Gerald Charles has unveiled a new limited edition watch: the Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon white gold. This model features a hand-hammered white gold dial, a flying tourbillon, and a stainless steel case inspired by Roman architecture. Founded in 2000 by iconic watch designer Gérald Charles Genta, Gerald Charles emerged as a tribute to Genta’s artistry after he sold his previous brand, Gerald Genta, to Bulgari (which is now in the hands of LVMH). While the Gerald Charles brand’s marketing portrays the company as “family-owned” and closely tied to its founder’s legacy, Genta sold the company in 2003 to an investment group. Despite this, Genta remained the designer-in-chief until his death in 2011, leaving a rich collection of designs that continues to inspire the brand’s creations.
The case of the Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon has dimensions of 39 mm x 41 mm. It is made of 316L stainless steel with a polished finish. The bezel, however, is made of Grade 5 titanium with a Colormix blue treatment. This special coating not only gives the bezel its striking blue colour but also enhances its resistance. The case is water-resistant up to 100 metres and shock-resistant up to 5G. These features make the watch suitable for everyday wear despite its delicate mechanics. The screw-down crown with a Clou de Paris finish and the embossed logo add to the watch’s robustness and ease of use. The design of the case is also noteworthy. It features the characteristic ‘smile’ at 6 o’clock, a design element that harks back to the first watch in the Maestro collection, designed by Gérald Genta in 2005. This ‘smile’ not only serves an aesthetic purpose but also provides the perfect shape to accommodate the tourbillon cage. The overall design of the case reflects the brand’s values and origins, inspired by Roman architecture and art.
The dial of the Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon is made of pure, uncoated 18K white gold. It features a hand-hammered finish that gives it a unique texture and appearance. This artisanal production process is time-consuming and requires a high level of skill. Only a few artisans are capable of working with this technique, and each dial produced is therefore a one-of-a-kind piece. The Roman numerals on the dial emphasise the watch’s connection to Roman architecture and art, which inspired the design of the case. They are complemented by baton-shaped, flat hands filled with white Super-LumiNova. This ensures that the time is also legible in the dark, where the hands and hour markers glow blue. At 6 o’clock, the flying tourbillon takes centre stage. The tourbillon cage is made of Grade 5 titanium and has a personalised design that represents the Gérald Charles logo. It also features a small seconds that is the ‘G’ of the cage, painted in the iconic GC Blue.
The Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon is powered by the 9.0 calibre. It is based on the VMF 3024 by supplier Vaucher Fleurier. The automatic movement features a flying tourbillon with a 60 seconds indication. The central oscillating mass is made of 22K rose gold and decorated with the Gérald Charles ‘Honeycomb’ design. The movement consists of 196 components and operates at a frequency of 4 Hz. It has an Incabloc anti-shock system and a uni-directional rotor. The power reserve is 50 hours. The bridges are finely decorated with colimacon, Cotes de Genève, and perlage finishes. The anglage is diamond polished. The G small stroke in iconic GC Blue serves as the seconds hand.
The Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon in white gold comes with a hand-stitched matte blue alligator strap. This strap not only adds a touch of luxury to the watch but also ensures durability and comfort. The folding clasp, polished and sandblasted with contrast, provides a secure fit and ease of use.
The Maestro 9.0 Roman Tourbillon with white gold dial is a limited edition of 50 pieces. Each watch is individually numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The warranty of two years can also be extended to five years. The price of the watch is CHF 106,400. Interested buyers should contact authorised Gerald Charles dealers or the brand directly for more information.
