Sameera Gamage 
Where artistry meets timeless elegance, the Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal sparks creativity at every glance!
Gérald Genta’s Gentissima collection is a refined expression of the famous watch designer’s legendary design sensibilities, however, with a twist. The Gentissima collection caters towards the female audience, one that often gets overshadowed in Gérald Genta’s more unisex or masculine designs, such as the Royal Oak or the Nautilus. The Gentissima collection is one that showcases how Genta could easily adapt his bold, innovative thinking to cater for different audiences. He’s not simply just a one-trick pony.
This latest timepiece falls into the brand’s Oursin line. The Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal is the latest chapter in a story that began in Corsica in 1994. Oursin means “sea urchin” in French, and it’s said that it “captivated Gérald, who immediately began sketching his first design instinctively, as he always did. The spiny, globular exteriors found horological form in a round case adorned with beads that gave the watch its particular aesthetic in all its variations.”
Now, over three decades later, the Oursin line opens a profoundly intimate new era for Gérald Genta. The Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal is the fourth timepiece in the Oursin line, and it is one that further explores Mr. Genta’s unique sense of beauty and attraction to powerful aesthetic stones.
The Fire Opal stone has special significance. Traced back to the Aztecs, the Fire Opal stone embodies joie de vivre, well-being and creativity. I think what drew Mr. Genta to these stones is that it resonates with his instinctive approach to watch design. With the Fire Opal stones being the central theme to this timepiece, it is easily the most flamboyant watch in the Oursin collection.
“The Oursin was among Gérald’s few creations that he was proudest of; he actually almost didn’t want to sell them and produced only very few for very close friends and clients. Seeing the new Oursin Fire Opal reminds me so much of Gérald, how much he loved adorning stones on his watches and looking at them through various light sources. The multiple ways a stone catches light was for him an endless source of fascination and its own definition of beauty.”
Evelyn Genta (Gérald Genta’s wife) on one of her favourite Genta designs.
The Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal comes in a 36mm yellow-gold 3N case that features a glass-blasted finish, which contrasts beautifully against the 137 fire opals that are individually screwed into the case one by one with a yellow gold 3N pin. To complement the fire opal stones on the case, the dial is created from orange cornelian, with the faceted crystal, Gerald Genta’s signature shape, being shown in the slightly octagonal innermost edge of the case.
The movement powering the Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal is the Calibre GG-005, a Zenith Elite movement with a redesigned oscillating mass. The movement is only 3.65mm thick and can operate at a high frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH) while giving out an approximate power reserve of 50 hours.
“To complement the design, we focused on producing this piece using nothing but the highest attention to detail. We designed a specific oscillating mass in 18-karat yellow gold for the automatic Zenith Elite movement,” says Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, La Fabrique du Temps Master Watchmakers and Founders.
Final Thoughts
The legacy of Gérald Genta lives on through the captivating design of the Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal. This is a timepiece that effortlessly draws attention and radiates playfulness. With every glance of the timepiece, it ignites a spark of creativity and passion, reflective of the visionary spirit of Gérald Genta.
Artists and musicians have long revered the fire opal stone as a symbol of inspiration. This timepiece is not just a tribute to Gérald Genta’s legacy but also paves the way for those who want to express their individuality and are not afraid to stand out in the crowd.
References: Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 36.5mm x 9.64mm thick case
- Case Material: Yellow gold 3N with 137 fire opal gems individually screwed with yellow gold 3N pins.
- Dial: Orange cornelian with yellow gold 3N dots for the 5-minute markers. Hands made from yellow gold 3N.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 30m / 3 Bar
- Movement: GG-005 – Zenith Elite with redesigned oscillating mass operating @ 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Power reserve: Approx. 50 hours
- Strap: Black alligator leather
