Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sport Tennis

Maison Gerald Charles, an independent watchmaker rooted in Geneva, Switzerland, introduces a vibrant new member to its GC Sport collection: the Maestro GC Sport Tennis, reference GC2.0-TX-TNSB-24GR-RSVC. This timepiece represents a focused effort to combine high-level athletic functionality with the design language characteristic of the brand, offered as a limited run of just 200 units. It immediately catches the eye with its striking optic yellow dial, reminiscent of a tennis ball, set within a specially treated titanium case.

The history of Gerald Charles is intrinsically linked to its founder, the renowned watch designer Mr. Gérald Charles Genta. Established in the year 2000, Mr. Genta chose to bestow his first two names upon his final watchmaking venture, forging a personal connection between the creator and his works. His influence remained central even after the Ziviani family, described as trusted partners and friends, acquired the company in 2003, with Mr. Genta continuing as designer-in-chief until 2011.



During its initial years, Gerald Charles catered primarily to a select group of collectors, producing watches in limited numbers. A significant asset passed to the Ziviani family was an extensive archive containing Mr. Genta's original designs from his last eleven years of work. This collection of drawings, many still unseen by the public, serves as a continuous source of inspiration and a foundation for the Maison's ongoing development, ensuring fidelity to the founder's vision.

A new phase for the brand commenced in 2019 with the appointment of Federico Ziviani as CEO, ushering in a refreshed board of directors. This transition aimed to preserve the Genta legacy while introducing the brand to a broader audience of watch enthusiasts. Further strengthening the family's involvement, Franco Ziviani assumed the role of Chairman in late 2023. The Maison solidified its presence in Geneva with the opening of its Atelier on rue du Mont-Blanc in Spring 2024, a space serving as both a cultural hub and showcase for its collections.

Today, Gerald Charles maintains a philosophy centered on 'Artistic Creativity, Technical Mastery', producing around 1500 timepieces annually. The brand collaborates closely with skilled artisans and professionals, upholding the demanding standards set by its founder. Each watch aims for superior Swiss-made quality, precision, performance, and notable resistance to water and shocks, often aligning with the stringent criteria of Qualité Fleurier standards, even if not formally certified for every model. Ergonomics and versatility remain key tenets.

The Maestro GC Sport Tennis proudly carries this heritage forward. Its case design follows the unique asymmetrical polygon shape with smooth edges characteristic of the Maestro line, first conceived by Mr. Genta himself back in 2005. The inspiration for this specific model delves into the archives, referencing historical sketches and timepieces that incorporated visual motifs related to sports like golf and tennis, marking a return to these roots, particularly significant during the brand's 25th anniversary year.



Visually, the watch presents a compelling contrast. The case is crafted from Grade 5 Titanium treated with Gerald Charles' proprietary Darkblast® finish. This sandblasting technique results in a deep, matte grey surface that not only looks modern and sophisticated but also enhances the metal's resistance to scratches and corrosion. The dark case provides a dramatic frame for the intensely colored dial.

The dial itself is a focal point, rendered in a vibrant "Optic Yellow." It features a distinctive grainy texture, achieved through a hand-hammering process on the base dial before color and a clear coating are applied. This technique creates a three-dimensional, porous effect, adding depth and character. This finish follows the successful formula of previous sold-out models inspired by clay and grass tennis courts, demonstrating a consistent theme within the GC Sport line. A subtle dégradé effect darkens the yellow towards the dial's edge, drawing the eye inward.

Legibility is ensured through thoughtful design elements on the dial. Applied Arabic numerals mark the 3, 9, and 12 o'clock positions, complemented by baton-shaped indexes for the remaining hours. Both the numerals and indexes are filled with white Super-LumiNova, which provides a bright green C7 SPL glow in low-light conditions, ensuring readability around the clock. A clean white minute track is precisely printed around the dial's periphery.

Further enhancing its functionality, a date window is positioned at 6 o'clock. It features a crisp white date disc with contrasting black numerals, making it easy to read the date at a quick glance. The hands are baton-shaped, matching the indexes, and also filled with Super-LumiNova for optimal visibility against the textured yellow background. The brand name "GERALD CHARLES" and "GENEVE" are printed subtly below the 12 o'clock position.

The case construction involves 35 individual components, meticulously shaped using CNC machinery. Its dimensions are carefully considered for wearability: 39.00mm in width, 41.70mm in length (lug-to-lug), and a notably slim profile at 8.70mm thick. The distance between the lugs (entrecorne) is 22.00mm, accommodating the integrated strap system.



A key feature designed specifically for tennis players (and beneficial for many active users) is the placement of the screw-down crown on the left side of the case. This configuration prevents the crown from digging into or rubbing against the back of the wrist during vigorous movements, such as swinging a racquet. The crown itself features a Clous de Paris finish for enhanced grip and bears the embossed Gerald Charles logo.

Comfort and stability on the wrist are paramount, addressed by Gerald Charles' proprietary ErgonTeq® design standard. This engineering philosophy ensures that the case shape, the lugs, and the strap integration work together harmoniously. The goal is to maximize contact surface with the wrist, distributing the watch's weight evenly and adapting seamlessly to various wrist sizes for a secure and comfortable fit, even during intense activity. Despite its robust construction, the use of titanium keeps the total weight remarkably low at just 64 grams.

