MAISON'S HISTORY

Entrusted by Gérald Genta to the Ziviani family, the Maison continues to honour his creative legacy through a rare balance of heritage and evolution.

Ziviani family: Giampaolo, Franco and the new generation, Federico

IN THE FOUNDER'S WORDS
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the attention you paid to my new brand Gerald Charles. I created each of these timepieces with passion. As always since the beginning of my career, I have sought to combine technology and aesthetics. I searched for the ideal shape and used colours like a painter uses his painting to present you with a timepiece that will give you a sense of pleasure each time your eyes are drawn to it.”

Mr Gérald Charles Genta — Founder
Source: Gerald Charles Catalogue, 2005

Gérald Charles Genta admiring its sketches of the Turbo watch

The Maestro

Mr. Gérald Charles Genta, known simply as “the Maestro”, was one of the most visionary creative minds in watchmaking history. Unbound by commercial formulas, he allowed his imagination to lead, giving shape to some of the most recognizable and enduring timepieces. Born in 1931 in Geneva, he designed timepieces, which remain iconic today, such as the Royal Oak® and the Nautilus®.

The Star Lady original model realized by Gérald Charles Genta

Original timepiece Round 44 by Gérald Charles Genta

GC35 original piece designed by Mr. Gérald Charles Genta

Mr. Genta's last creations

In 2000, he founded his final Maison, Gerald Charles, to give his creativity complete freedom of expression. In 2003, out of his long-standing friendship and mutual trust in Franco Ziviani, Gérald Genta entrusted the Maison to the Ziviani family, while remaining its Chief Designer until 2011. Today, each watch is rooted in his original designs and reimagined with contemporary elegance by the Maison’s Creative Team, led by world-renowned designer Octavio Garcia since 2020.

CORE VALUES

At the heart of our brand leading our actions and shaping our identity.

The art of watchmaking, where each component is assembled by expert hands

TECHNICAL MASTERY

Gerald Charles timepieces are produced without compromise, marrying the finest Swiss watchmaking traditions with cutting-edge technology to deliver superior precision, performance, and exceptional water and shock resistance.

Comfortable strap effortless on the wrist

VERSATILITY

More elegant than a dress watch, better performing than a sports watch. The Maison’s timepieces are regarded as among the most comfortable and ergonomic on the wrist, designed to be worn across generations and lifestyles.

ARTISTIC CREATIVITY

Mr. Genta designed for Gerald Charles during the last 11 years of his life. Many of his hand-drawn watch designs were put into production, while many more remain untouched in the Maison’s archive, waiting to be discovered.

TWO GENERATIONS IN THE SWISS WATCHMAKING INDUSTRY

After a successful career in the international food industry with companies such as Nestlé, and a subsequent stint in retail with Gruppo COIN, Giampaolo Ziviani joined the family-owned Maison Gerald Charles as CEO in 2003 at his brother Franco’s invitation. Working alongside legendary designer Gérald Charles Genta, he translated an exceptional creative vision into a structured business, pioneering the “Les Artisans du Maestro” philosophy, a curated network of independent craftsmen that set Gerald Charles apart in the world of haute horlogerie. He stepped down in 2018, passing leadership to his nephew Federico Ziviani, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, craftsmanship and independent spirit.

Giampaolo Ziviani

Former General Manager

The executive who turned Gérald Charles Genta’s creative vision into a distinctive independent Maison.

Franco Ziviani began his career in advertising before entering watchmaking in the early 1980s, when the Montres Bijoux exhibition in Milan led to his first encounter with Gérald Charles Genta and to a relationship founded on mutual respect and shared vision. In the early 1990s, he founded and led Audemars Piguet Italy S.p.A., the brand’s first Italian subsidiary, establishing its presence in the market and further strengthening his ties with the finest Swiss maisons. In 2003, Mr. Genta entrusted the future of his Maison to the Ziviani family, ensuring the continuity of his creative legacy. Today, Franco leads Gerald Charles as Chairman.

Franco Ziviani

Chairman

A pioneering force in luxury watchmaking, from Audemars Piguet's Italy to Maison Gerald Charles.

Born and raised in Milan, Federico was immersed in the world of fine watchmaking from an early age thanks to his father Franco, who nurtured in him a lifelong passion for haute horlogerie. Federico acquired a strong academic background in London with a strong foundation in business, technology, and innovation. He joined the company in 2019 and was appointed CEO in 2023, carrying forward the legacy of the Maison with a new-generation vision recognized by Forbes Switzerland, which named him among its 30 Under 30 prominent Swiss entrepreneurs. Guided by an unwavering commitment to excellence, Federico has led Gerald Charles from a small atelier dedicated to bespoke creations into an independent Maison expanding across international markets.

Federico Ziviani

CEO

A next-generation leader blending a lifelong passion for watchmaking with a strong academic background.

