Gérald Genta, designer of two of the Omega Constellation collection’s most iconic watch designs, the 168.005 and the 168.009/17 C-Shape, died on August 16th aged 80.
Born of Italian parentage in Geneva in 1931, Genta became the first true watch designer at the age of 21. From 1952, Gérald designed jewellery as well as watches and watch parts such as cases, dials and bracelets for many workshops and suppliers. He gradually built up his reputation and ended up working with all of the most important Swiss watch companies.
Genta has more iconic watch designs to his name than any other Swiss designer. They include the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus and Golden Elipse, IWC Ingenieur, Cartier Pasha, Bulgari Bulgari, the magnificent Universal Polerouter collection and the Omega Louis Brandt collection.
I was indeed fortunate several years ago to be introduced to Gérald’s wife Evelyn who was Monaco’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and, with Evelyn as intermediary, was able to definitively identify the designs Genta did for Omega.
Another great horological luminary has passed over to the clockwork universe and we are poorer for his passing. Click here for an essay on Genta’s Omega designs.
Born of Italian parentage in Geneva in 1931, Genta became the first true watch designer at the age of 21. From 1952, Gérald designed jewellery as well as watches and watch parts such as cases, dials and bracelets for many workshops and suppliers. He gradually built up his reputation and ended up working with all of the most important Swiss watch companies.
Genta has more iconic watch designs to his name than any other Swiss designer. They include the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus and Golden Elipse, IWC Ingenieur, Cartier Pasha, Bulgari Bulgari, the magnificent Universal Polerouter collection and the Omega Louis Brandt collection.
I was indeed fortunate several years ago to be introduced to Gérald’s wife Evelyn who was Monaco’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and, with Evelyn as intermediary, was able to definitively identify the designs Genta did for Omega.
Another great horological luminary has passed over to the clockwork universe and we are poorer for his passing. Click here for an essay on Genta’s Omega designs.
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