Maestro GC Sport Gem-Set

Gerald Charles introduces the titanium GC Sport Gem-Set

Maison Gerald Charles is delighted to announce the launch of new gem-set timepieces, made in Geneva, which further reveals the Maison’s artistic creativity through new precious, elegant and colourful references, while continuing to reinforce its high level of technicality.

Federico Ziviani, CEO of Gerald Charles: “Our aim is to carry the creative vision of our founder, Mr. Genta, forward into the future. These new timepieces are meant to continue with its playful path and its initial spirit of using bright colours like a painter does for his paintings. Indeed, Mr. Genta considered his creations as artworks, some of which even carry the designer’s signature on the case back.”.

Following on from the success of the Maestro 8.0 Squelette gem-set limited edition, which was launched in 2022, Gerald Charles introduces two new gem-set collections, the first is composed of four new references of the Maestro 8.0 Squelette and the second of two versions of the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin and one of the Maestro GC Sport.

As for the gem-set process, complex engineering solutions have been applied to integrate a series of precious gems into the Maestro’s curved case architecture. The challenge is brought up by the irregular shape of the bezel, which requires a special cut for each precious stone and reduces the amount of metal available for the setting. Gerald Charles developed his own in-house technical plans for gem-setting which are at the cutting edge of watchmaking engineering.

Keeping with Mr. Genta’s vision of “Artistic Creativity, Technical Mastery”, Gerald Charles continues to challenge itself by experimenting with the gem-set on the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin.

Featuring a steel bezel, the handcrafted process requires more care due to the higher tenacity of steel compared to other materials. However, the Maison’s technical expertise along with the artisanal skills of our Swiss partner allow to set the steel bezel with 52 round-cut gemstones, enhancing the dial sunburst finish: diamonds for the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin in Timeless Black, tsavorite for the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin in Emerald Green and blue sapphires for the Maestro GC Sport in Royal Blue. By launching these watches, the Maison meets high expectations while maintaining a competitive price on the market.

Additionally, in terms of movement, the Maestro 2.0 gem-set models feature the calibre ref. GCA 3002, with a central oscillating mass, decorated with the Gerald Charles "honeycomb" motif, colimaçon and soleil finishings.

Belonging to the Maestro collection, all these precious timepieces feature the iconic Maestro case, Mr. Genta’s original drawing inspired by Francesco Borromini’s 17th century Roman architecture, with the vulcanised rubber strap. This latter has been introduced in new colours for the Squelette references: Optical White, Coral Red, Yellow Sunshine and Ice Blue. 

In addition, the new references, as all Gerald Charles watches, offer 50 hours of power reserve, 5G shock resistance and 10ATM / 100m water resistance, ensuring high levels of ergonomics and versatility across all lifestyles.

Sparkling and impactful, these timepieces are thought to colour the season of watch enthusiasts all over the world, while representing once more the link with our founder and his philosophy of combining technology and aesthetics.

Technical information 

GC Sport Gem-Set

Reference

• GC2.0-TX-TN-SAPH-01

Movement

• GCA 3002, manufactured exclusively for Gerald Charles by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier

Caliber

• Automatic

Functions

• Hours, minutes and central seconds, date at 6 o’clock

Watch Head

• Case size of 39x41mm
• Case thickness. 8.35mm
• Asymmetric polygon with smooth edges (“Maestro” original design by Mr. Gerald Charles Genta)
• Grade 5 Titanium case body and bezel
• Grade 5 Titanium crown with embossed logo
• Sapphire crystals no glare
• Left-hand screw-down Grade 5 titanium crown with Clous de Paris finish and embossed logo,

Dial

• Royal blue sunburst, numerals, hour and minute hands and indexes filled with Super LumiNova®.

Movement

• Manufacture movement
• Developer: Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier S.A.
• Ultra-thin automatic ref. GCA3002  stop-second system, bi-directional rotating rotor with ceramic ball bearing,  circular-grained and Côtes de Genève decoration.
• Diameter: 23.30 mm
• Thickness: 3.70 mm
• Number of components: 189
• Number of jewels: 28
• Power reserve: 50 hours from twin barrels
• Winding rotor: bi-directional rotating rotor with ceramic ball bearing
• Balance: Gyromax®
• Frequency: 28,800 semi-oscillations/hour (4 Hz)
• Anti-shock system, Incabloc®

Finishing

• Circular-grained plate on dial side
• Cote de Gèneve decorated bridges
• Date bridge and motion-work bridge rhodium-plated and circular-grained, dial side
• Bevels, counterbores and apertures diamond-polished
• Ceramic ball bearing
• Pivots and flanges rolled
• Wheels circular-grained on two faces
• Flat-head screws, locked

Water resistance

• 100 metres / 10 ATM

Strap

• Royal blue vulcanised rubber, Clous de Paris finish to top side, Gerald Charles logo tapisserie to rear.
• Grade 5 titanium buckle with Gerald Charles logo.

