Gerald Charles Maestro 2.0 Ultra Thin Lapis Lazuli

If you haven’t tried a Gerald Charles watch, we highly recommend you do. Although it has an unconventional shape, the fit is truly amazing. Now, to celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary, the Maestro 2.0 ultra-thin lapis lazuli has been introduced, reducing the overall dimensions to further improve the wearing experience.

As I may have mentioned before, the first time I tried on a Gerald Charles watch, the experience surprised and delighted me. Vintage tank-style watches have become part of my regular rotation, but they are small and symmetrical. The Maestro 2.0 and other collections feature uniquely shaped cases originally written by Gerald Genta. Different is the right word, but the Maestro 2.0 is elegant and works amazingly well as a sporty dress piece. A limited number of ultra-thin lapis lazuli options are currently available. If you are interested in stone dials, consider this.

Maestro 2.0 Ultra Thin Lapis Lazuli

To celebrate the brand’s first quarter century, Gerald Charles has released Maestro 2.0 ultra-thin lapis lazuli. The stainless steel watch measures 39 mm wide, 41.7 mm long, and just 9 mm thick, and includes a sapphire crystal. Although Gerard Charles does not specify this item as a full-fledged sports model, the all-weather 22mm royal blue vulcanized rubber strap suggests everyday usability. In fact, this slender watch is water resistant to 100 meters so you can take it (almost) anywhere.

Blue is front and center

This version of the Maestro 2.0 marks Gerald Charles’ first use of a hardstone dial. Its use is the result of an intensive process that requires more than 24 hours for each dial. The lapis lazuli is painstakingly cut, polished, polished and drilled to achieve the unique dial shape and thickness of just 0.55 mm. Apparently, only a third of the dial makes it to the final step, and each step threatens to undo the previous work. This is a property of natural materials and has the disadvantage that the thicker the stone, the less visible it becomes.

The dial features indexes and matching hands coated with white Super-LumiNova. The outer edge is printed with a white minute track that matches the new logo and proudly reads “Geneve.” A framed date window with a white date wheel on a black background is located at the bottom of the dial.

Maestro 2.0 Colormix Bezel

However, the Maestro 2.0 has a colored bezel, so it has more blue. Gerald Charles calls the scratch-resistant chemical and physical surface treatment “color mix.” It has a polished cobalt color finish. Admittedly, I read about this addition before taking a closer look at the photos, so I didn’t know what to expect. A great accent that adds warmth and separation to your bezel step. Additionally, this is different from the lacquer used on the Cartier Santos, although it looks similar. Overall, I like it and hope the brand uses this process more on other models in different colors.

automatic GCA3002

Like other Gerard Charles watches, the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli uses an automatic movement from the Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. The GCA3002 caliber has a thickness of 3.7 mm, a frequency of 28,800 vph, and a power reserve of 50 hours. Interestingly, the specs share a shock value of 5g. In terms of decoration, the movement is highly finished, with colimasson (or snailing), côtes de Genève, and perlage treatments. The watch also features a new rotor to celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary.

Availability and price

The Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli is not a limited edition per se, but availability is determined by dial production. Gerald Charles is currently accepting pre-orders for the watch, promising delivery in two months. At a price of 18,600 euros (excluding VAT), it seems like an attractive option, considering the labored stone dial and beautiful movement. Plus, it has Gerald Charles on the wrist, so you can’t mistake it for anything else.

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Watch specifications