Lot 222

Gérald Genta

Arena Chrono Quattro

A fancy, heavy wrist chronograph in practically new condition, with jumping hours, retrograde date, minutes and retrograde 30 min. and 12h counter - with original box, certificate and setting pin

Gérald Charles Genta, better known by his short name (Gérald Genta) (Geneva 1931 - Monaco 2011) was a luxury watch designer and artist. He is one of the few watch designers that we know by name as he created and designed some of the most iconic and precious mechanical timepieces of the contemporary history; currently highly demanded by watch enthusiasts and collectors. He is noted for his eponymous line of timepieces as well as his design work with other high-end watch Manufacturers. These including IWC, Universal Genève, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, among others. Christie's auction house of New York called Genta's work "the Fabergé of watches", while The Wall Street Journal has called them the "world's most complicated and pricey watches".
This model is truly eccentric with its case made of 18K white gold in combination with tantalum, a rare graphite grey, shiny transition metal. Tantalum is mainly used for condensers; it is non-toxic and not susceptible to body fluids. The overall design of the dial with red hands, three silvered chapter rings for the chronograph functions and the date decorated with a delicate guilloche pattern and the retrograde minute indication in the upper section is breathtaking , the jumping hours are displayed in a wedge-shaped cutout at 12 o’clock.