The Gérald Genta brand welcomes back complication with the new Minute Repeater, and it’s painfully beautiful
Borna Bošnjak- Genta’s favourite complication makes a return in a squircle gold case adorned with a black onyx dial.
- The new Gérald Genta Minute Repeater looks to adapt the complication into a squircle that looks like it could’ve been designed by Genta himself.
- Powered by the GG-002, a manual movement developed by La Fabrique du Temps, the Genta Minute Repeater will be limited in production to just 10 pieces per year.
Louis Vuitton’s La Fabrique du Temps has been the cradle of horological development over the last few years, supplying its brands with incredibly complex movements or reviving others. We’ve seen Daniel Roth’s name finally done justice, though the Maison’s other big name, Gérald Genta, has been somewhat quiet. It’s been over two years since the big announcement that the watch world’s favourite designer’s eponymous brand was to be revived, but all it’s had to show for it thus far has been iterations on the (admittedly pretty schmick) Oursin. Given that LFT is spearheaded by the duo of Barbasini and Navas, however, I suspected that most didn’t worry, considering their past with the Genta brand. Today, we’re finally seeing the fruits of their labour, as Gérald Genta unveils its new Minute Repeater.
Unlike the Oursin, the new Minute Repeater is not a shape originally penned by Genta, but rather the brand’s current Artistic Director, Matthieu Hegi. And yet, I really do think it captures the best of Genta’s work with bowing out the sides of a traditional ellipse shape just enough to make it distinct. In truth, the case design is quite simple. A lug juts out on either end of the case, affixing the strap, while the slider has been subtly integrated into the left flank. What I did find quite surprising is that it’s 40mm across – larger than I’d expect given Genta’s general penchant for smaller sizes.
The 9.6mm height also played an important part in the design, as Michel Navas explains: “It is a small watch, with very little leeway for enhanced sound propagation. We had to carefully consider how to optimise the sound, which led us to creating such a thin case.”
Completing the aesthetics of the case is an onyx cabochon, matching the slice of natural stone used for the dial, where we find, well, not that much more to talk about – at least at first glance. With such a supremely simple design, the small details can make or break the watch. I’m glad it’s the former in the Minute Repeater’s case. The indices and hands are simple, case-matching batons, and the Gérald Genta name is also simply spelled out in a minimal, all lower-case font. But take a look at the railroad minute track, for example. It helps the not-quite-round shape of the case transition to a circular dial by gently widening in each corner, giving even this simple dial a dynamic twist. It’s really quite excellent.
Curiously for a minute-repeating watch, the boffins at LFT opted for a sapphire caseback in place of a solid gold one. While I’m not complaining about getting an unobstructed view of the movement, I do wonder what effect it had on the sound resonance. And speaking of the movement, the new GG-002 extends the trail blazed by the legendary G2015 minute repeater perpetual calendar, though simplifies the formula slightly to include only Mr Genta’s favourite complication.
It features a single gong that’s affixed to the case for better sound propagation, and an octagonal inertia wheel – it is Genta we’re talking about, so there had to have been an octagon somewhere. The finishing is of a high standard as one would expect, with the brand emphasising the hand-polished bevels and the rounded, elongated click. Performance-wise, you can expect an 80-hour power reserve that is topped up manually, though specifics like the beat rate have not been specified as of publishing.
Gérald Genta Minute Repeater pricing and availability
The Gérald Genta Minute Repeater will be limited in production to 10 pieces per year. Price: TBC
| Brand | Gérald Genta |
| Model | Minute Repeater |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 9.6mm (T) |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold |
| Water Resistance | TBC |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Black onyx stone |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Strap | Black leather, 18k yellow gold pin buckle |
| Movement |
GG-002, developed by La Fabrique du Temps, manual-winding
|
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, minute repeater |
| Availability | Limited to 10 pieces per year |
| Price | TBC |