Tropicana Sep-Oct 2019 #126 The Wellbeing Issue

THE TIME
A Watch Icon
In homage to Gérald Genta, Bulgari releases an anniversary timepiece
that brings one of his classic designs back to life
This story first appeared in Augustman magazine
Panthère de Cartier Manchette
THE LATE GÉRALD Genta
never liked wearing watches. “For
me, watches are the antithesis of
liberty. I am an artist, a painter.
I hate having to adhere to the
constraints of time. It irritates me,”
he once said in an interview. It’s ironic, considering that
the designer was directly responsible for some of the
most iconic timepieces of all time. His portfolio boasts
such classics as the Royal Oak, the Nautilus, and of
course the Bulgari Bulgari, which has its logotype
boldly engraved on its bezel, almost like a declaration.
Bulgari’s relationship with the designer and his
namesake brand went beyond design. About two
decades ago, Bulgari acquired the Gérald Genta
brand from Singapore’s luxury watch retailer The
Hour Glass. As part of the deal, the Italian house also
purchased the manufacture that produced Genta’s
watches. To say the acquisition has helped Bulgari’s
watchmaking division would be an understatement.
As well, the watchmaking spirit of Vallée de Joux has
thrived in Bulgari, resulting in many advances for
the brand in the realm of fine watchmaking, one of
which we will get to later in this story.
But first, this: 2019 marks the 50th anniversary
of the founding of the Gérald Genta brand, and to
celebrate this milestone, Bulgari unveiled the Gérald
Genta 50 th Anniversary Watch.
TM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
50