Gerald Charles

Maison's History

Noble Origins

Gerald Charles is an independent, family-owned watch company based in Switzerland. Our founder and former designer, Mr. Gérald Charles Genta gave his two first names to his last brand to create a strong bond between himself and his creations.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the attention you paid to my new brand Gerald Charles. I created each of these timepieces with passion. As always since the beginning of my career,I have sought to combine technology and aesthetics. I searched for the ideal shape and used colours like a painter uses his painting to present you with a timepiece that will give you a sense of pleasure each time your eyes are drawn to it."

Signature Gerald Charles

[SOURCE: GERALD CHARLES CATALOGUE, 2005]

Every watch created by Maison Gerald Charles today is based on one of Mr. Gérald Charles Genta's original drawing and carries his legacy of "artistic creativity, technical mastery" forward into the future.

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Mr. Gérald Charles Genta founder and former designer

Mr. Gérald Charles Genta, often referred to simply as "Maestro", was one of the most productive artists and watch designers of the history.

Mr. Genta, born in 1931 in Geneva, designed some of the most successful timepieces, which remains iconic today, such as the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet and the Nautilus from Patek Philippe*.

Trademarks of third parties without any link to Gerald Charles SA

Image source: Gerald Charles SA archive - WOW Magazine, 2006

Mr. Genta's last creations

After selling his first brand ''Gerald Genta* '', in 2000 he founded his last brand "Gerald Charles" to express his own creativity. In 2003, Mr. Genta entrusted Gerald Charles to a group of investors led by the Ziviani family, because of his long-time friendship with Franco Ziviani, to focus entirely on his creative work and serve as the Maison's Chief Designer until 2011, with Mr. Giampaolo Ziviani appointed as General Manager. Nowadays, Mr. Genta's legacy lives on through his many watch designs and the Maison Gerald Charles. Every watch created by Gerald Charles today is based on one of his original designs.

Trademarks of third parties without any link to Gerald Charles SA

GC Family

Two generations in the Swiss watchmaking industry

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Giampaolo Ziviani

Former General Manager

From 2003 to 2011, Giampaolo Ziviani collaborated with Mr. Gérald Charles Genta, with whom he had a close friendship.

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Federico Ziviani

CEO

Federico Ziviani has been the CEO of independent watch company Gerald Charles since 2019, along with a new Board of Directors and investors coming from the watchmaking industry.‎

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Franco Ziviani

Chairman

Franco Ziviani has over 40 years of experience in the watchmaking industry, having been the founder of Audemars Piguet* Italia SPA, amongst his other achievements. At the end of 2023, Mr. Ziviani joined Gerald Charles as Chairman to support the company's growth.

Trademarks of third parties without any link to Gerald Charles SA

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The GC family, empowering our team and partners

With our selected retail partners, we want to cultivate long-term relationships. We are a family and, as a family should do, we always support those who have supported us

CEO, Federico Ziviani

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Gerald Charles key values

Gerald Charles timepieces are proprietary developments and comply with Fleurier Quality Standards. The watches are produced without compromise and marry the finest traditions and most up-to-date technologies of Swiss mechanical watchmaking to deliver superior precision and performance, as well as exceptional water and shock resistance and ergonomics on wrist.

More elegant than a dress watch, better performing than a sports watch. Regarded as one of the most comfortable yet ergonomic watch on the wrist, the Maison timepieces shall be worn across generations and lifestyles.

Mr. Genta designed for Gerald Charles for the last 11 year of his life. Many of his watch designs, each drawn by hand, were put into production, many more remain untouched, hidden in the Maison' s archive, like undiscovered treasure.

Maison's timeline

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[Source: Gerald Charles SA archive - WOW Magazine, 2006]

2000

Foundation of the Maison Gerald Charles

Mr. Gérald Charles Genta founded Gerald Charles, giving the Maison his first two names.

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2001

Gerald Charles Renaissance

RENAISSANCE is the first Gerald Charles collection, whose name perfectly describes Mr. Genta's artistic revival. The collection is a bolder expression of the soft line which Mr. Genta was always particularly fond of.

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2003

Mr. Genta as Designer in Chief

In 2003, Mr. Genta entrusted Gerald Charles to a group of investors led by the Ziviani family, because of his long-time friendship with Franco Ziviani, to focus entirely on his creative work and serve as the Maison's Chief Designer until 2011, with Mr. Giampaolo Ziviani appointed as General Manager.

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2005

Gérald Charles Maestro

Mr. Gérald Charles Genta introduced the Maestro case, an iconic case made to last for future generations, whose shape lies between a square and an octagon. He took inspiration from the 17th century baroque architecture, realised by the Swiss-born Italian architect Francesco Borromini. The "smile" at 6 o'clock is a subtle reflection of the concavity on the monuments' façades.

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2011

Production of bespoke timepieces

During this time, the Maison produced bespoke timepieces for a niche of collectors. Some of Mr. Genta's early creations had the designer's signature engraved on the case back, as an artwork of an artist.

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2018

Federico Ziviani as CEO

A new management took part in the Maison with a Board of Director and Federico Ziviani as CEO. The common mission has been opening up the story of Gerald Charles to a wider audience of collectors, increasing the production from a few dedicated pieces to 1.500 pieces a year.

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2020

THE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION, THE MAESTRO PREMIER 2021

In 2020, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the company, Gerald Charles released the Maestro Anniversary: a limited edition of 252 pieces marking the number of months since the company was founded. A year later, the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin and Maestro 3.0 Chronograph Premier 2021 were launched.

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2022

Retail's expansion

In 2022, the company was immediately appreciated among watch collectors world wide. The brand was supported by the best retailers in Europe, in particular Italy, and the Middle East. In 2023, Gerald Charles continued its distribution in North Europe and the USA. In 2024, Gerald Charles officially began distribution on the Japanese market.

THE ART OF WATCHMAKING

GC Atelier Genève

Gerald Charles Atelier Genève: a space hosting the Maison’s lounge and Museum, along with a number of exclusive pieces designed by Mr. Genta between 2000 and 2011, taking watch enthusiasts through the brand's history.

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