Shortly after launching his namesake brand, the Maestro came up with not only a perpetual calendar, but an automatic one. Showcasing signature design codes such as the so-Genta single-lug design, Gérald Genta solidified his reputation as a daring innovator.

Michel Navas's take:

"From where I was working at that time, I heard about an independent brand launching an automatic ultra-thin perpetual calendar and wondered, who could be so bold to do this? You have to remember no one else was believing in complicated watchmaking at the time! It was of course Gérald Genta, and from then on, I decided I would work for him one day"