Gerald Genta (1931-2011) was truly one of the greatest watch designers of all time, the genius behind several of the most famous and enduring wristwatch models that have become the foundation for success for several of the great watch brands including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Cartier. More recognizable are the limited edition pieces that Gerald Genta created under license from The Walt Disney Company, these wristwatches featured Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Scrooge and Goofy. Still in much demand today and becoming classic in their own right, Genta's designs transcend time and fashion and remain to this day beacons of haute horology of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Without a doubt Gérald Genta has left an enduring mark in the history of watchmaking. Since his youth, he felt a strong artistic drive and dedicated himself to painting. At the age of 27, he discovered his enormous talent for the designing of timepieces, consequently inventing the profession of a ‘watch designer’, a vocation in which he immediately excelled. Amongst the world's most famous wristwatches designed by Genta are celebrated models such as Audemars Piguet's ’Royal Oak’ (1972); Patek Philippe's ’Nautilus’ (1976); Omega's ‘Constellation’ (1959); Patek Philippe's ‘Golden Ellipse’ (1968); IWC's ‘Ingenieur’ (1976); Cartier's Pasha de Cartier (1985) and IWC’s ‘Da Vinci’.

In over 20 years of creativity, Gérald Genta has given life to some one hundred different watch models, amongst which many are true masterpieces, created with a handcrafted spirit. In 1996, Gérald Genta decided to return to his first passion, painting, and sold his company.

Taken over in 2000 by the Bulgari Group, Gérald Genta SA continues offering small series of complicated, in-house designed and produced movements combined with avant-garde design. For private requests, Genta hand-designed the movements, dials and cases of his timepieces and employed limited or no external assistance, outsourcing or mechanization during the process; it was not unusual for a single watch to take up to 5 years to complete.