Lot 429

Gérald Genta

Gefica Safari

A wristwatch with precision quartz movement, full calendar, moon phase and second time zone

Gérald Genta presented the first Gefica watch in 1988. The story goes that it was created at the request of three big-game hunters who were friends. The first two letters of their names, Geoffroy, Fissore and Canali were to form the name of the timepiece. The case material bronze was chosen because it does not reflect light and does not frighten the animals. In addition, it can be assumed that the colour and texture of the material also appealed to Gérald Genta as a designer, especially since the warm earth tones are reminiscent of the African landscape.

The name Gérald Genta stands for creative watchmaking; Genta has no interest in conventions and trends but succeeds in finding ever new ways of telling the time. For decades he developed concepts and designs for major watchmakers - designs such as, for example, the Patek Philippe "Nautilus", the Audemars Piguet "Royal Oak" or the IWC "Ingenieur"; a whole era of Swiss watchmaking bears his mark. Today many of these watches are highlights in the collections of the most exclusive brands and Genta started his own trade name in the late 1980s with great success.