Born into the Arena line famed for its sophisticated mechanisms and contemporary elegance, the Arena Spice features a generous 41 mm-diameter steel case framing a stunningly original mother-of-pearl and brushed sapphire dial rimmed with sparkling diamonds. Together with the black rubber outer bezel and strap, this combination is typical of the Gérald Genta fascination with materials and original associations.
Most importantly of all, however, the classic Gérald Genta technical combination of jumping hours and retrograde minutes has been used to spectacular effect by placing a representation of Itten’s circle below the dial. In his major book on colour theory, Elements of Colour, Johannes Itten said that “colours are the children of light and light is their mother. Light, that first phenomenon of the world, reveals to us the spirit and living soul of the world through colours”. In applying this principle based on wrapping the colour spectrum onto a circle to create twelve secondary colours from the primary triad, Gérald Genta offers a watchmaking anthem to light and life. On the unprecedented Arena Spice watch, as each jumping hour moves into the aperture at 6 o’clock, it is accompanied by its own specific shade, giving this watch a life of its own that subtly plays on the whole spectrum of human emotions.
Never a dull moment
Women enjoy changing outfit to suit their mood and the time of day. Now the Arena Spice gives them a chance to revel in changes of colour simply by observing the steady advance of the hours and by experiencing each and every nuance of a given day... or night. Speaking of which, the numerals and the pattern of dots on the central dial zone are luminescent, which makes them sparkle like a brilliant star when the lights are low. Adding to the visual interest, the two upcoming hours appear faintly through brushed sapphire crystal apertures that enable them to store up enough light to ensure the luminescence. Meanwhile, a central seconds hand sweeps steadily around the dial, while the retrograde minute hand is designed with holes to match the progressive size of the dots, contributing to an intriguing almost three-dimensional effect.
With this exciting, bubbly, vivacious new model, Gérald Genta provides eloqune proof that variety is also the spice of time.
In a nutshell
Mechanical self-winding movement GG 7510, 42-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph. 41 mm diameter case with luminescent dots and hour numerals on a mother-of-pearl and brushed sapphire crystal dial displaying one colour for each hour.