One of Gérald Genta’s favourite complications returns with volcanic texture, remarkable acoustics and a warmer personality.
Gérald Genta, the watchmaking mastermind, is remembered not only as one of horology’s most influential designers, but also as an early pioneer of independent high watchmaking. After establishing his own brand, Genta became known for bringing together expressive case designs and highly complicated mechanical movements, creating watches that were immediately distinctive yet technically complex.
The minute repeater was among Gérald Genta’s favourite complications and remains one of the most complex mechanisms in modern watchmaking, alongside the perpetual calendar. This presented Genta with a considerable challenge, but one he was certainly capable of overcoming. This was evident throughout his various collections, with the minute repeater appearing in several creations produced during his lifetime.
In 2023, the Gérald Genta brand was officially revived as a standalone marque with the support of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. The new brand set out to create watches that were not solely tied to Genta’s historical pieces, but also incorporated modernity through a contemporary watchmaking approach. At Geneva Watch Days 2025, Gérald Genta introduced the Geneva Minute Repeater, pairing one of Genta’s favourite complications with a black onyx dial and contrasting 18-carat yellow-gold case.
Now, for 2026, the brand has taken the same design approach and given its Geneva Minute Repeater a fresh appearance with a natural golden obsidian dial. Paired with the yellow-gold case, this new dial brings greater warmth and visual texture to the timepiece.
Engineered For Sound, Designed With Warmth
The elegant cushion-shaped case is retained from the first Geneva Minute Repeater introduced last year, along with its dimensions of 40mm in diameter and just 9.6mm thick. There is also a reason why yellow gold has been retained for this model and chosen for the original edition. The material has excellent acoustic qualities, helping the minute repeater produce a warmer and more resonant sound.
Not only that, but Gérald Genta has gone the extra distance to make the minute repeater sound as clear, resonant and refined as possible. The case walls have been reduced to just 0.6mm at their thinnest point, removing unnecessary material that could restrict vibration. The bezel and caseback have also been internally hollowed, while the sapphire crystal measures just 0.8mm thick to further improve sound propagation.
One of the defining features of the Geneva Minute Repeater’s case is its smooth double gadroons and horizontal gold bars, which act as lugs for the strap. These elements reference details found on Gérald Genta’s original timepieces, giving this contemporary creation clear historical ties to his earlier models. The polished slider on the left side of the case activates the minute repeater and provides an external indication of the chiming complication. The fluted yellow-gold crown is also set with a golden obsidian cabochon, tying it beautifully to the dial.
What distinguishes this model from last year’s Geneva Minute Repeater is the introduction of a golden obsidian dial. This naturally formed volcanic glass is not only beautiful to look at, but also continues Gérald Genta’s affection for hardstone dials.
The dial’s dark brown surface displays subtle golden reflections that shift depending on the angle of the light. This creates beautiful depth within the material while providing a subtle contrast against the geometry of the yellow-gold case. As obsidian is a natural material, each stone features slight variations, giving every dial its own unique character.
The remaining dial elements include yellow-gold hands and applied hour indices, which enhance the warmth of the timepiece while complementing its yellow-gold case. A white railway-style minute track introduces direct contrast against the obsidian dial. What makes this track unique, however, is that its inner edge remains circular while its outer perimeter follows the cushion-shaped case, linking the dial and case geometries beautifully.
Giving Time A Mechanical Voice
Inside this latest iteration of the Geneva Minute Repeater is the manually wound Calibre GG-002, developed entirely at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini oversaw its development, continuing their longstanding historical connection with Gérald Genta.
On a separate note, we had the opportunity to meet both watchmakers during Geneva Watch Days 2026. It was a surreal experience discussing not only the latest Geneva Minute Repeater, but also their time working with Gérald Genta, how his mind worked and his love for minute repeaters.
Returning to the movement at hand, the Calibre GG-002 operates at 3Hz, or 21,600vph, while delivering an impressive 80-hour power reserve. For the minute repeater mechanism, each gong is individually cut before being tuned by hand and by ear to optimise its vibration, amplitude and tonal clarity. Black-polished hammers strike the gongs to sound the hours, quarter hours and minutes on demand.
Through the caseback, you can also see a visual callback to one of Gérald Genta’s signature design elements: the octagon. The inertia wheel that regulates the speed of the striking sequence is octagonal, providing a playful reference to one of Genta’s favourite shapes from his past designs.
Initial Thoughts
This latest rendition of the Geneva Minute Repeater is a natural evolution that taps into Genta’s love for stone dials. This is where the golden obsidian succeeds, as it changes the personality of the watch without altering its underlying formula. Compared with the black onyx edition released in 2025, which creates a more direct contrast between the case and dial, the golden reflections of the obsidian pair with the yellow-gold case to produce a warmer and more expressive appearance.
The minimalist display, featuring only the hands, hour indices and minute track, allows the natural stone dial to command attention without competing against additional complications. Having spoken extensively with Michel Navas and especially Enrico Barbasini, we gained a broader understanding of this timepiece and why it remains consistent with Genta’s philosophy of combining mechanical complexity with bold materials and visually distinctive shapes.
Available from September 2026 with pricing upon request, the Geneva Minute Repeater is an extremely specialised creation intended for collectors who value discretion, traditional craftsmanship and the mechanical artistry of sound.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | EBFE02A1 |
| Dimensions | 40mm diameter x 9.6mm thickness |
| Case | Cushion-shaped case in polished and satin-brushed 3N yellow gold with double gadroons and central yellow-gold lug modules |
| Dial | Natural golden obsidian with polished and rounded 3N yellow-gold hands and applied indices, plus a white railway-style minute track |
| Crystal | Sapphire crystal measuring 0.8mm thick |
| Caseback | Open sapphire caseback with internally hollowed yellow-gold construction |
| Movement | In-house manually wound Calibre GG-002, developed at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | Not specified. |
| Strap/Bracelet | 20/18mm brown calfskin strap with 3N yellow-gold pin buckle |