News Father of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepiece, Patek Philippe’s Nautilus, Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas, IWC’s Ingénieur, Omega’s Constellation and many other models besides which are still prominent today on the watchmaking scene, Gérald Genta passed away in his 80th year. Born of a Swiss mother and a father from Piedmont in Italy, he obtained his diploma as a jeweller in 1951. Ten years later he had managed to become the foremost watch designer and worked for the most prestigious watch brands. In 1969, he created his own brand of the same name which he went on to sell to the Bulgari Group in 1998. A painter in his leisure hours, he then decided to devote himself to his passion for painting for three years. In 2001 he launched his second brand, Gérald Charles, a union of his two passionate interests in watchmaking and painting.
August 25, 2011