Avec la Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal, on est au cœur du Genta instinctif, celui qui dessinait à l’intuition, sans contraintes ni compromis. Cette pièce, c’est plus qu’une montre : c’est un manifeste. Un concentré de lumière, de matières précieuses et d’audace, comme seul Gérald savait en créer. Rarement une montre contemporaine n’a porté aussi bien sa signature.
A flamboyant watch creation, paying tribute to design genius and exceptional gemstones
Gérald Genta unveils the Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal watch, the new centerpiece of the Oursin collection and a dazzling embodiment of its iconoclastic vision of watchmaking. A true manifesto of creativity, this 3N yellow gold timepiece set with 137 fire opals is the most accomplished expression of the Gentissima universe.
Crafted in the Maison’s creative workshop, this rare watch reinvents the codes of traditional watchmaking with singular audacity. Each fire opal, a volcanic stone with orange and flamboyant reflections, is individually screwed onto the circumference of the case, creating a luminous and organic architecture that immediately catches the eye.
The orange carnelian dial, enhanced by a faceted octagonal crystal, reflects the instinctive aesthetic dear to Gérald Genta, combining pure shapes, unexpected lines and a love of rare gems. This exceptional watch, produced in a limited edition, embodies the designer’s passion for light, color, and the natural beauty of materials.
A unique watchmaking heritage: the Oursin inspiration
The Oursin design has its roots in 1994, in the heart of a Corsican summer. Fascinated by the spherical, spiky structure of sea urchins, Gérald Genta intuitively sketched a round case adorned with pearls, which over the years became one of the most personal symbols of his work. Thirty years later, the Oursin watch returns in a deeply contemporary version, while remaining true to its DNA.
The Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal continues this exploration of natural forms and powerful materials, combining sophisticated architecture with the vibrant symbolism of fire opal – a stone associated with creativity, joy, and confidence. The designer’s emotional heritage shines through in every detail, from the proportions of the 36 mm case to the delicacy of the sandblasted finish, contrasting with the brilliance of the stones.
Exceptional craftsmanship at the service of emotion
Crafted with extreme precision, this automatic watch is powered by the Zenith Elite caliber, whose exclusive oscillating weight was specially designed in 18K yellow gold by master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini (La Fabrique du Temps). Each component, each curve, each light reflected by the opals contributes to a unique sensory experience, designed for collectors in search of a rare and expressive work of art.
For Évelyne Genta, wife of the master watchmaker, this new creation evokes one of her husband’s most iconic and personal watches:
“Gérald had a deep affection for the Oursin watch, which he only produced in very small series. He loved the way the stones transformed the light, like a form of visual alchemy. This Fire Opal reminds me perfectly of the look of wonder he had on his face when he looked at each piece.”
The Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal: between inner strength and natural brilliance
A precious, vibrant and deeply unique watch, the Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal is designed for fine watch enthusiasts who want to explore new aesthetic territory. True to the visionary spirit of Gérald Genta, it combines symbolic richness, bold design and exceptional craftsmanship. Each watch celebrates the encounter between nature and watchmaking culture, between emotion and technical expertise.
Movement •Caliber: GG-005 – Zenith Elite with redesigned oscillating weight. •Power reserve – Frequency: ~50 hours – 4 Hz. •Diameter: 25.6 mm. •Thickness: 3.65 mm. •Components: 126.
Material: 3N yellow gold
enhanced with 137 fire opals screwed individually with 3N yellow gold stems.
•Dimensions: 36.5 mm. •Thickness: 9.64 mm. •Water resistance: 30 m
Dial and hands • Dial: orange carnelian with 3N yellow gold indexes for the 5-minute markers.
• Hands: 3N yellow gold.
Hours, minutes
•Horn width – Strap material: 17.5 mm – Black alligator leather
limited edition of 10 pieces
