Gerald Charles

Who are Gerald Charles?

Gerald Charles is a small Swiss watch company founded in 2000 by Gérald Genta, the designer of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus, and named after his first two names (Gerald Charles; Wikipedia). Its watches are built around the Maestro case Genta drew in his last years. This page covers the history, what Gerald Charles watches are known for, the collections and who owns the company, then what to check when buying one second-hand in the UK.

Gerald Charles describes itself as independent and family-owned (Gerald Charles). The Ziviani family has run it since 2003, and it says it makes about 2,000 watches a year (Gerald Charles).

The history of Gerald Charles

Gerald Charles’s history has three parts: Genta’s own years from 2000 to 2011, a quiet period of bespoke work until 2018, and expansion under Federico Ziviani from 2019. The key dates are the founding (2000), the Ziviani family (2003), the Maestro (2005), Genta’s death (2011) and the Masterlink (2024).

Genta’s last brand. Genta, born in Geneva in 1931, started his first, eponymous brand in 1969 (Wikipedia). Sources differ on how it was sold: Wikipedia’s Gerald Charles article says he sold it to The Hour Glass in 1996, while its Gérald Genta article says the trademarks, patents and designs went to Bulgari in 2000; Swisswatches Magazine says The Hour Glass bought it first and Bulgari later. Wikipedia says that by 2010 Gérald Genta watches were sold only under the Bulgari brand; they are a different line from Gerald Charles. Genta founded Gerald Charles in 2000, at 69, after about three years of prototyping, and the first collection, Renaissance, came out in March 2001 (Swisswatches Magazine).

The Ziviani family. Franco Ziviani first met Genta at a Montres & Bijoux exhibition in Milan in the early 1980s (Gerald Charles; Swisswatches Magazine). In 2003 Genta handed Gerald Charles to the Ziviani family, “out of his long-standing friendship and mutual trust in Franco Ziviani”; Giampaolo Ziviani ran the company and Genta stayed on as chief designer until his death (Gerald Charles). The Maestro case arrived in 2005, with the GC35 Tourbillon (Swisswatches Magazine). Genta died on 17 August 2011, aged 80 (Wikipedia).

Bespoke years. From 2011 to 2018 the company made bespoke watches for a small group of collectors, using Genta’s designs (Wikipedia). Monochrome Watches describes the Ziviani family as having “revived” the brand in 2011, while Gerald Charles dates the family’s involvement to 2003.

Federico Ziviani. Giampaolo Ziviani stepped down in 2018 and handed over to his nephew Federico, who joined in 2019 (Gerald Charles). Gerald Charles says Federico became chief executive in 2023, while Wikipedia and Swisswatches Magazine say he took the role in 2019. Franco Ziviani, who had led Audemars Piguet’s Italian subsidiary, became chairman in 2023 (Gerald Charles). Since then the brand has expanded into Northern Europe, the US and Asia, opened an atelier in Geneva in 2024, shown at Watches and Wonders from 2024, and marked its 25th anniversary in 2025 (Gerald Charles; Wikipedia). The company says it has grown from a team of three to 40 people (Gerald Charles).

What is Gerald Charles known for?

Gerald Charles is known for its link to Gérald Genta, for the asymmetric Maestro case, and since 2024 for the Masterlink on an integrated bracelet.

Genta’s archive. Gerald Charles says Genta designed for it during the last 11 years of his life, and that many of his hand-drawn designs remain unpublished in its archive (Gerald Charles). Some early bespoke pieces carry his signature engraved on the case back (Gerald Charles). Genta is known for integrated-bracelet sports watches such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus (Wikipedia).

The Maestro case. The Maestro takes its name from Genta’s nickname (aBlogtoWatch). Its shape, between a square and an octagon with a curve at 6 o’clock, is based on the Baroque architecture of Francesco Borromini (Swisswatches Magazine; Gerald Charles). The case has carried everything from time-only watches to tourbillons and jumping hours (Monochrome Watches).

Movements. The Masterlink’s micro-rotor movement, 2.67mm thick with a 50-hour power reserve, was developed with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier exclusively for Gerald Charles (aBlogtoWatch). Sources name it differently: aBlogtoWatch calls it calibre GCA 5401, while Swisswatches Magazine calls it the Manufacture 1.0. The 2026 perpetual calendar uses calibre GCA11000, a Vaucher micro-rotor base with Gerald Charles’s own calendar module (Monochrome Watches). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains what this means for servicing.

