In an interesting bit of news, the announcement has been made that the prestigious high luxury watch collections of Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth will be fully integrated into the
Bvlgari brand. These two haute horlogerie houses have been under the Bvlgari Group umbrella since 2000, and represent the upper end of the watchmaking sector, in terms of both finishing quality and mechanical complication. The decision was announced on January 15, 2010 by Francesco Trapani, CEO of the Bvlgari Group.
A transcription of Mr. Trapani’s exact words follows here:
“Dear Friends, Collectors and esteemed Watch Connoisseurs:
Today, I would like to share with you some important news as Bvlgari is entering a new era which is significantly impacting the future of the Brand. Ten years ago, I expressed in an interview the desire to develop our know-how in the watch complication craftsmanship sector. Subsequently Bvlgari built, in different stages, a network of manufacturing facilities for the production of top-of-the-range cases, dials and watch bracelets. In parallel, we progressively expanded our knowledge of the mechanical base movement as well as our expertise in the field of the complicated movement.
Today I can safely say our mission is accomplished. This long process has now reached its final stage, after following a strategy which developed and integrated the mastery of watchmaking operations that began a decade ago.
Now it is time for a further step: to complement Bvlgari watchmaking with a strong presence in the high-end and grandes complications watch creations. Consequently I have decided to merge the cutting-edge skills of our Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth Manufacture in Le Sentier with the prestigious image of Bvlgari, a strong name in the world of luxury. While preserving their technical and aesthetic qualities, the Daniel Roth and the Gerald Genta timepieces will from now be fully integrated into the collection of the Bvlgari brand.
This alliance is sealed on the new watch creations, where the Bvlgari brand watch is featured along with the Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth logos. This union is the fruit of a rational and organic evolution. This integration into the overall dynamics of our Brand represents a great achievement. United, our respective areas of expertise will from now on allow Bvlgari to complete its strategic process.
The merger of these skills offers Bvlgari new perspectives and dimensions. It allows us to advance in the sector of watch excellence through exclusive collections at a very high level. The merger will also ensure that the know-how of the Manufacture Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta will be permanently preserved in a definitive manner also by strictly respecting its DNA and its tradition.
Every union of two individualities embodies a positive evolution. As in all unions, the meeting of individual values sets off a new concept. Our union combines 125 years of history dedicated to the passion for beauty and contemporary design with the sum of exceptional technical human skills and finest quality. I am therefore, today, extremely pleased to invite you all to discover our newest creations by visiting us at the Salon Mondial de l’Horlogerie in Basel on March 18th, 2010.”
A brief video clip shows Mr. Trapani speaking, along with a partial image of a Gerald Genta timepiece showing the famous Genta combination of jumping hours and retrograde displays. An examination of the dial reveals the dual signatures of Bvlgari and Gerald Genta at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively. While the collection will soon make its official debut, at which time speculation concerning the particulars of the collection will cease, it would be reasonable to assume that Bvlgari watches bearing the Daniel Roth signature will be similarly faithful to the distinctive design signatures which have defined that brand in the eyes of connoisseurs.