Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, Dec 07, 2005

LOT 29

?Mickey Mouse No. 1? Gérald Genta, Genève, No. 1, Ref. G 4044.7. Made in the 1990?s. Very fine and very unusual, minute-repeating, self-winding, waterresistant, 18K yellow and white gold gentleman's wristwatch with a matching 18K yellow and white gold Gérald Genta chased link bracelet with concealed deployant clasp.

USD 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 17,000 - 20,000

Sold: USD 29,900

C. Two-body, solid, two-tone with pattern in relief, transparent case back, sapphire crystals. D. Mother-of-Pearl with applied luminous dots, in the center a gold and enamel depiction of ?Mickey Mouse? set with diamonds and pointing with its arms to the hours and minutes. M. Cal. 383, stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, hand engraved, gilt, 28 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring, micrometer regulator, repeating on gongs by pushing a button on the case band at 9. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness: 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Gérald Genta. Born in 1931, he displayed artistic talent from a very young age. From age 15 to 20, he painted tirelessly, being frequently commissioned to paint portraits. However, his work as a watch designer, begun in 1952, took up most of his time and energy. In 1969, after having designed many of the ?best sellers? of the Swiss watch industry - among them Audemars Piguet?s ?Royal Oak?, Omega?s ?Constellation? and ?Seamaster?, and Patek Philippe?s ?Nautilus? - he founded his own brand, calling on an extraordinary group of watchmakers, stonesetters, engravers, and engineers. Matching technique with beauty, he produced precious perpetual calendars, minute-repeaters with crystal clear sound, and finally, the extremely complicated ?grande sonnerie?. In 1998, he sold his brand name company and returned to painting. His style, full of color, life, and energy, is inimitable. In November 2000, Genta returned to horology, creating a line of watches under the name Gérald Charles. ?My new watches?, says Genta, ?will show a new freedom of expression... They will be highly personalized and intended, above all, for the watch collector.? The Gérald Charles watches include automatic steel chronographs and simple watches with three hands, made of titanium.