Prepare to immerse yourself in the world of watches at WatchTime New York 2023. Held at Manhattan’s iconic Gotham Hall from October 20 to 22, this special event promises watch enthusiasts a captivating experience—including presentations about the brand, in-depth industry discussions and hands-on discovery opportunities with many of the world’s most impressive watchmakers. This year WatchTime welcomes Swiss independent Gerald Charles to the show, who will introduce each of their latest products for 2023, among them the new Maestro 8.0 Squelette.
Gerald Charles was founded in 2000 by Gérald Genta, one of the most important watch designers of the 20th century, who chose to use his middle name, Charles, as part of the brand’s name. After selling the company in 2003, Genta continued to serve as general manager of design until his death in 2011, subsequently leaving a treasure trove of watch designs in the company’s care. Today, every watch created by Gerald Charles is based on one of his original designs, continuing the design creativity and mechanical prowess of the horological legend through his timepieces. my lake.
Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette, Reference. The GC8.0-SQ-A-00 is a mesmerizing combination of the familiar Maestro case shape and a distinctive open-work movement, designed by renowned watch designer Octavio Garcia, a previous collaborator. This is Genta’s. The steel case is 39mm in diameter with a thickness of 8.35mm, using an asymmetrical polygonal shape inspired by the original design conceived by Genta. The case itself is made up of 18 separate components, including the screw-down crown that helps the watch achieve impressive water resistance to a depth of 100m. The watch is secured to the wrist via a clous de Paris patterned rubber strap, first seen on the Maestro Anniversary watch in 2019.
The dial of the Maestro 8.0 Squelette displays a celestial chart theme, a testament to Garcia’s creative vision. The frame bridge is satin finished and decorated with rhodium plating or a deep anthracite NAC treatment. Every corner, bevel and aperture is hand-polished and all wheels feature a circular grain on each surface. The rehaut—the inner ring between the dial and crystal—is held in place by a series of nine star-shaped screws and was specially designed for Gerald Charles.
The heart of the novelty lies in the GCA 5482 automatic movement, developed exclusively by Vaucher Manufacturing Fleurier for Gerald Charles. Comprised of 160 parts, this ultra-thin movement measures just 2.6 mm in height and includes a star-shaped gold micro-rotor that rides on ceramic bearings, and despite its thinness, it is capable of Stable power reserve of 50 hours. The intricate finishes of the movement, including brushing, rhodium plating and anthracite NAC treatment, are all visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.
Reference Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette. The GC8.0-SQ-A-00 is available for pre-order now with a deposit of $6,380. The final price is marked at $63,800 and deliveries will begin in November 2023. Production will be limited to 100 units per year. The watch’s crown jewel will also get a hands-on opportunity at this year’s WatchTime New York event, along with hundreds of other timepieces from more than thirty different watchmakers.