MILESTONES OF A LEGACY

2000

2001

2003

2005

2011

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

THE FOUNDATION OF GERALD CHARLES

Gérald Charles Genta founds Gerald Charles, giving the Maison his first two names.

GERALD CHARLES REINASSANCE

REINASSANCE is the first Gerald Charles collection, whose name perfectly describes Gérald Charles Genta’s artistic revival. A bolder expression of the soft line which he has always been so fond of.

MR. GENTA AS DESIGNER IN CHIEF

In 2003, Gérald Charles Genta entrusts the Maison to the Ziviani family, because of his long-time friendship with Franco Ziviani, to focus entirely on his creative work and serve as Chief Designer until 2011, with Giampaolo Ziviani appointed as General Manager.

Borromini as source of inspiration for Mr. Genta

THE BORROMINI INSPIRATION

For his iconic Maestro case, Mr. Genta takes inspiration from the distinctive 17th-century Baroque architecture of Francesco Borromini. Two visionary figures, united by a cultural bridge between Switzerland and Italy: Genta, of Italian origin and deeply inspired by art; Borromini, born in a village in Italian-speaking Switzerland before bringing his genius to Italy.

The Maestro case is inspired by a Borromini’s Baroque architecture in Rome

THE ICONIC SMILE

From this architectural reference, Genta translates movement into geometry. The Maestro case, suspended between a square and an octagon, captures the elegance of Baroque architecture on the scale of watchmaking. Its signature “smile” at 6 o’clock is the clearest expression of this inspiration as the subtle concavity recalls Borromini’s curved façade.

Mr. Genta's signature engraved on the case back

PRODUCTION OF BESPOKE TIMEPIECES

During this period, the Maison produces bespoke timepieces for a niche of collectors. Some of Mr. Genta’s early creations have the designer’s signature engraved on the case back, as an artwork of an artist.

Franco holding Federico Ziviani in his arms in 1995

FEDERICO ZIVIANI AS CEO

With Federico Ziviani appointed CEO, the Maison enters a new chapter. Born and raised in the watch industry, and driven by a passion for technology and innovation, Federico has guided Gerald Charles from a team of three and just few watches into a growing Maison of 40 employees, producing around 2,000 watches a year and represented by a curated network of leading retailers worldwide.

ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION AND THE MAESTRO PREMIER 2021

Gerald Charles faces a key challenge: how to relaunch a brand that has existed for 20 years, yet remains largely unknown to a wider audience. The answer comes through the Maestro Anniversary, a limited edition of 252 pieces created to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary, with each piece representing one month since the brand’s founding.

EXPANDING THE COLLECTION

The Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin and the Maestro 3.0 Chronograph Premier 2021 are launched, expanding the collection with refined elegance and a sportier spirit while preserving Mr. Gérald Charles Genta’s original Maestro design.

Gerald Charles' expansion worldwide opening new points of sale

RETAIL EXPANSION

From its first collection, Gerald Charles captivates collectors worldwide. By 2022, the brand earns the confidence of Europe’s finest retailers with particular resonance in Italy and establishes a presence across the Middle East. Distribution expands into Northern Europe and the United States in 2023, before entering into Japan the following year, together with Hong Kong and Singapore.

FRANCO ZIVIANI AS CHAIRMAN

After a 38 years career at Audemars Piguet, Mr. Franco Ziviani joins Gerald Charles as Chairman to support the company’s growth. The Maison also launches new iconic watches, such as the Maestro GC Sport family and the Maestro 9.0 Tourbillon.

NEW ATELIER IN GENEVA

Gerald Charles inaugurates its Atelier, a new home and cultural hub in Geneva city centre. The same year marks the brand’s first participation in the Watches & Wonders fair and the birth of a new collection: the Masterlink.

25TH ANNIVERSARY

The Maison celebrates 25 years of watchmaking excellence with the launch of the Maestro GC39 25th Anniversary Edition, a remaster of the original GC39 Sliding Hours designed by Mr. Genta. The “meta guilloche” dial finishing was introduced as a further development of proprietary savoir-faire.

THE FIRST BRAND BOUTIQUE

In 2026, Gerald Charles opens its first directly managed brand boutique in Japan at JR Nagoya Takashimaya Watch Maison. A curated selection of flagship locations will follow as part of the brand’s long-term expansion.

GRAND COMPLICATIONS

The first asymmetric perpetual calendar in Gerald Charles history and the brand’s most complex watch to date. A bold new chapter in grand complications, presented for the first time at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026.

The timeline that shows all most relevant events of Gerald Charles' history

STEP INTO OUR ATELIER

In the heart of Geneva, our Atelier is more than a place. Engage directly with the collections, explore the Museum, and discover the story of Mr. Genta.

FIND OUT MORE

MAISON'S HISTORY

IN THE FOUNDER'S WORDS

The Maestro

Mr. Genta's last creations

CORE VALUES