When viewing the lots at the Monaco Legend Group auction, one piece in particular caught my attention because of its uniqueness and extraordinary details. The watch in question is actually a pendant, made by Gérald Genta, which stands out for its original design and refined use of precious stones.

Wearing it-this time not on your wrist, but around your neck-it is easy to imagine yourself on a sunny beach in St. Tropez, allowing yourself to be lulled by the discreet elegance of a unique accessory, capable of transforming every detail into an extraordinary experience.

In this article, starting from the discovery of this lot auctioned by Monaco Legend Group, we will analyze in detail this particular type of watches, discovering why they can represent an excellent opportunity to start a different collection and perhaps anticipate a new trend.

Gerald Genta Turtle

The watch I got to try in Munich was designed by Gerald Genta and produced, probably as a one-off, in the 1980s.

The design is clearly reminiscent of a turtle, but what makes it really special is the use of materials and stones to bring it to life. The case was made of yellow gold with some contrasting elements in white gold, particularly the chain, which features both shades of gold.

A series of small-carat diamonds has been arranged along the turtle’s four legs, tail, and head. Attention to detail is noticeable thanks to an additional diamond, placed on the winding crown at 3 o’clock.
The mother-of-pearl dial, contrasting with the black hands, is the finishing touch, made even more striking by the glass shaped to resemble the turtle’s shell.
As mentioned, however, the animal seems to come to life, and this is possible thanks to the rubies that serve as eyes.

What is surprising is the maniacal attention to detail, which makes all the difference. But once I learned who was the artist who created it, I have to say I am not so surprised anymore.

Pendant watches, a new trend?

What prompted me to write this article, in addition to the desire to share with you the beauty of this watch, was the curiosity to find out whether this type of timepiece represents a past fad or, instead, as I believe, may constitute not only a new trend but also an incredible opportunity to start a high-quality collection.

Although the auction result of EUR 20,800 would not allow just anyone to add such a watch, featuring a truly unique design, to their collection, the argument changes for simpler creations, which can be found on the secondary market for a few thousand euros.

Also at the auction, a young collector, probably influenced by the lot for sale, surprised me by wearing a pendant, also by Genta, but with a more classic hexagonal design, featuring an onyx dial and diamonds on the case. To see someone no more than 30 years old wearing such a watch is certainly interesting and makes one wonder what might be of interest to the secondhand market in the coming months.

Looking at the social profile of John Goldberger, one of the world’s leading collectors known for anticipating market trends through his taste developed over years of collecting, it is not uncommon to see photos of these timepieces shared by him.

But some brands, known for their truly modern designs, are also rediscovering this type of watch. This is the case of Richard Mille, which, at the last Only Watch auction last year, made a pendant watch called “Talisman Origine,” which sold for 2,380,000 CHF (about 2,550,000 euros). This confirms that even modern brands want to check whether investing in this part of the market can be attractive.

Conclusion

It is not my job to advise you what to buy: collecting in general, and watch collecting in particular, should be something personal, not influenced by the market. Only in this way can one be satisfied with the purchase and, possibly, also with the revaluations in the long run.

What we can do together, however, is to try to understand what has not yet been fully valued and represents excellent opportunities in terms of quality-price. I firmly believe that pendant watches reflect these characteristics.
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