Revisiting Gerald Genta's designs for IWC

Gentlemen:

Last month we had a lively discussion about which IWC models Mr. Gerald Genta designed for IWC.

Here's the link for further reference: https://www.iwc.com/member/forum/display.asp?id=205043

I 'm now pleased to share with members of this forum some definitive information:

In an exquisite 190 page coffee table book, The Maestro and his Art, put out by Mr. Genta in 2006 and which I recently received, there is mention of the following IWC "the Davinci et Ingenieur" as his design. No other IWC models are talked about in this book. However, in an earlier section, the book states: "It would be useless to recall all of the vanguard models that he has made throughout his career because everyone knows that he has been the man that has contributed the most to the production of best selling watches world wide in the last fifty years."

Having first read the aforementioned paragraph I was left again in the dark with reference to IWC. Was the Yacht Club II and/or the Polo Club models designed by Mr. Genta?

After over a month of e-mails and phone calls to Switzerland I now got an official answer received today via e-mail, which Mr. Genta's personal assistant forwarded from Madame Genta, that neither the Yacht Club II nor the Polo Club were designed by him.

Although Mr. Genta now runs another watch company again he is travelling alot on business and also maintains residences in multiple countries. Thus it is extremely difficult to communicate directly with him but rather through a couple of helpful assistants to whom I owe a big thank you for getting me the much awaited official reply. Merci Bokur!

Hope this settles the historical questions on the mind of collectors.

Regards,
Jack Freedman

And this is simply why

the IWC Forum is the best and most reliable source of information regarding IWC watches.
Thank you Jack, thanks for everything.

Best regards
Argiris

1 (nt)

Thank You, Mr. Freedman..........nt.

Does it settle it Jack?....or does it ....

.....beg the follow on question.. of who could Schaffhausen have contracted to design an intergrated bracelet-head combo model to team with the designer they were known to have used... in the same catalogue. Don't doubt your wording in your mail for one minute but i have known the very person responsible for something.. to supply a contrary answer before today...and later discovered it was because of how the question asked was formed (did you design the PC? being very different to did you design the PC for Schaffhausen?.. could be relevant here). Which ever way way it pans out it appears two designers or a very obtuse case bracelet manfacturer with Genta overtones were doing the rounds at or about the same time. On reflection perhaps 'who did design the PC'? might have been a more poignant question to chuck Geralds way, afterall i'd suspect he was around the happenings of the time and obviously was involved enough to know where bracelets/dials/cases morphed.

'who did design the PC'?

I thought it was Bill Gates.

Cheers from the cellar

Re: Does it settle it Jack?....or does it ....

Catherine,

Not all I wrote is etched in stone or conclusive and I do appreciate your comments.

FYI, I did the best I could under the circumstances given the language barrier, the long distance, and information passed through many hands. I was originally hoping to make direct contact with GG himself but that turned out not possible.

However, in my many e-mails I put forth my questions in different ways and I followed up with photos of IWC models in question. To sum it up, I asked how many IWC models did you design? Did you design the IWC Yacht Club II and the IWC Polo Club?

In the end, I just reported the reply as received today and if possible I may still followup by sending GG this entire forum thread as an attached document so that he can see the interest generated. If we're lucky, we may yet find out more if there's any.

Regards,
Jack Freedman

2

Thanks for your time & Jack,much appreciated. ....

^^^^^^^^^^ Time & Effort ^^^^^^^^^^^ nt

Indeed, many thanks (nt)

Nice to get an answer to this. Thanks. nt

Any announcements in horological journals ....

Hi Jack,

I wondered if the was any announcements in horological journals at the time of release of the Polo Club etc that mentioned (or failed to mention) the designer.

Cheers from the cellar

One possibility...

Dear Catherine,
As the saying goes: Who was that masked man? ,-) If there really was another 'designer' besides Mr. Genta at play in watch circles mid-70's I can think of one chap that springs to mind.

3 (nt)

One possibility...

Did Schaffhausen produce a watch prior to the 1832 with the applied IWC up in the 12'o clock area? (Anyone). Presumably somebody somewhere thought the move was more of whatever they were thinking.....was '76 the first time it was seen?

One possibility...

I don't believe two designers had a do at the SL range for Schaffhausen Michael...anything is possible of course but personally i feel it's very long odds.

I follow with strong

Interest the history of this topic.

I have also tried to get in contact unsuccessfully with GG so well done Jack. In a discussion recently with an IWC legend he Remained sure of GG contribution to the PoloClub and the Golf Club.

This opens the question - who did it?

The Da Vinci design has been claimed by another so it is interesting to learn of GG efforts there.

Andrew

Curious about your comments...

Hello Andrew,

It certainly is interesting and you would think there would be clear answers since we're not dealing with ancient history! But the thrust of the industry back then was different than it is today and as with many things records disappear and memories fade. Still, I do wonder about your comment that the Da Vinci is the work of someone other than Mr Genta since Jack just received confirmation otherwise. Is there something in writing where another designer has laid a claim? And while the Polo Club and Golf Club models appearing at the same time would make someone suspicious that they are also Genta designs, there doesn't seem to be hard evidence proving this, least of all from Mr. Genta! Because of that I'm curious about your comments that an 'IWC legend' was sure they were his work. Is this again just a suspicion or would this individual (or you) care to come forward and state explicitly what they know?
Kind regards,
Michael

For Da Vinci designers

In "writing" just search the archives.

Andrew

ps: sorry I am inefficiently using an iPhone with disrupted access this evening.