No other designer has left such a mark on the industry as Gérald Genta. He was the man that gave us two of the most important stainless steel sports watches in history, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. As a true creative force, it didn't stop there, as he also worked for various other brands, designing icon after icon. A decade after his death, we get a rare glimpse into his archive as Sotheby's is auctioning one hundred of his original designs, including those of the Nautilus and the Royal Oak.
No other designer has left such a mark on the industry as Gérald Genta. He was the man that gave us two of the most important stainless steel sports watches in history, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. As a true creative force, it didn’t stop there, as he also worked for various other brands, designing icon after icon. A decade after his death, we get a rare glimpse into his archive as Sotheby’s is auctioning one hundred of his original designs, including those of the Nautilus and the Royal Oak.
They are brought to auction by Evelyne Genta, Gérald’s life and business partner, to benefit, among others, the Gérald Genta Heritage Association. This charity is focused on encouraging young talent to become the next generation in watchmaking. As Evelyne Genta puts it herself; “With this sale, we are continuing Gérald’s legacy of innovation. He was always at least five or ten years ahead of his time, working towards unprecedented ideas that radicalised – and sometimes scandilised – the industry, but ultimately transformed it. When Gérald started his career, there were no true watch designers, there were no steel sports watches, there were no complicated wrist watches. He was the very first to usher in this new era – always bringing his absolute passion as an artist to his work, and never compromising on his vision. This is what set him apart.”
Unique is that each of the designs is accompanied by a non-fungible token (NFT). This includes not only a digital replica of the design but also comes with selected pieces with never-before-seen archive material and an exclusive insight into the personal life of the Maestro. However, the most desirable piece of the auctions will undoubtedly be the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak of Genta himself. With a yellow gold bezel, this stainless steel watch was worn by him during his life, offering a unique opportunity to own the personal timepiece of the man who designed this icon.
The items will be auctioned by Sotheby‘s in 2022 in various locations around the world, and will without a doubt, spark a lot of interest;
Gérald Genta: Icon of Time Sale, Geneva, 10-24 February 2022
Featuring Genta’s original designs for the first luxury steel wristwatch Audemars Piguet’s The Royal Oak Including his never-before-seen unreleased first design for the legendary timepiece
Gérald Genta: Icon of Time Sale, Hong Kong, 10-24 March 2022
Featuring Genta’s original design for Patek Philippe’s The Nautilus
& Three designs for the most complicated wristwatch in the world: The Grand Sonnerie, Comprising 1000 parts, this watch took five years to develop
Gérald Genta: Icon of Time Sale, New York, 13-27 April 2022
Including Genta’s original designs for the most impressive and valuable Disney watches ever made
Important Watches, Sotheby’s Biannual Auction in Geneva, May 2022
Including Genta’s unique Royal Oak, coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of its release And four oil paintings by Gerald Genta, paying tribute to the Nautilus and the Royal Oak.
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