.jpg?maxwidth=3840)
Lot 127
GÉRALD GENTA, A UNIQUE YELLOW GOLD GRAND SONNERIE, No. 3, REF. G0025.7
CASE NUMBER: 66’744, MOVEMENT STAMPED NO. 1 - PLEASE NOTE THE MOVEMENT IS NOT IN WORKING CONDITION
Closed8 April 2021
Price Realised
USD 300,000
More Information
Specialist note
When it was introduced in 1994, the Gérald Genta Grand Sonnerie was the most complicated wristwatch in the world. With its characteristic pyramidal stacked case design and immensely complicated Cal. 31000 – composed of more than 800 parts – there was nothing quite like this wristwatch in the 1990s. The development of the movement was led by Pierre-Michel Golay, the brand’s technical director and co-founder, who would later go on to work for Franck Muller.
It is believed that about 24 Grand Sonnerie wristwatches were made during this period, most of them were one-offs when it came to case material and dial design. If you look closely on the engraved movement bridge, you can see Genta’s signature and the engraving No.1, since all these watches were one-off. All these movements also carry the prestigious Geneva Hallmark (Poinçon de Genève) and feature haute horology finshing techniques like black polishing (on the tourbillon bridges).The mechanical watch renaissance, which began in the mid-1980s, had gathered enough momentum by the time Genta unveiled these pieces in 1994 to mark the 25th anniversary of this eponymous watch brand. Manufactured in 1994, this yellow gold Grand Sonnerie is part of a series of only four examples: one in yellow gold (this lot), one in pink gold, one in white gold and one in platinum.
It is believed that about 24 Grand Sonnerie wristwatches were made during this period, most of them were one-offs when it came to case material and dial design. If you look closely on the engraved movement bridge, you can see Genta’s signature and the engraving No.1, since all these watches were one-off. All these movements also carry the prestigious Geneva Hallmark (Poinçon de Genève) and feature haute horology finshing techniques like black polishing (on the tourbillon bridges).The mechanical watch renaissance, which began in the mid-1980s, had gathered enough momentum by the time Genta unveiled these pieces in 1994 to mark the 25th anniversary of this eponymous watch brand. Manufactured in 1994, this yellow gold Grand Sonnerie is part of a series of only four examples: one in yellow gold (this lot), one in pink gold, one in white gold and one in platinum.