Gerald Charles continues the expansive legacy of its founder with a new rendition of the Maestro GC Sport Tennis in turquoise.
Anyone who’s ever dipped even a pinky into the fantastical world of watches has perhaps already heard the name Gerald Genta. Famous for creations like the Royal Oak, Nautilus, and Ingenieur, among countless others, his legacy is cemented as one of the greatest watch designers to have ever lived. But even with his name constantly up in lights, it still doesn’t fully capture the multifaceted career Genta forged within the industry. Not only did he design for other brands, but he would also find himself heading up a few of his own.
First was the eponymous Gerald Genta brand, which was eventually acquired by Bvlgari in 2000, and later resurrected as part of the greater LVMH conglomerate. But as soon as he departed from Gerald Genta, Mr Genta began yet another brand in the exact same year.
This is where Gerald Charles comes in, the last major venture Mr Genta would embark on until his passing in 2011. Since his passing, Gerald Charles has upheld the values and artistry given to it by its founder, particularly with a uniquely shaped case, incredible craftsmanship, and bold, sporty appeal. The brand continues to expand on this interplay of sport and elegance with a new rendition of its Maestro GC Sport Tennis model line.
A Case For Comfort
Designed to demonstrate the high-performance nature of Gerald Charles’ craftsmanship, the Maestro GC Sport Tennis Turquoise makes ergonomics an absolute priority. This is due to Gerald Charles’ proprietary ErgonTeq ergonomic standard, merging mathematical science and horology to inform how every watch is built around the wrist. The watch begins with a uniquely shaped, lightweight Grade 5 titanium case designed to maximise skin contact and comfort.
Measuring a universally wearable 39mm in case diameter, 46.8mm lug-to-lug, and a slim 9mm thick, every element of the case has been specifically built to be as unobtrusive as possible. Even the crown has been shifted to the nine o’clock position to stay out of the way during intense games of tennis. Well, only if you’re right-handed and left-wristed.
Though titanium is already more shock- and corrosion-resistant than standard steel, Gerald Charles has taken it a step further by adding its proprietary Darkblast finish. Unlike traditional sandblasting, Darkblast is much smoother to the touch while still providing the same matte contrast, hardness, and scratch resistance.
Continuing the theme of comfort is the bright turquoise Velcro strap, which essentially guarantees the watch wears flush and comfortably on any wrist that wears it. This also includes the integrated titanium loop, which has also been Darkblasted for optimum tactility. Water-resistant to 100m and shock-resistant to 5Gs of force, the new Maestro GC Sport Tennis Turquoise continues along the defining principles of the rest of the model line.
Grand Slam
Beyond the ErgonTeq principles, the design of the Maestro GC Sport Tennis Turquoise reinterprets the sport in a horological context. Previous versions of the lineup have offered their own individual tributes to the game; the Optic Yellow reference mimicked the colour of tennis balls, while the White paid tribute to the pure dress code seen at legendary tournaments such as Wimbledon.
This time, however, the dial colour of choice is a light turquoise tone, meant to closely resemble tennis hardcourts. Made famous through destinations like Arthur Ashe Stadium and Australia’s own Rod Laver Arena, the hardcourt is known for its fast-paced, democratic play that offers the most predictable ball bounces. However, the synthetic layers and concrete construction offer little give and high friction, making the surface unforgiving on the knees and ankles. This turns almost every hardcourt game into a display of dynamic scoring intertwined with gruelling acts of endurance and dexterity.
Gerald Charles takes a nod to the up-tempo style of the hardcourt with its colourway, starting bright in the centre and fading into dark fumé smokiness at the edges. A grained, textured finish echoes that found on the hardcourt, while high-contrast white on the minute track and indexes also continues the theme. But even if the vibrant turquoise tone can’t be seen at night, the watch’s indexes, hands, and Arabic numerals have all been appropriately lumed, guaranteeing legibility regardless of the light level.
Venerable Vaucher
The Maestro GC Sport Tennis Turquoise’s design might be fairly straightforward, but Gerald Charles has not spared any expense in crafting the timepiece. This is most evident when turning the watch around, revealing the Cal. GCA 3002 through a display caseback. Beating at the luxury standard of 4Hz (28,800VpH), the automatic movement holds a steady 50-hour power reserve.
Though it’s not an entirely in-house movement, the Cal. GCA 3002 is a customised rendition of the Cal. VCF 3002 manufactured by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. If that name sounds familiar, you’d be correct. It is the same manufacture renowned for its work alongside Audemars Piguet, TAG Heuer, Richard Mille, and Hermès, not to mention its Sandoz peer in Parmigiani Fleurier. The fact that Gerald Charles works so tightly alongside Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier to produce its movements is highly admirable, as it demonstrates the brand’s dedication to exceptional watchmaking in conjunction with the designs laid out by its founder.
Initial Thoughts
I’ll be entirely honest: Gerald Charles is a brand that has constantly slipped under my radar. The independent brand, while remarkable in its watchmaking, didn’t have a clear path regarding its own take on watchmaking. But something changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, as the brand began to hone in on ergonomics, dynamism, and comfort above all.
The tennis court was perhaps the best way to demonstrate this, as the watch is now worn by several professionals across the sport. Most notably for us is Alex de Minaur, who debuted the Optic Yellow at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Now with a Turquoise reference, I wonder if we will see this tribute to the hardcourt come to life at next year’s tournament. But even if it’s not on the wrist of de Minaur, the Maestro GC Sport Tennis Turquoise is still a demonstration of sports-focused watchmaking taken to the highest level. Interspersed with class-leading ergonomics and high-class mechanics, it’s one that demands your attention, and it’s certainly earned mine.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | GC2.0-TX-TNDB-33GR-RSVC_DLE |
| Dimensions | 39mm case diameter x 46.8mm lug-to-lug x 9mm thickness |
| Case | Darkblast Grade 5 titanium |
| Dial | Textured turquoise fumé with white accents |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. GCA 3002 with date complication |
| Power Reserve | 50h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable turquoise velcro strap with Darkblast titanium loop |