A cool watch designed by Gerald Genta that almost no one knows…

Before becoming probably the most known name of horology (at least of the last century), Gerald Genta was a humble apprentice of the jewellery craft.

 

After finishing his studies, he was taken under the wings of Universal Geneve, where his horological genius was discovered.

 

With time, his ideas were bestowed upon many companies in the industry, most of them becoming their best-selling models or straight-up iconic watches.

 

One of his least-known, but undeniably beautiful and amazing creations was actually for the brand IWC, which goes by the name Yachtclub II.

 

Photo source: Hairspring

 

The Yachtclub II was introduced in 1977 as part of the SL series, which aimed to combine sportiness and elegance in a time of crisis for the mechanical watch industry.

 

This makes the Yachtclub II slightly older than its more famous brothers, the Royal Oak and Nautilus. At this time, Gerald Genta knew very well what he was doing, and it can be perfectly seen in the breathtaking design.

 

The Yachtclub II features an octagonal case (which is not unfamiliar to the one of Royal Oak) an integrated bracelet, a screw-down crown, and a date window at 3 o’clock.

 

The dial has a distinctive striped pattern and the hands and indexes are coated with luminous material.

 

This model line is powered by a quartz movement, which was a common choice for many Swiss brands in the late 1970s.

 

Photo source: Hairspring

 

The Yachtclub II is a rare and collectible piece that reflects Genta’s genius and IWC’s heritage. It is a precursor to the modern Yacht Club Chronograph, which belongs to the Portugieser family and has a flyback chronograph movement developed by IWC.

 

It is a watch that tells a story of innovation, adaptation, and style.

 

We really think it's one of the most beautiful watches of that period. Gerald Genta did a great job on this one, showing that his genius wasn’t drained on his main creations, but would rather continue to flourish for decades to come.

 

Photo source: Getty Images

 

Often going for less than 15k Euros with papers and in basically new condition, it’s also one of the most affordable original Genta designs there is.