Gérald Genta, the legendary watchmaking icon renowned for his avant-garde designs, has launched a captivating new collection that pays homage to one of his most experimental pieces: the 1994 Oursin. This limited capsule line, codenamed Gentissima, marks a profound return to Genta’s boundary-pushing design philosophy, capturing both the spirit of innovation and the essence of artistic expression.
The Story Behind the Oursin
The Oursin, French for sea urchin, first emerged from Gérald Genta’s imagination during a family vacation in Corsica in 1994. Captivated by the sea urchin’s spiny, globular form, Genta envisioned a watch with a round case and deeply convex sides, adorned with beads that would become its signature feature. Evelyne Genta, upon seeing the prototypes, was so enamoured with the Oursin that she received a special version the following year, which remains her favourite to this day.
Now, the Oursin has reemerged in the Gentissima collection, bringing forward one of Genta’s most personal and intimate designs. The 2024 Gentissima Oursin is presented in three distinct models, each reinterpreting Genta’s extravagant vision for a contemporary audience.
The Watch Collection
The Gentissima Oursin, with a versatile 36.5mm diameter, embodies the 1990s pursuit of both structured and voluptuous design elements. Its convex titanium case, crafted at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, is adorned with 223 beads set in expanding halos.
Each bead, made from contrasting materials like white gold, rose gold, diamonds, or yellow gold, is individually threaded and screwed, enhancing the watch’s aesthetic versatility. The models are further complemented by a bund strap, adding a rugged sporty touch.
The collection features three distinct variations:
1. Anthracite-Dial Model: This model showcases stark elegance with a tone-on-tone colour palette, a finely etched guilloché dial, and polished round white-gold case beads. Its adaptability makes it suitable for both understated and statement-making occasions.
2. Pink Mother-of-Pearl Model: This glamorous version features an opalescent pink mother-of-pearl dial and a dazzling array of rose gold and diamond case beads. The soft blush and sparkling accents evoke a delicate strength, aligning closely with nature through the use of celebrated hard stones.
3. Black and Yellow Gold Model: Featuring extreme tonal contrasts, this model pairs yellow-gold spiked beads with a matt black DLC-coated titanium case. The magnetic pull of the dark dial and the simplicity of the design offer a Zen-like clarity and refined elegance.
Each model is powered by the automatic-winding GG-005 movement, based on the Zenith Elite. This movement has been customized for the Oursin, with an octagon-shaped rotor and bas-relief beads along the rotor’s periphery. Notably, the Elite was introduced around the same time as the original Oursin in 1994, creating a sense of historical continuity.
The Future of Gentissima
The Gérald Genta Gentissima Oursin is priced at SGD 32,000 for the anthracite and white gold model, SGD 37,000 for the black and yellow gold model, and SGD 48,000 for the pink, rose gold, and diamond versions.
Each piece is a testament to Gérald Genta’s enduring influence and his commitment to transforming the ordinary into extraordinary works of art.
