Masterlink Blue

MASTERLINK COLLECTION

Masterlink, the future legacy: a timepiece that maintains Gerald Charles key values of legacy, versatility and craftsmanship.

Keeping up with the asymmetry, the case and the bracelet of Masterlink are no less impressive. The Masterlink case still features the iconic “smile” at 6 o’clock yet changing on the top and becoming squarer. Therefore, the bracelet links echo the sinuous curve at the bottom while following the geometrical lines on the top. The juxtaposition of different curves and lines, however, contributes to the dynamic and harmonious balance of the watch aesthetics. The timepiece is available with a double-layered and sunburst dial featuring vertical stripes in blue colour. Masterlink, the future legacy: a timepiece that maintains Gerald Charles key values of legacy, versatility and craftsmanship, taking the Maison into the future.

MASTERLINK: A NEW THINNER SQUARED CASE

The Masterlink case comes from the ‘Maestro’ one with the ‘smile’ at 6 o'clock, with some small adjustments: while the Maestro is designed around a rectangle, the Masterlink is based on a square. Consequently, the proportions are therefore more contained. A particularly challenging and specific development pertains to the crown: despite the case’s slimness (7.99 mm), it is screw-down. The Maison overcame the challenge to offer a 100 metres-waterproof watch without adding even a tenth of a millimeter to the height of the case.

MOVEMENT

THE GCA 5401 CALIBER FEATURES A MICRO-ROTOR ARCHITECTURE THAT ACHIEVES A REMARKABLE THINNESS OF ONLY 2.67MM.

The vertical Côtes de Genève stripes on the bridges continue the theme of the dial, creating an overall coherence between the two faces of the watch. The micro-rotor features a two-part finish, sandblasted at the base and with a sunburst brushing on the top.

Technical information 

Masterlink Blue

Reference

• ML1.0-A-01

Movement

• Self-winding Manufacture movement, ultra-thin GCA 5401 with offset micro-rotor, developed between Geneva and Fleurier, Switzerland

Caliber

• Automatic

Functions

 

• Central display of hours and minutes

Watch Head

• Case size of 38x38mm
  
• Case thickness. 7.99mm
  
• Asymmetric polygon with smooth edges (“Maestro” original design by Mr. Gerald Charles Genta)
  
• Medical-grade stainless steel 316L
  
• Sapphire crystals no glare
  
• Screw-down crown with Clous de Paris motif and pyramid shape
  
• Components: 31
  
• Construction: Carved with CNC numeric control machinery. Asymmetric polygon with smooth edges
  
• See-through case back
  

Dial

• Sunburst Blue base with vertical stripes
• White minute track, White Super-LumiNova numerals and skeletonized baton-shaped hands. 

Movement

• Manufacture movement
  
• Developer: Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier S.A.
  

 

• Ultra-thin automatic ref. GCA5401  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: 176
  
• Number of jewels: 29 rubies Incabloc® shock protection, hacking seconds 
  
• Power reserve: 50 hours
  

 

• Winding rotor: unidirectional rotor
  
• Balance: Gyromax®
  
• Frequency: 28,800 semi-oscillations/hour (3 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

Bracelet

• Bracelet exclusively developed in-houe, proprietart design by Gerald Charles. 316L stianless steel, medical grade. 
• 3 sizes: 157 mm (small), 205 mm (medium) and 222 mm (large).
• Micro-link available for finer adjustment of bracelet.
• Polished and satin-brushed finishes.
• Folding clasp with hexagonal plate, engraved with 'GC'.

Availability

• Production limited by capacity to 100 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.