Maison Gerald Charles has, for the first time, unveiled the elusive Sarawak, the one-off watch designed by Gerald Charles Genta that inspired the Masterlink collection.
The customised Sarawak was manufactured in 2007 as a one-of-a-kind exclusive piece for the Royal family of Sarawak, a Malaysian state. This watch was the first to feature the asymmetric integrated bracelet designed by Gerald Genta. The Masterlink collection, the latest evolution of the brand’s signature Maestro case unveiled at this year’s Watches & Wonders, are the first serial production timepieces to feature the asymmetrical integrated bracelet.
“The Sarawak is the first and the last known asymmetric integrated bracelet timepiece created by Mr Genta, while the Masterlink is the first asymmetric integrated bracelet watch on the market today,” says Federico Ziviani, the CEO of Gerald Charles SA.
Value at over 1 million euros and a total of over 15 carats of precious stones, the Sarawak timepiece has a full pavé set bracelet and case in round diamonds and baguette rubies. It carries the DNA of a high-end gem setting, now a signature to the Maison.
The Sarawak is just one of the thousands of sketches, which remain unpublished from the Gerald Charles archive, an incredible source of inspiration for the creative vision of the maison. Between 2000 and 2011 – when Gerald Genta was designer in chief of Gerald Charles – the maison produced highly-complicated and bespoke pieces, upon request only, under the direction of Giampaolo Ziviani, uncle to the current CEO.
Gerald Charles Genta founded Gerald Charles SA in 2000. In 2003, the Ziviani family, who had a long-standing commercial and creative relationship with the designer, acquired the brand. Gerald Genta continued as its creative head until his passing in 2011.
“I first met Gerald Charles Genta at the Montres & Bijoux watch fair in Milan in 1982 and we immediately became good friends,” recalls the brand’s Chairman Franco Ziviani. “I collaborated with him for the Italian release of the Gerald Genta Gefica Safari in 1984. He then asked for my help when he founded Gerald Charles in 2000 but unfortunately at that time, I wasn’t able to assist as I was Audemars Piguet Italy CEO. So, I asked my brother, Giampaolo, to join and become General Manager. Since then, Mr. Genta has always trusted us and our priority has always been to respect his legacy.”
Gerald Charles SA archive houses Gerald Genta’s last original drawings and several vintage pieces, that he personally designed and oversaw when alive. A few of these special timepieces are now displayed in the brand’s Museum, within their Geneva Atelier on Rue du Mont-Blanc.
