Company:Gerald Charles

From HandWiki
Gerald Charles
IndustryLuxury good
Founded2000
FounderGérald Genta
HeadquartersSwitzerland
Key people
  • Federico Ziviani (CEO)
  • Franco Ziviani (chairman)
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

Foundation

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

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 the company started to be owned and controlled by the Ziviani family, who were already distributors of Genta's watches and had a collaborative history with him. Gérald 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 selected group of collectors, using original designs originated by Genta.[6]

Recent history

Error creating thumbnail:
Gerald Charles Atelier Genève in Rue du Mont-Blanc 3, Geneva

In 2019 Federico Ziviani joined the brand as CEO and the company started to expand internationally.[1][2][6]

Error creating thumbnail:
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 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 the event and showcased its new Masterlink collection.[13][14]

Market impact

In 2023, Gerald Charles expanded its presence to North Europe and the USA through the establishment of new retail locations.[15]

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.[16]

In February 2024 Gerald Charles opened its first boutique and showroom in Geneva on Rue du Mont-Blanc.[17]

In 2025, Gerald Charles expands to Hong Kong and Singapore with new retailer partnerships.[18]

Overview

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.[19][20]

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.[21][22]

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.[23][24][13]

Partnerships

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, Andrea Vavassori and Tim van Rijthoven.[25][26][27][28]

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.[29][30]

