  16. ^ Swithinbank, Robin (2024-04-09). "Watch Fair Opens in a Time of Uncertainty". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  17. ^ "Gerald Charles introduces the Maestro 9.0 Tourbillon". Al Majed Jewellery. 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  18. ^ Davies, Angus (2023-08-06). "Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Premier 2021 Edition". Escapement Magazine | Watch News, Watch Reviews, Watch Blog. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  19. ^ "The New Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette GC.8.0 gem-set Collection". Superwatchman.com. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  20. ^ "New: Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette in rose gold -". DEPLOYANT. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  21. ^ "Gerald Charles Unveils "Masterlink" Timepiece for Watches & Wonders 2024". Hypebeast. 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  22. ^ Nast, Condé (2024-04-12). "The 27 Best New Watches from Watches & Wonders 2024". GQ. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  23. ^ "LUXURY JOURNALS #5: back to the Masterlink, a novelty by Gerald Charles". Luxus Plus. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  24. ^ "Tim van Rijthoven and the Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sports Grass Watch". Superwatchman.com. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  25. ^ "Tennis Davis Cup 2023 – Philippo Volandri / Victory with Maestro Chronograph on his wrist | La Clessidra dal 1945 | La più antica rivista italiana di orologi". La Clessidra dal 1945 (in Italian). 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  26. ^ "Hubert Hurkacz wins ATP Masters 1000 wearing Gerald Charles timepiece". Day & Night Magazine. 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  27. ^ "Gerald Charles, Maestro GC Sport Clay". www.gphg.org (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  28. ^ "The world is in Sam Curran's hands". British GQ. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  29. ^ "Gerald Charles congratulates Sam Curran for winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2022". Cricket World. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  30. ^ "Partner brands". Partner brands. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  31. ^ "Generali Open Kitzbühel: Thiem wieder in der Nightsession". wtv.oetv.at (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  32. ^ Weiss, Jamie (2024-01-12). "The watch industry turns its attention to Australia's summer of tennis". Time+Tide Watches. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  33. ^ "FH - 「ジェラルド・チャールズ」が日本市場に上陸". www.fhs.jp. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
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