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Gérald Genta and the Most Amazing Imagination

written by A.Morgan - 1st Sep 2011

It is sad news that Gérald Genta, one of the watch world’s most revolutionary designers, has passed away. The genius behind the Omega Constellation, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the IWC Ingenieur and the Patek Philippe Nautilus has left behind such an enormous legacy that it will be impossible for anyone to forget what incredible, ground-breaking work he did.

But his achievements didn’t stop there; under the constraints of multinational companies with conservative ideals and painstakingly built reputations, his designs were merely interesting. Under the power of his own steam and without the ties of an expectant CEO looming overhead, Genta was able to really let his imagination go wild, and his creations sprang a whole new lease of life in a very different direction than had been seen before.

The images you see here are two examples of the extravagant and enthralling pieces created by the man. Conventional, they are not; fascinating, they are in droves. It takes your eyes a few moments to even register what is going on, so unusual is the method for displaying the time, and so extraordinary the details that tie the designs together. The digital hour, the retrograde minutes – the Bvlgari Octo Chrono Quadri Retro also has a retrograde chronograph. Even the names make you need a sit down.

And the details – the bronze case of the Bvlgari Gefica Bi-Retro with the dimpled bezel brings to mind scenes of steampunk battleships and oily machinery, and the dial could well be a gauge from a cold war submarine. When Bvlgari acquired Genta’s watch company in 2000, they could well have stifled his creative genius, but instead, but they gave him an even greater opportunity to flourish. Genta carried on doing what he loved right up until the end; it was only few months ago that the $900,000 pink gold Magsonic was released. His eccentric imagination, his eye for detail and the unmatchable creativity that formed the DNA of his concepts will be sorely missed.

With thanks to Bvlgari for the loan of the watches