As of 2023 the company is a member of Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and Watches and Culture.[31] The company is the official timekeeper at the Austrian Open Kitzbühel[32] and the Kooyong Classic 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.[33]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Corder, Rob (August 22, 2023). "Gerald Charles Set For Exciting Debut At WatchPro Salon" (in en-GB). https://www.watchpro.com/gerald-charles-set-for-exciting-debut-at-watchpro-salon/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lazazzera, Milena (December 9, 2022). "Reviving Gerald Genta's Watch Brand" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/09/fashion/watches-geraldcharles-genta-switzerland.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Gerald Genta: Revolutionary inventor of a genius concept". https://www.ft.com/content/0f4bb770-0162-11e1-b177-00144feabdc0. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The genius behind the Patek Philippe Nautilus dreamed up this watch – and it defies definition" (in en-GB). March 18, 2021. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/article/gerald-charles-maestro-premier-2021. 
  5. ↑ Crawford, Malaika. "Vintage Watches: A Look At Gérald Genta's 'Postmodern' Period" (in en). https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-look-at-gerald-gentas-postmodern-period. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Gerald Charles — dialling into social networks to take on bigger rivals". https://www.ft.com/content/5c8b9f4a-e5a2-4add-8941-0f2925112fca. 
  7. ↑ Gomelsky, Victoria (February 17, 2022). "The Most Prized Watch Brands You've Never Heard Of" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/17/fashion/watches-obscure-brands-switzerland.html. 
  8. ↑ Beckett, Kathleen (November 7, 2023). "What's in a (Watch) Name?" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/fashion/watch-name-inspiration.html. 
  9. ↑ Sit, Sky (February 2020). "Secret Gérald Genta designs soon to be revealed" (in en). https://www.europastar.com/the-watch-files/archives-heritage/1004091732-secret-gerald-genta-designs-soon-to-be-revealed.html. 
  10. ↑ "The latest Bulgari Octo Finissimo wows the watch crowd again" (in en-GB). September 6, 2023. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-watches-geneva-watch-days-2023. 
  11. ↑ Doulton, Rebecca (May 19, 2022). "Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette – Hands-On, Price" (in en-US). https://monochrome-watches.com/gerald-charles-maestro-8-0-squelette-hands-on-review-price/. 
  12. ↑ Girdler-Maslen, Bethan (March 25, 2023). "Gerald Charles launches GC 9.0 Tourbillon watch as tribute to founder" (in en). https://www.t3.com/news/gerald-charles-launches-gc-90-tourbillon-watch-as-tribute-to-founder. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "LUXURY JOURNALS #5: back to the Masterlink, a novelty by Gerald Charles" (in en-US). April 26, 2024. https://luxus-plus.com/en/luxury-journals-5-back-to-the-masterlink-a-novelty-by-gerald-charles/. 
  14. ↑ Swithinbank, Robin (April 9, 2024). "Watch Fair Opens in a Time of Uncertainty" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/fashion/watches-and-wonders-geneva.html. 
  15. ↑ "Gerald Charles begins dynamic North American expansion" (in en). https://www.europastar.com/time-business/1004113988-gerald-charles-begins-dynamic-north-american.html. 
  16. ↑ "FH – 「ジェラルド・チャールズ」が日本市場に上陸". https://www.fhs.jp/jpn/2024_02_News_gerald_charles.html. 
  17. ↑ Corder, Rob (February 27, 2024). "Gerald Charles Opens Geneva Flagship As It Secures 10 New Retail Partners Worldwide" (in en-GB). https://www.watchpro.com/gerald-charles-opens-geneva-flagship-as-it-secures-10-new-retail-partners-worldwide/. 
  18. ↑ "Reimagining Heritage: Gerald Charles Blends Past and Present in New Launches". 2025-04-01. https://hypebeast.com/2025/4/gerald-charles-25th-anniversary-watches-and-wonders-2025-gerald-genta-history. 
  19. ↑ "Gerald Charles introduces the Maestro 9.0 Tourbillon" (in en-US). May 25, 2023. https://almajedjewellery.me/gerald-charles-introduces-the-maestro-9-0-tourbillon/. 
  20. ↑ Davies, Angus (August 6, 2023). "Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Premier 2021 Edition" (in en-GB). https://escapementmagazine.com/articles/gerald-charles-maestro-2-0-premier-2021-edition/. 
  21. ↑ "The New Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette GC.8.0 gem-set Collection" (in en-US). November 16, 2022. https://superwatchman.com/the-new-gerald-charles-maestro-8-0-squelette-gc-8-0-gem-set-collection/. 
  22. ↑ "New: Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette in rose gold –" (in en-GB). September 12, 2023. https://deployant.com/new-gerald-charles-maestro-8-0-squelette-in-rose-gold/. 
  23. ↑ "Gerald Charles Unveils "Masterlink" Timepiece for Watches & Wonders 2024". April 8, 2024. https://hypebeast.com/2024/4/gerald-charles-masterlink-watches-and-wonders-2024-release. 
  24. ↑ "The 27 Best New Watches from Watches & Wonders 2024" (in en-US). April 12, 2024. https://www.gq.com/story/best-watches-and-wonders-2024-releases. 
  25. ↑ "Tim van Rijthoven and the Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sports Grass Watch" (in en-US). October 23, 2023. https://superwatchman.com/tim-van-rijthoven-and-the-gerald-charles-maestro-gc-sports-grass-watch/. 
  26. ↑ "Tennis Davis Cup 2023 – Philippo Volandri / Victory with Maestro Chronograph on his wrist | La Clessidra dal 1945 | La più antica rivista italiana di orologi" (in it-IT). November 29, 2023. https://www.laclessidra1945.it/tennis-davis-cup-2023-philippo-volandri-victory-with-maestro-chronograph-on-his-wrist/. 
  27. ↑ "Hubert Hurkacz wins ATP Masters 1000 wearing Gerald Charles timepiece" (in en-US). November 27, 2023. https://www.dayandnightmagazine.com/hubert-hurkacz-wins-atp-masters-1000-wearing-gerald-charles-timepiece/. 
  28. ↑ "Gerald Charles, Maestro GC Sport Clay" (in fr). https://www.gphg.org/en/watches/maestro-gc-sport-clay. 
  29. ↑ "The world is in Sam Curran's hands" (in en-GB). October 3, 2023. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/sam-curran-interview-2023. 
  30. ↑ "Gerald Charles congratulates Sam Curran for winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2022". https://www.cricketworld.com/gerald-charles-congratulates-sam-curran-for-winning-the-icc-t20-world-cup-2022/83292.htm. 
  31. ↑ "Partner brands" (in en). https://watchesandculture.org/. 
  32. ↑ "Generali Open Kitzbühel: Thiem wieder in der Nightsession" (in de-at). https://wtv.oetv.at/news-detail/generali-open-kitzbuehel-thiem-wieder-in-der-nightsession. 
  33. ↑ Weiss, Jamie (January 12, 2024). "The watch industry turns its attention to Australia's summer of tennis" (in en-AU). https://timeandtidewatches.com/the-watch-industry-turns-its-attention-to-australias-summer-of-tennis-friday-wind-down/. 



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Company:Gerald_Charles&oldid=4116431"