QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY. QUIRKY BACKSTORY
GERALD CHARLES RENAISSANCE. GERALD CHARLES RENAISSANCE. GERALD CHARLES RENAISSANCE. GERALD CHARLES RENAISSANCE
18 August 2025
The Quirky Backstory of the Gerald Charles Renaissance
By the year 2000, Gérald Genta had already carved his name into watchmaking history.
But rather than replay the same greatest hits, he launched Gerald Charles, a brand carrying his name and, more importantly, his complete creative freedom.
The debut came in 2001 with the Renaissance. It was unlike anything else on the market: a soft, organic cushion case that seemed to melt into its strap, bold luminous markers and whimsical numerals set over a guilloché dial.
Colours were unapologetically bold, from turquoise and powder pink to deep black and shimmering mother-of-pearl, paired with gold or steel cases. Some models were pure three-handers, others added travel time indicators, full calendars or diamond accents, yet all shared the same fluid DNA.
Even its advertising captured the mood of the era, with early-2000s confidence, rich Mediterranean tones, and the designer himself front and centre, smiling like a man who knew he could do whatever he pleased.
