Buffy Acacia
If you Gerald Charles’ accomplishmentsAs we all know, the brand isn’t afraid to get funky: the Maestro case, which is the foundation of the brand’s current identity, was inspired by the Baroque architecture of Francesco Borromini. It has been played with using various materials and decorations.But now, the Gerard Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 is infused with Italian motorsport passion in a case of Italian origin.
Ducati is a brand of evolution, it manufactured electronics and radio equipment from the 1920s through the Second World War. After the Second World War, Ducati started selling its first motorized bicycles. In the 60s, Ducati bikes were some of the fastest in the world.The ’70s saw the emergence of radical V-twin engines, while the ’80s saw the welcome return of closed-body designs, leading to the bike this watch celebrates. The Ducati 916 was introduced in 1994 and featured a fuel-injected 916cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine and many other features. Its aggressive lines are often considered one of the most beautiful superbike designs of all time, not to mention the fact that Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser rode it to four Superbike World Championships and 34 race wins throughout the ’90s.
Incident
Gerard Charles is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Ducati 916 with the launch of the new Maestro 4.0 limited edition, a model built for the ultimate in performance. The baroque case is forged from marbled black carbon Even if the original bike didn’t have any carbon parts, it was imbued with a modern racing spirit, evoking the blackness of tyres and asphalt, and the Ducati 916 also has a wide range of body kits and modifications, so it’s not impossible to imagine it covered in carbon.
The case itself is 39mm wide, 41.7mm long, and 46.9mm lug-to-lug, making it easy to wear. The overall thickness of 11.15mm is also pretty impressive, considering this is a swimmable sports watch thanks to its automatic winding and water resistance to 100 meters. The finish is interesting, with the bezel polished to a much higher shine than the almost matte finish of the case, giving depth to the black and using contrast to accentuate the stepped look. The lighter grey crown also brings out the lighter tones from the carbon swirls.
Dial
On the bike itself, red is the predominant colour, with bright crimson hour numerals rendered at angles in the typeface of contemporary Ducati instrument panels; instead of an hour hand, the entire hour wheel jumps so that the correct time falls at 12 o’clock, and the brass-like gold of the 916’s three-spoke wheel supports the numerals from the centre of the dial, revealing a glimpse of the open movement beneath.
The only hand on the dial is the minute hand, which rotates to point to the minute scale printed on the case-shaped rehaut. The numbers at 5-minute intervals are printed on the upper layer, giving a sense of depth to the lower layer. This watch has a sporty and rough design, but if you pay close attention to the sophistication of the dial, you will also notice that there are concentric circles engraved under the hour hand.
motion
The automatic GCA 3002JH is based on the Vaucher 3002 and is actually a jumping hour movement, meaning the correct time is displayed at 12 o’clock and switches as soon as the minute hand completes one revolution. Checking the time is extremely easy as the minute hand reaches the minute track in front of the matte ceramic bezel. The decoration can be seen through the sapphire display caseback, made from grade 5 titanium. The watch runs at a smooth 4Hz oscillation with a power reserve of 50 hours.
strap
The Clos de Paris rubber strap is a perfect match for that vibrant red glow that evokes pedestrians glancing past a 916. The rubber’s flexibility means it can be stuffed comfortably under the cuff of a leather jacket, and the recesses in the Gerald Charles logo pattern prevent sweat from building up. If you’re looking for something less extreme, the 22mm lug width means other options are easy to find.
Verdict
While the Gerald Charles Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 doesn’t share many details with the actual bike, the overall style seamlessly captures the feeling of exhilaration. It pays homage to the sport bikes of the ’90s, which is hard to do when the case is actually modeled after old architecture. The watch costs almost twice as much as a pre-owned Ducati 916, so only the most dedicated fans can afford it, but given the exclusivity of the watch, it’s sure to find its fans.
Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 Pricing and Availability
The Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 is limited to 250 units. Price: US$42,400
Brand Gerald Charles Model Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 Reference GC4.0-CF-11 Case Size 39mm (width) x 11.5mm (thickness) x 46.9mm (length) Case Material Forged carbon, ceramic bezel, grade 5 titanium Water Resistance 100 meters Crystal Sapphire crystal front and back Dial Skeletonized, black, red, gold Strap Ruby red rubber strap, titanium pin buckle Movement GCA 3002JH, based on Vaucher VMF 3002, automatic Power Reserve 50 hours Functions Jumping hours, minutes Availability Limited to 250 pieces Price US$42,400
