Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli
Gerald Charles introduces the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli, the first watch in its history to bear a hard stone dial.
The creation of the lapis lazuli dial is a painstaking and highly skilled process, taking an average of 24 hours per individual dial. From the very first step – the cutting of the raw stone – to the final assembly, it is a tentative journey with a risk of failure at every stage.
As the dials are polished, by hand and by machine, the natural beauty of the lapis lazuli is revealed in all its splendour, but there are even greater tests ahead; the fragile stone must be drilled to accommodate the hands, hour markers and date window, and it must be shaped to fit the Maestro’s unique dial.
This is the most attritional stage, as the stone cannot be cut but must be patiently and skilfully ground into the correct shape, moving from a perfect circle into the angled, asymmetric outline which distinguishes the Maestro’s silhouette.
This shape, inspired by baroque motifs from the worlds of art and architecture, was one of the last great works of Gérald Charles Genta, who founded Gerald Charles in 2000, giving it his first and middle names. The Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli continues his rich creative legacy, channeling the vibrant and expressive character which epitomised his designs at the height of his career.
To that end, the watch’s semi-precious stone dial is framed by another standout feature. The Maestro’s polished stainless-steel case has been enhanced by the addition of a blue Colormix coating to the bezel, a combined physical and chemical surface treatment that results in a rich blue colour as well as improved scratch resistance.
The contrast between the polished bezel and the main case echoes the bold juxtaposition of the applied hour markers, inlaid with white Swiss Super-LumiNova, and the organic pattern of the lapis lazuli dial.
The dial design is completed by a new logo for the brand, with ‘Geneve’ now signed beneath the Gerald Charles word mark; this reinforces the watchmaker’s connection with the city where its atelier islocated.
The colour scheme is continued by the rubber strap, a signature of the Maestro family. Originally designed by Gérald Charles Genta, the strap’s Clou de Paris decoration elevates a practical choice while prioritising supreme wearability.
Finally, the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli is powered by the Swiss Manufacture 2.0 caliber, an automatic movement hand-finished to Qualité Fleurier levels. The calibre boasts a 50-hour power reserve, runs at 28,800vph and measures just 3.7mm thick.
Decorated with a combination of traditional finishing techniques, including Cotes de Geneve stripes, perlage, colimaçon and yellow gold engraving, it is topped with a customised oscillating rotor that commemorates the brand’s 25th anniversary.
Model: Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli, Reference GC2.0-SSPS-LS-RSPN
Case
Stainless Steel, polished finish
Colormix blue treatment bezel in stainless steel
35 components
Diameter: 39 mm x 41 mm
Total thickness: 9 mm
Screw-down crown with Clous de Paris finish, Embossed logo
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with internal and external multi-layer anti-reflection treatment
Case back: Flat sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 10 ATM/100 m
Movement
Automatic 3 hands, ultra-thin, Swiss manufacture 2.0 caliber
With a central oscillating mass decorated with the NEW 25th Anniversary logo
Bridges finely decorated with colimaçon, Côtes de Genève and perlage finishes
Thickness: 3.7mm
189 components
28 rubies
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions
Central hour, minute and seconds hands, date window at 6H
Hour setting with a second stopping function
Dial
Lapis Lazuli stone dial
White minute track
Baton shaped hands and indexes filled with white Super-LumiNova® with green light at night
New logo Gerald Charles Genève
Strap
Royal Blue vulcanised rubber strap
Clous de Paris finish to top side, Gerald Charles logo tapisserie to rear
Polished stainless steel new easy remove pin buckle
Warranty
2 years (extendable to 5 years following the ‘Smart Warranty’ system registration)
Retail price (VAT excluded)
CHF 18‘600
EUR 18‘600
GBP 16‘700
USD 21‘900