Which Gerald Charles collections are there?

Gerald Charles lists four collections: Mini Maestro, Maestro, Masterlink and Grand Complications (Gerald Charles). The collections table on this page gives the year each began. Points that help when reading listings:

• Maestro numbering. Maestro models carry numbers that refer to the movement or complication, such as the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin, 3.0 Chronograph, 8.0 Squelette and 9.0 Tourbillon (Gerald Charles; Wikipedia). Read the full model name and reference, not just “Maestro”.
• Limited editions. Many models are limited, such as the 252-piece 20th anniversary Maestro of 2021 and the 100-piece Maestro GC39 25th Anniversary Edition of 2025 (Gerald Charles; Swisswatches Magazine). Match the edition number to the papers.
• Earlier collections. Before the Maestro, Gerald Charles made the Renaissance (2001), Turbo and Sportside (2003) and Round 44 models (Swisswatches Magazine). These are no longer listed by the brand.

Who owns Gerald Charles?

Gerald Charles is independent and family-owned, run by the Ziviani family since 2003 (Gerald Charles). It is not part of a watch group.

The company is Gerald Charles SA, registered in Lugano, with a branch in Geneva (Swiss commercial register). Franco Ziviani has been registered as chairman of its board since December 2023 (Swiss commercial register). The register shows that the Lugano company took the name Gerald Charles SA in January 2019; it had previously been called Pièces Uniques SA. Gerald Charles does not publish its shareholders.

Buying a Gerald Charles watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check the reference and any edition number against the papers, whether the warranty was extended, and the service history, and run a stolen-watch check before you pay.

1. Gerald Charles or Gérald Genta. Gérald Genta’s first brand and Gerald Charles are separate companies (Wikipedia). Check which one a listing means before comparing watches.

2. Papers and the full set. Gerald Charles says its warranty is valid only with the purchase certificate issued at sale, which should be kept with the watch (Gerald Charles). Ask for it, and see our guide to what “full set” means.

3. Warranty. Gerald Charles warranties can be extended to up to five years if the owner asks within six months of purchase (Gerald Charles). Ask whether the first owner did this and whether the cover passes to you. See watch warranties explained.

4. Bespoke and early pieces. Watches from 2000 to 2018 were made in small numbers, and some are bespoke (Wikipedia). Ask the seller for any archive or certificate paperwork, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

5. Servicing. Ask when the watch was last serviced and by whom. Gerald Charles describes after-sales care as part of its offer (Gerald Charles).

6. Who you buy from. With production of about 2,000 watches a year (Gerald Charles), second-hand examples are uncommon. If you buy privately, read our guide to buying from a private seller or a dealer.

7. Stolen-watch check. Check the serial number against a stolen-watch register before you pay. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Gerald Charles?

Gérald Genta, in 2000 (Gerald Charles; Wikipedia).

Is Gerald Charles the same as Gérald Genta?

No. Gérald Genta was the designer’s first brand, founded in 1969, whose trademarks went to Bulgari in 2000. Gerald Charles is the separate brand he founded afterwards (Wikipedia).

Who owns Gerald Charles?

It is independent and family-owned, run by the Ziviani family since 2003 (Gerald Charles).

Where are Gerald Charles watches made?

Gerald Charles is a Swiss company registered in Lugano, with an atelier in Geneva (Swiss commercial register; Swisswatches Magazine).

Why is it called Gerald Charles?

The name is Genta’s first two names (Gerald Charles).

What is the Gerald Charles Maestro?

The brand’s signature case, introduced in 2005 and based on the Baroque architecture of Francesco Borromini (Swisswatches Magazine; Gerald Charles).

What is the Gerald Charles Masterlink?

The Maestro shape on an integrated bracelet, launched at Watches and Wonders in 2024 (aBlogtoWatch).

What movement does Gerald Charles use?

The Masterlink uses a micro-rotor movement developed with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier for Gerald Charles (aBlogtoWatch).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Gerald Charles.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.