Jordy Bellido
I remember the very first time that I clapped my eyes on a Genus when one arrived in the office in 2019. I was flabbergasted, in a good way! To be honest, I was new to watches, so everything was amazing to me, but this was unlike anything I had ever seen. No wonder Genus won the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève prize in the Mechanical Exception category that year. In this GNS1.2 RG version, the choice of rose gold and brown leather is relatively traditional, but combine this with the open-worked mechanics of the piece and it is something extremely contemporary. The movement offers an extremely playful reading of the time, with numerals that seem to be in full dance, not to mention the mechanical centipede that snakes around the centre of the dial to indicate the tens of minutes. But beware, once you start turning the crown to speed up the process, it is hard to stop!
Marie de Pimodan
I had initially heard about Genus via the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2019, but I only discovered this brand last spring, when its co-founders, Catherine Henry and Sébastien Billières, were exhibiting in Geneva at a parallel show during Watches and Wonders. This was a rare opportunity to discover the creations of this niche brand, whose production is strictly limited for the time being. Once the surprise of the GNS 1.2 is over, the inevitable question that comes to mind is how to read the time without getting lost in this mechanical madness without hands. The answer: in the simplest way possible if you have been informed beforehand. The time is indicated by a red arrow at 9 o’clock, which points to one of the 12 satellite Arabic numerals making a complete revolution anti-clockwise on the periphery of the dial. The minutes are a little less obvious to read, but with the right instructions and a little practice, the exercise is not all that complex. The minutes are divided into tens and units on three different discs. At 3 o’clock, a small arrow points to the minutes graduated from one to nine on a skeletonized rotating disc, while the procession of mobile lozenges that winds around the dial, form a large eight, the symbol of infinity, indicating the tens of minutes thanks to the red element placed at the head of the line. Playful and easy, and pure child’s play!
Sophie Furley
Discovering the Genus GNS1.2 RG brings on a wave of emotions, the first of which is a “wow” moment. The open-worked dial with all its moving parts, materials, and incredible finishings is a sight to behold. I challenge anyone to open a box with a Genus inside and not say “wow”! The second emotion is one of intrigue as the eye searches to read the time. At first, it can feel a little intimidating, but once explained it is super simple. To recap Marie’s explanation above, the hours are indicated by 12 satellites that rotate around the outside of the watch past a red arrow at 9 o’clock that indicates the hours. The leading element of the moving chain in red indicates the tens of minutes, and the display at three o’clock shows the minute units. So, the time in the photo below is 12:51. It is surprising how quickly you get used to reading it. The final emotion is that pure happiness as you contemplate the time and the craftsmanship that has gone into making this timepiece. Taking a moment to appreciate this mechanical beauty is a daily reminder to be grateful for what you have. Reading the time could almost be considered the watch version of the famous expression to remember to “stop and smell the roses”!
Brice Lechevalier
A dynamic work of art – the least we can say about this GNS1.2 RG from Genus is that it won’t leave you indifferent. It is not the first brand to offer a reading of the time without a dial or hands, but its unique personality makes it immediately identifiable. Like its two founders, who are both joyful and serious, there is a certain duality to this watch that is as complex as it is playful. The large white numerals on a black background make it easy to read this unique mechanism and display a dual aesthetic and functional vocation, contrasting harmoniously with the movement and the rose gold case. Let’s hope that they will be able to make this little mechanical marvel available to a larger number of collectors!
