Launched in 1969, Gerald Genta, the brand, was founded by the famed eponymous watch designer best known best for creating the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak amongst countless other watch designs. While both of those watches were launched in the 1970s, his brand was immediately successful on account of his already growing renown in the industry. With a growing clientele of royalty such as the Moroccan King, the Sultans of both, Oman and Brunei, the King of Spain, the King of Saudi Arabia, the Queen Mother of England and several leading businessmen, sportsmen and entertainers, Gerald Genta's own timepieces quickly became sought-after pieces of horological royalty. By the 1990s one of his best-known designs were round timepieces with retrograde displays and domed cases much like the Arena Bi-Retro ref. BSP.Y.80 that we have here. Featuring a retrograde display, the Arena Bi-Retro’s grey, black, and yellow dial displays the minutes in its northern hemispehere, and the hours within the jump hour display at 12 o’clock alongside the date in a retrograde pointer date subdial at 6 o’clock. With its large titanium case, the Arena Bi-Retro is a wonderfully capable timepiece that can handle hard wear and continue to look great while doing it. While the Gerald Genta brand was eventually sold to Bvlgari in 2000, the brand’s timepieces still conjure a close link to their famed designer and all of his other incredible work. An interesting watch linked to horology's most decorated designer, this timepiece is undoubtedly a must-have for any collector seeking to obtain a unique piece of true watchmaking history.

Blending bright colors with its already unique display, the Arena Bi-Retro is a fun timepiece that doesnt take itself too seriously - tenents of Gerald Genta's design identity.