Powering the Maestro GC Sport Tennis is the Swiss Manufacture 2.0 Caliber, an automatic movement developed in-house. This movement is impressively thin, measuring only 3.70mm in height, contributing significantly to the watch's overall slim profile. Despite its slender dimensions, it houses a twin-barrel system that delivers a reliable power reserve of 50 hours.

The movement operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and is built with 189 components, including 28 rubies to minimize friction. It incorporates practical features like a stop-second system for precise time setting and an Incabloc® anti-shock system to protect the mechanism from impacts. This resilience is further underscored by its tested 5G shock resistance, validated using a 5-axis robotic arm simulating extreme forces.

Visible through the flat sapphire crystal case back, the movement displays fine Swiss watchmaking finishes. The bridges are decorated with traditional techniques such as colimaçon, Côtes de Genève (Geneva stripes), and perlage (circular graining). The unidirectional central oscillating weight (rotor) is rendered in gold tone and features intricate decoration, including a sandblasted base, colimaçon and soleil (sunray) brushing on the top layer, the Gerald Charles "honeycomb" motif, and, unique to this anniversary year, a special 25th Anniversary logo engraving.



Complementing the case and dial is the integrated yellow Velcro strap. Developed and hand-stitched in-house in Geneva, this strap is designed to echo the grainy, porous texture of the dial, creating a cohesive look. It's not just standard Velcro; it incorporates an iron core to provide both flexibility and structural strength. The buckle is also made from Darkblast® treated titanium, matching the case finish and ensuring durability. Though visually appearing textile-like, the strap material is described as vulcanized rubber that feels like leather, making it waterproof and suitable for sports.

Practicality extends to the strap system, which features an easy removal mechanism allowing owners to change straps effortlessly without tools. This facilitates personalization and cleaning. The strap system is compatible with all existing Maestro watches, offering versatility for owners of multiple Gerald Charles timepieces. To ensure a perfect fit for diverse wearers, the strap is available in four sizes and includes an adjustable elastic section for fine-tuning. While the launch focuses on yellow, black and white options are also available, with potential for future color variations.

The watch's performance credentials are not just theoretical. It has been tested and approved by professional ATP tennis players, including Andrea Vavassori and Hubert Hurkacz, who have worn the watch during competitive matches. This real-world validation speaks volumes about its comfort, lightweight nature, and resilience under pressure. As CEO Federico Ziviani noted, the connection with tennis began around the brand's 2019 relaunch as a way to demonstrate the watch's extreme ergonomics directly through athletic use, aligning the sport's requirements for strength, precision, and skill with the watch's characteristics.

Water resistance is rated at 10 ATM, equivalent to 100 meters. This level of resistance ensures the watch is suitable for swimming and surface water sports, adding to its versatility beyond the tennis court. The crystal protecting the dial is sapphire, known for its scratch resistance, and features multi-layer anti-reflective treatment on both the inner and outer surfaces to minimize glare and maximize clarity.



The Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sport Tennis (Ref. GC2.0-TX-TNSB-24GR-RSVC) is presented as a limited edition of only 200 pieces worldwide. It comes with a standard 2-year warranty, which can be extended to 5 years upon registration through the brand's ‘Smart Warranty’ system.

This distinctive timepiece is currently available for pre-order, with deliveries anticipated approximately two months after ordering. The price is set at $20,700 USD, reflecting its Swiss manufacture movement, specialized materials, limited production, and intricate finishing. Corresponding prices in other major currencies are 17,600 CHF (Swiss Francs), 17,600 EUR (Euros), and 15,800 GBP (British Pounds), listed before taxes.

Case: Darkblast® Grade 5 Titanium, dimensions 39.00mm width x 41.70mm length x 8.70mm thickness. Asymmetric polygon shape with smooth edges, 35 components, carved via CNC. Features left-hand screw-down crown with Clous de Paris finish and embossed logo, see-through sapphire crystal case back, 10 ATM (100 meters) water resistance, ErgonTeq® ergonomic design.

Movement: Automatic Swiss Manufacture 2.0 Caliber, ultra-thin (3.70mm thickness, 25.60mm diameter). 189 components, 28 rubies, 4 Hz (28,800 A/h) frequency, 50-hour power reserve via twin barrels. Includes Incabloc® anti-shock system (tested to 5G), stop-second system, unidirectional rotor with 25th Anniversary logo and honeycomb motif, decorated bridges (colimaçon, côtes de Genève, perlage).

Dial: Optic Yellow with grainy textured base and dégradé color effect. Features applied Arabic numerals (3, 9, 12) and baton indexes filled with white Super-LumiNova® (green C7 SPL glow). White minute track, baton hands also with Super-LumiNova®, date window at 6h (white disc, black numerals). Protected by sapphire crystal with inner/outer anti-reflection treatment.

Strap: Optic Yellow Velcro strap with textured finishing mirroring the dial. In-house developed, hand-stitched, includes an iron core for flexibility/strength. Integrated Darkblast® titanium buckle, easy removal system. Made of vulcanized rubber feeling like leather, waterproof. Compatible with all Maestro watches, available in 4 sizes plus micro-regulation.

Price: $20,700 USD / 17,600 CHF / 17,600 EUR / 15,800 GBP (before taxes).

Reference Number: GC2.0-TX-TNSB-24GR-RSVC

Notes: Limited edition of 200 pieces. Extremely light at 64 grams total weight. Left-hand crown specifically positioned for comfort during tennis play. Tested and approved by professional ATP tennis players Andrea Vavassori and Hubert Hurkacz. Features proprietary Darkblast® case finishing for enhanced scratch/corrosion resistance.