Calling all Disney fans!

If you’re into vintage Disney memorabilia, a one-of-a-kind Mickey Mouse watch is expected to sell for £300,000.

The timepiece was created by watchmakers at Louis Vuitton-owned brand La Fabrique du Temps in Switzerland, inspired by the quirky designs of legendary artist Gerald Genta.

The Mickey Mouse watch features the famous Disney character holding a birthday cake, with his arm as the minute timer and a digital hour timer in the 3 o’clock position.

Calling all Disney fans!

If you’re into vintage Disney memorabilia, a one-of-a-kind Mickey Mouse watch is expected to sell for £300,000.

The timepiece was created by watchmakers at Louis Vuitton-owned brand La Fabrique du Temps in Switzerland, inspired by the quirky designs of legendary artist Gerald Genta.

The Mickey Mouse watch features the famous Disney character holding a birthday cake, with his arm as the minute timer and a digital hour timer in the 3 o’clock position.

Gérald Genta was the revolutionary designer behind many of the world’s most expensive and sought-after watches and created for brands such as Patek Philippe before founding his own brand in 1969.

He became known as someone who would push the boundaries both in terms of design and technical innovation.

The Disney designs have been revived by master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, who both learned everything they know from Gérald. It was important for the duo to respect Genta’s history so they flew to England to get their blessing from his widow Evelyne.

She was one of the first people in the world to see the 2023 Mickey Mouse Genta watch with its innovative minute repeater, jumping hour and retrograde minute.

When she saw it she told the pair that her husband would’ve loved it and, according to Navas, that respecting the spirit of the Gérald Genta brand would mean innovating, not replicating what had been done before.

With Evelyne’s backing, Navas and Barbasini created a second Disney watch which is currently still a prototype. This time it’s based on the 1990s design of Donald Duck playing golf, with the arm swinging the gold club acts as the minute hand.

‘With these first watches, we wanted to remind the watchmaking world of Mr Genta’s uniqueness,’ says Navas.

While the Mickey Mouse timepiece will remain a unique one-off, there are plans for the Disney Donald Duck watch to go on the market for ‘a very limited edition run.’

Be warned, though: La Fabrique du Temps watches usually start around the £17,000 mark. Piggy banks at the ready!

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Rachel Charlton-Dailey

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