Fratello Talks: How Much Genta Is Too Much Genta?
Howdy, folks! On today’s episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Lex ask themselves: how much Genta is too much Genta? It’s hard to think of a name more revered in the field of watch design. The man’s designs have been around since the 1950s and include countless staples. Only recently have some of them reached their peak of popularity, culminating in a collective brouhaha for anything bearing his name. But is this perennial relevance justified? Are all of his designs created equal? Or are there some misses to the hits? Are we on the verge of reaching Genta fatigue? In today’s episode, we look at how Gérald Genta’s designs evolved over the years to become some of the most recognizable in the industry and also answer the questions above. But before we start grappling with the topic, let’s see what watches the guys are wearing today.
Wrist check
You’ll notice a design-inspired through line in today’s wrist check, starting with Lex, who is wearing a borrowed Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO. This 46mm titanium dive watch looks like something taken straight off the dashboard of a submarine. And that’s no coincidence as it can keep up with the deepest-diving devices out there. Its design may or may not speak to you, but it’s fair to say that it takes a bold route.
Next, it’s on to something more classic with more than a splash of Bauhaus design. RJ is wearing the Nomos × Fratello Weltzeit “The Hague Edition.” We released this limited-edition model in 2021. It was the first Weltzeit model to feature a (one-eyed) panda dial. On the city ring, Berlin is replaced by Fratello’s hometown of The Hague, and there’s an extra subtle nod to our Dutch roots in the orange pointer arrow. Only 25 were made, and one found its home on RJ’s wrist.
Finally, Nacho is wearing his Arken Alterum. Though not a Genta design, this watch features some cues reminiscent of the late Genevan designer’s work. You can read all about this clever titanium GMT here. You can also look forward to an extensive owner’s review coming up sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Fratello Talks: How Much Genta Is Too Much Genta?
It’s well worth taking a deep dive into the work of Gérald Genta. One way to do so is to refer to the Gérald Genta Heritage website, which provides a good overview. Most people will only be familiar with a handful of his most famous designs., but those likely only scratch the surface of his seemingly endless body of work. Something to note here is that when talking about design, especially that of someone who was never anything short of bold, it’s difficult not to be subjective. Opinions may well vary, and what one person might find kitsch could well be the proverbial apple of another’s eye. This polarization is something we appreciate and enjoy, so keep that in mind when tuning in.
Recent reissues of Genta designs provide a perfect example of how potentially hit-and-miss they can be. The Credor Locomotive is an oddball charmer with enough character to justify a limited return of 300 pieces, and we certainly enjoyed the Mickey Mouse watch (re)released a couple of years ago. But there are others, such as the Gentissima Oursin, which lead us to ask ourselves the question that provides the title to today’s episode. Looking back, it’s easy to see that not all of Genta’s designs have aged equally. This is completely normal because the man was as prolific as he was fearless in pushing boundaries. You can see other designs above that, while Genta through and through, could certainly remain in the pages of watch-design history as far as we’re concerned.
What do you think of these designs? Do you think all deserve another turn in the spotlight? And at what point have we had enough? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. And, as always, tune in next week for another episode of Fratello Talks!
