Gérald Genta

Referred to, on more than one occasion, as “the Fabergé of watches,” it’s difficult to overstate just how much Gérald Genta has given to the world of contemporary watchmaking.

A Swiss-Italian designer and goldsmith of notoriously artistic temperament, Genta is synonymous with not just one, but possibly a dozen of the most iconic wristwatches that entered into production during the 20th century - the famed Royal Oak, Nautilus and Ingenieur being among them.

Beyond the now-familiar pale of iconic sporty-chic watches he envisioned for other brands, Genta created several influential designs under his name. In the 1980s, he obtained the license to produce a handful of Disney watches decorated with cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse; and in 1994, he unveiled the Grande Sonnerie - widely considered the most expensive and complicated wristwatch upon its release.