a new watchmaking UFO signed Gérald Genta

Gérald Genta would surely have dubbed this watch, as it has that little irrational touch that characterizes many of his watchmaking creations. “As someone who knew him, it’s really in Gérald Genta’s state of mind, believes Enrico Barbasini, master watchmaker at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. He had a very demanding look. I think we honor him with a piece like this.”

This new Gentissima indeed has this grain of madness which makes all its difference. Already by the original design of the piece, inspired by the sea urchin. But also by its degree of finishing which would have been simply impossible in the past: here, each of the 137 fire opals present on the circumference of the discreetly octagonal yellow gold case must be drilled without breaking in order to be screwed into it one by one. one on a 3N yellow gold stem… Given the complexity involved in their production, and the fragility of fire opals, only a few pieces will be produced. “I’m very happy. The result is there, and up to what we expectedconfides Matthieu Hegi, artistic director of the House. It’s a bit of a UFO, and that’s where we have to go with the Gérald Genta brand. It was a risk taking in terms of getting enough light intensity, in terms of the intensity of the opal, so small and pierced. It could have done nothing. Playing with marbles, contrasting with metal, allows for many other iterations. We can play with the number of beads, their spacing, their color…”

The Ourchin saga historically began in 1994, in Corsica, where Mr. Genta was staying with his family. Captivated by sea urchins, the watch designer immediately took inspiration from the marine animal to sketch his first model instinctively, as he was wont to do. The spherical body covered with thorns of the creature then transforms into a round case with edges hemmed with pearls which give all the variations of the watch their unusual aesthetic. “This piece was a lot of work, emphasizes Matthew Hegi. Compared to the previous one, we have changed everything. We are on a yellow gold case, sandblasted with glass beads. As we wanted a very warm room, so as not to turn it off. We have an extra ball row in yellow gold, and the fire opals are sandwiched between these balls and the case. This gives a very orange atmosphere. For the dial, carnelian plays its role perfectly”. This exceptional watch features a Zenith Elite automatic movement, with an exclusive 18-carat yellow gold oscillating weight.