Sotheby’s is presently auctioning off a set of Gérald Genta’s authentic drawings – together with the unique sketch of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – for which cause our buddies at The Watches TV took the chance to get his widow, Evelyne Genta, on digital camera to debate the famed designer’s life and legacy.

Gérald Genta
Mrs. Genta, a diplomat (presently Monegasque ambassador to Nice Britain) and businesswoman, relates various fascinating, beforehand unknown tales round her deceased husband’s formative years and profession but in addition talks concerning the creation of some acclaimed designs of the watch trade, famously together with watches such because the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Omega Constellation, and the Common Genève Polerouter, his huge breakthrough.

Sotheby’s lot 1: Gérald Genta’s authentic prototype sketch of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, circa 1972
On this video, Mrs. Genta elaborates on her husband’s relationship with Georges Golay, the charismatic CEO of Audemars Piguet within the Sixties, ’70s, and ’80s, and the transient that gave start to the Royal Oak. However she additionally reveals that different huge shoppers of his included Piaget and Corum.

Sotheby’s lot 5: Gérald Genta’s sketch of the Cartier Pasha
Three auctions will likely be held for a complete of 100 small work, together with the unique designs of the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. Every design within the sale will likely be coupled with a singular NFT, a non-fungible token, that may function an inventive digital reproduction of Genta’s masterful design. The three elements will likely be held in three completely different places: Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York.
A portion of the proceeds from the gross sales will even profit the Gérald Genta Heritage Affiliation, whose mission is to encourage and reward the following era of the watch trade, notably with the launch of the primary version of the Gérald Genta Prize for Younger Expertise.
For extra on the public sale, please go to www.sothebys.com/en/purchase/public sale/2022/gerald-genta-icon-of-time.
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