Total weight

• 65 grams

Availability

• Production limited by capacity to 200 pieces per year

About Gerald Charles

Gerald Charles is an independent, family-owned watch company based in Switzerland. It was founded in 2000 by the great Mr. Gérald Charles Genta, the 20th century’s foremost watch designer.

Monsieur Genta, often referred to simply as ‘Maestro’, was a prolific artist and watch designer. After selling the company in 2003, he stayed on as its designer-in-chief until his death in 2011, leaving a treasure trove of watch designs in the company’s care. Every watch created by Gerald Charles is based on one of his original designs and carries his legacy of ‘artistic creativity, technical mastery’ forward into the future.

Gerald Charles watches are at the cutting edge of ergonomics and designed and manufactured to sit comfortably and elegantly on the wrist. Gerald Charles watches are produced without compromise and marry the finest traditions and most up-to-date technologies of Swiss mechanical watchmaking to deliver superior precision and performance, as well as exceptional water and shock resistant. Every piece is an elegant sport watch, the signature of the company's founder and eternal inspiration, Monsieur Genta.

MR. G.C. GENTA

Monsieur Gerald Charles Genta (1931-2011), born in Geneva, is deemed the most acclaimed watch designer in the world. In the early 2000s Monsieur Gerald Charles Genta – at the height of his success and willing to continue his creative production – founded the most modern of his brands: Gerald Charles.

He designed some of the most modern of his watches for the Maison Gerald Charles: amongst them the Maestro is one of his highest achievements. Its asymmetric watch case, one of its kind, has never been seen before and represents an exclusive innovation.

Timeline

2000 
Foundation of the Maison
Mr. Gérald Charles Genta founded Gerald Charles, giving the Maison his first two names. 

2001
Gerald Charles Renaissance
Renaissance is the first Gerald Charles collection, whose name perfectly describes Mr. Genta’s artistic revival. The collection is a bolder expression of the soft line which Mr. Genta was always particularly fond of. 

2003
Mr. Genta as Designer in Chief
Mr. Gérald Charles Genta sold the company to a group of investors, led by the Ziviani family, and remained Designer in Chief until 2011, with Mr. Giampaolo Ziviani as General Manager. Nowadays, Mr. Genta’s legacy lives on through his many watch designs and the Maison Gerald Charles. Every watch created by Maison Gerald Charles today is based on one of his original designs. 

2005
Gerald Charles Maestro
Mr. Gérald Charles Genta introduced the Maestro case, an iconic case made to last for future generations, whose shape lies between a square and an octagon. He took inspiration from the 17th century baroque architecture, realised by the Swiss-born Italian architect Francesco Borromini. The ‘smile’ at 6 o’clock is a subtle reflection of the concavity on the monuments’ façades. 

2011
Production of bespoke timepieces
Between 2011 and 2018, the Maison produced bespoke timepieces for a niche of collectors. Some of Mr. Genta's early creations had the designer's signature engraved on the case back, as an artwork of an artist. 

2019
Federico Ziviani as CEO
A new management took part in the Maison with a Board of Director and Federico Ziviani as CEO. The common mission has been opening up the story of Gerald Charles to a wider audience of collectors, increasing the production from a few dedicated pieces to 1.500 pieces a year. 

2021
The Maestro Anniversary and the Maestro premier 2021
In 2020, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the company, Gerald Charles released the Maestro Anniversary: a limited edition of 252 pieces marking the number of months since the company was founded. A year later, the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin and Maestro 3.0 Chronograph Premier 2021 were launched. 

2024
Retail’s expansion
In 2022, the company was immediately appreciated among watch collectors worldwide. The brand supported by the best retailers in Europe, in particular Italy and the Middle East. In 2023, Gerald Charles continued its distribution in North Europe and the USA. In 2024. Gerald Charles officially began distribution on the Japanese market and inaugurated a new hub in Geneva, the Atelier.