Gerald Charles Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon
The Gérald Charles Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon features a unique 18K rose gold hand-hammered dial, a titanium tourbillon, and a signature stainless steel case, limited to 50 pieces. Share
When Gérald Charles Genta, one of the most revered watch designers of our time, sold his eponymous brand, Gerald Genta, to Bulgari in 2000, many rightly called it the ‘end of an era.’. However, rather than enjoying a relaxed retirement, he launched a new brand named Gerald Charles. In 2003, Genta sold the company to the Ziviani family, who were trusted partners and friends, while he continued as the designer-in-chief until 2011. In a recent launch, he honoured its founder’s legacy by creating watches that distinctly reflect Genta’s design ethos—Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon, which features Genta’s signature case design and a stunning dial.
The Maestro collection, conceived by Genta in 2005, thrives with the recent introduction of the Gerald Charles Maestro 9.0 Tourbillon editions, showcasing his unique design philosophy. The newest addition, the Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon, stands out with its remarkable features. It includes a hand-hammered gold dial, a design element that is both visually captivating and a tribute to Genta’s visionary style and legacy of ‘artistic creativity and technical mastery.’
The Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon features a polished stainless steel case of medical-grade quality, measuring 39mm x 41mm and 9.3mm in thickness. It showcases the Maestro’s signature design with an irregular, elongated octagonal shape and a curved side at 6 o’clock. The screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, adorned with the Clou de Paris pattern and an embossed GC logo, adds to its unique character. The case construction ensures 100m water resistance, and the watch weighs 93 grams.
The watch’s distinctive stepped bezel with rounded corners is crafted from grade 5 titanium with a specialized blue coating achieved through advanced galvanic treatment. This coating enhances durability and stress resistance while elevating its aesthetic appeal, resulting in an intriguing two-tone case. However, it’s the dial that immediately captivates attention.
The 18K rose gold dial features a hand-hammered texture, a meticulous craft that requires significant experience and time to achieve a uniform and refined finish, making each dial unique. Applied Roman numerals at the 3, 9, and 12 o’clock positions give the model its name. The central hour and minute baton-shaped hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova and outlined in blue, matching the design of the indices.
A plaque with the brand name adorns the upper half of the dial, while the aperture at 6 o’clock showcases the tourbillon with its titanium cage, designed to resemble the Gerald Charles logo. The blue element of the tourbillon doubles as a seconds hand, adding both functional and aesthetic appeal.
The brushed caseback with a flat sapphire crystal offers a clear view of the finely decorated 60-second tourbillon movement, featuring colimaçon, Côtes de Genève, and perlage finishes on the bridges, with their angles polished. The centrally mounted unidirectional rotor with a sandblasted finish is crafted from 22K rose gold and decorated with the Gerald Charles “Honeycomb” design.
The gold tourbillon bridge is also a notable feature. The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a 50-hour power reserve. The Gerald Charles Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon is paired with a hand-stitched blue alligator strap, featuring a newly designed folding clasp for secure closure.
