Commitment and passion to a legendary artist
Evelyne Genta, citizen of Monaco, is today a diplomat. Previously, she was for many years an outstanding business leader.
From 1983 to 1999, Evelyne and her husband Gerald, the legendary designer of exceptional watches, travelled the world to manage, develop and promote their famous watchmaking brand, “Gerald Genta”. As part of this innovative and international activity, Evelyne Genta managed the company, supervising operations, finance, marketing and sales functions, as well as two factories with 250 employees in Switzerland.
While her husband, often described as the watchmaker of the 20th century, was committed to the creation of iconic models, she passionately developed new markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East with enthusiasm and energy. On the eve of the new century, they decided to sell their company.
Evelyne today
Today, Evelyne Genta lives in London and has just founded the Association Gerald Genta Heritage of which the vocation is above all to pay tribute to one of the greatest watchmaking designers and encourage and reward promising young talents.
Her motivation is not only born from love for her late husband; it also comes from her unwavering determination to stoke the fire of his memory and share her passion for his legendary creativity, which generated many masterpieces in luxury watchmaking history. In addition to this, the encouragement and mentorship she wants to bring to designers and pioneers of tomorrow is an integral part of the Association’s raison d’être.
It is in this perspective that she invites watchmaking enthusiasts and lovers of Gerald’s work to join the Association so that his legacy continues to shine, encourage and inspire young promising talents.
Untouched Designs
Gerald Genta once estimated that he had designed over 100 000 watches in his time. It can be said that not all of these were best sellers, but those that were, are undoubtedly among the most famous pieces in watchmaking history. After all, there is no other designer in the world with as many record-breaking watches under their signature.
Safely guarded in the possession Gerald Genta’s life and business partner, Evelyne Genta, lies a huge treasure trove of over 3500 untouched original Gerald Genta designs. Most of the beautifully preserved and unseen drawings are of exquisite, intricate, bold and innovative ready-to-make watches. Each sketch is valuable not only for its uniqueness and rarity, but because it embodies the last untouched representation of the Maestro’s artistic vision.
As his fans know, Gerald Genta saw himself as an artist before being a watch designer, and he didn’t let his talent stop at timepieces. This explains the many fine object sketches that can also be found within the priceless collection of Gerald’s work.
The Gerald Genta Heritage Association hopes that one day these sketches will be made and manufactured as the ultimate tribute to the Picasso of watches, allowing him to keep living on through his designs forever.
