Gerald Genta & Time Zone Itch
I like funky watches - stuff off the beaten path, but still with rich history and purpose. If it's truly NOS then I'm definitely in. Particularly anything ready for adventure or travel.
I've been a fan of Gerald Genta's design aesthetic and knew eventually I'd like one for my collection. I really liked his integrated bracelet designs but what really woo'd me was his more "safari" looking watches.
At the same time I had been been hunting for a worldtimer. I had looked high and low and was starting to think about maybe the GP WW.TC.
Oh yeah, and this all needs to be like a 38 to 40mm ideally.
I was doing some price research through old auctions and happened upon this GG that I had never seen before. All of the imagery and available stock I had found were of his Gefica series (like the one below made with a slate dial)
and the main Maxi Time series w/ moon phase (below).
Anyway, while searching, I found this old pic of a lot sold in 2006 and I loved the super weird dial layout. Upon inspection I realized it indicated time across 5 time zones. 38mm diameter. It was quartz but personally I wasn't buying a GG for the movement. And from a utility stand point, I did love the idea that I could pick up a 5 time zone watch and it always be set exactly where it should be. So not exactly a worldtimer...but not not...right?
I could only find a handful of sales of the last 20 years so I figured I had found the worst possible watch to like. One I could never get! Fast forward to a month or so ago and a NOS version popped up with box and papers. Unreal!
Details
Circa 1990
38mm diameter
10mm thickness
5 time zones
18k gold bezel, steel case
42.5mm lug-to-lug
My great grandfather's Elgin and my grandfather's Onsa and Seiko were the first timepieces that got me to *see* watches. Got bit and it's still stinging.
That is a lovely watch. I love the layout of the registers.
This is a really unique piece! I dig it!
Wow I've never seen anything like it. Fantastic!
What an awesome watch! Looks likes a much better execution of the Jacobs & Co. I loved the concept of that Jacobs and now knowing there's a much classier and tasteful version I have my eyes open for one too. What a find!
What an awesome watch! Looks likes a much better execution of the Jacobs & Co. I loved the concept of that Jacobs and now knowing there's a much classier and tasteful version I have my eyes open for one too. What a find!
Nice catch! I had never seen that J&C before.