Gerald Charles Unveils Its Most Complex Timepiece, The Masterlink Perpetual Calendar

Gerald Charles, the independent Swiss watchmaking Maison founded by the great Mr. Gérald Charles Genta, unveils its most complicated watch since its reestablishment less than a decade ago. The Masterlink Perpetual Calendar, developed entirely in-house, marks a new chapter for the young and ambitious Maison as it continues to expand its repertoire of poetic complications.

In keeping with Gerald Charles’s “No Compromise” watchmaking philosophy, established by Mr. Genta more than a quarter of a century ago, the Masterlink Perpetual Calendar introduces an in-house, asymmetrical, automatic perpetual calendar calibre with a three-counter display.

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Auction F.P. Journe Wins the Battle for a Breguet Legend

Bidding to the very end, Journe secures the Sympathique No. 1 for his Geneva museum

ByWaqt

14.05.2025

3 minutes read

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The innovative spirit of Breguet lives on through both its modern creations and tributes to the past. One such tribute is the Breguet Sympathique No. 1, a remarkable one-of-a-kind collaboration between Breguet and François-Paul Journe. Originally designed by Breguet in 1795, the Pendule Sympathique was a groundbreaking system that allowed a paired pocket watch to be automatically wound and adjusted by a table clock. Only eleven examples of this rare concept were ever created.

In 1991, the Techniques Horlogères Appliquées (THA) workshop resurrected the idea for the Art of Breguet thematic auction. At the time, the workshop was under the direction of François-Paul Journe, working alongside Denis Flageollet, co-founder of De Bethune, and the clockmaker Dominique Mouret. The result was the Breguet Sympathique No. 1: a sophisticated fusion of Breguet’s pioneering design and modern horological precision.

The Breguet Sympathique No. 1’s clock stands as a monumental piece, measuring 255mm in height, 170mm in width, and 125mm in depth. Crafted from brass and adorned with yellow gold panels, its design features classical architectural detailing by horological illustrator David Penney. The watch is packed with intricate complications beyond the wristwatch, including a moon-phase display, an equation of time function (which calculates the difference between mean and apparent solar time), and a thermometer to measure temperature. Additionally, the clock includes a full calendar showing the day, date, and month.

The 36mm yellow gold wristwatch features a tourbillon at 6 o’clock, a moon-phase display at 3 o’clock, and a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. These elements are elegantly arranged in a regulator-style layout, with a subdial for the hours at 12 o’clock and a central minute hand.

When docked into the clock, the wristwatch is automatically wound, set, and regulated, maintaining perfect synchronization with the clock’s timekeeping precision. The wristwatch is also paired with a yellow gold bracelet.

In a powerful and rarely seen gesture, François-Paul Journe, the watchmaker, founder, and CEO of his eponymous brand, personally bid for and acquired the Breguet Sympathique No. 1 at auction, paying CHF 5.51 million (approximately AED 24,340,000). This exceptional timepiece will soon be displayed as a centerpiece in the F.P. Journe Museum in Geneva, where it will stand as a symbol of horological continuity, uniting the legacy of Breguet with the vision of one of today’s most respected watchmakers.