The Gérald Genta Arena Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse (Live Pics & Price)

Visionary watchmaker and designer Gérald Genta left a legacy of iconic designs. As a pioneer of genre-defining sporty-chic models, Genta revolutionised the concept of the luxury sports watch with the creation of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. But the Genta legacy goes way beyond the luxury sports watches he designed for Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe or IWC. Alongside his collaborations with famous watch brands, Genta founded his company in 1969 to create watches under his own name. Genta was a rule-breaking designer with a fertile imagination. Among his countless creations are Grandes Complications and retrograde display watches with their original way to indicate the time. These included quirky Disney character watches with retrograde indications (he obtained licensing with Disney in the 1980s)… For the 2021 edition of Geneva Watch Days, the Mickey watch is back! Meet the new Gérald Genta Arena Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse.

In 2000, the Genta and Daniel Roth brands were acquired by Bvlgari. In the last two decades, the companies’ savoir-faire has served as a driving force for Bvlgari to establish itself in the top league of high-end Swiss watchmakers. In 2019 and 2020, Bvlgari paid tribute to Gérald Genta with two exclusive Arena Bi-retrograde limited editions, which we reviewed here and here.

Mickey Mouse is back, which should please collectors and vintage watch aficionados. For this 2021 Gérald Genta limited edition, the brand has chosen the iconic Gerald Genta Arena case, whose distinctive architecture was inspired by the structure of ancient arenas. With its 41mm diameter, the polished steel case stands out with a smooth, rounded bezel, straight lugs and a coin-edge profile. It is water-resistant to 100m. The much-loved Disney character is featured on the rhodium-plated sunray-brushed dial. With one arm, Mickey Mouse indicates the retrograde minutes on a 210-degree sector, while the jumping hours are displayed through an aperture at 5 o’clock.

Turning the watch over, the exhibition caseback is secured by six pentagonal screws and offers an unimpeded view of the automatic calibre. It is based on the Bvlgari BVL 191 with an in-house retrograde minute and jumping hour module. It is decorated with Geneva stripes and a rotor engraved with the GG monogram. Running at 4Hz, it can store 42 hours of power reserve when fully wound. A corrector located in the case band at 9 o’clock allows for fast time adjustment.

Released in a limited edition of 150 watches, the Gérald Genta Arena Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse comes on a red textile strap secured by a steel folding clasp. The price is set at CHF 16,500. 

For more information, please visit www.geraldgenta.com.