From the time of founding of his company in 1969, Gérald Genta devoted himself wholeheartedly to expressing his personal vision of watchmaking. At the time, what was known as the quartz watch revolution was in full swing, shaking the Swiss watch industry to its very foundations. Centuries of mechanical horological expertise seemed liable to be swept away in a period when low-cost Asianmade quartz movements were clearly surpassing the performances of the finest timepieces made by the greatest Swiss manufacturers. Even famous brands experienced a severe drop in sales and were apparently helpless witnesses of the upheavals that looked likely to overturn traditional watchmaking values.

During the subsequent years, through cooperation with extraordinarily gifted and qualified specialists, the Manufacture Gérald Genta set up an Haute Horlogerie "think tank" that gave rise to complicated sstriking mechanisms, sophisticated calendar devices, tourbillon movements and various other complications. By associating a high degree of expertise with exceptional design, the brand almost single-handedly succeeded in bringing Haute Horlogerie back to its rightful centre-stage role.

Collectors can rest assured regarding the continuity of the brand heritage, over which it jealously safeguards with typically Swiss precision. The creation of a new building right next to the existing premises on the Rue de la Gare, at the heart of the small town of Le Sentier in the Vallée de Joux, is in itself a token of confidence in the company's future. With a current production volume of 3,000 watches per year, along with investments in cutting-edge machinery and a more spacious, pleasant and environmentfriendly setting for the 140 members of its team, the firm is clearly stating its objective: regular, reasonable and carefully monitored growth enabling it to achieve the greatest possible independence. It is well aware that only through achieving and maintaining control of its own production can it ensure fast and original progression while mastering quality, and that only an in-depth knowledge of each production stage can enable it where necessary to outsource certain tasks to subcontractors with the appropriate skills.

The Octo Tourbillon Sunray celebrates the return of yellow gold for Gérald Genta. Its case glows with the radiance of the brilliant-polished middle. It wears a singularly contrasting bezel in satin-brushed gold incrusted with gold studs like a halo. Looking down from its zenith, the "sun watch" focuses the piercing gaze of its hawk's eye set at the heart of the beaded crown. This stone symbolising an open-minded attitude toward new ideas is a fitting emblem indeed for Gérald Genta!

The Octo Tourbillon in yellow gold comes on a deep black creased crocodile leather strap. Prospective owners may choose the pink gold version or the "tri-composite" model with a platinum case middle, tantalum bezel and white gold studs. The latter is further enlivened by a black and red lacquered white gold dial and matching red strap.

OCTO MINUTE REPEATER

The brand acknowledged as a pioneer in the field of striking watches has developed a new movement driving an exceptional Minute Repeater model, the first in the world to be associated with jumping hour and retrograde minute functions, in a collection issued exclusively in limited editions of one.

The Octo Minute Repeater features baroque-inspired ornamental dials adorned with multiple geometrical motifs. Red or black lacquered, engraved in white or red gold, they form typically sophisticated Gérald Genta compositions each of which is produced in a limited edition of one. The jumping hour appears through an aperture cut-out in the traditional 9 o'clock position, while the retrograde minutes move across a 180° semi-circle exactly opposite. The brand's signature read-off style is thus both instinctive and easy.

BIRETRO

At Gérald Genta, the Biretro movement created in 1996 is in itself a flagship calibre symbolising the brand's inventive approach to complications. The jumping-hour window is cleverly associated with the overlapping
pointer-type retrograde minute and date indications. At the heart of the Octo, the date displayed on the arc of a circle at 6 o'clock forms a stylised figure eight with the central octagon, surrounded by the staggered partitioned tracks of the minute numerals. These sophisticated and yet easily legible geometrical displays are driven by a self-winding calibre decorated according to highend traditions and featuring distinctive Gérald Genta touches such as concentric circular graining and the exclusive old gold "Potter finish ". This fine craftsmanship may be admired through a sapphire case-back secured by eight pentagonal screws.