Hands-On: The Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sport Tennis
The 25th-anniversary celebration at Gerald Charles continues with the new Maestro GC Sport Tennis. This limited-edition watch offers a unique surface finish, a vibrant dial, and a comfortable strap. For those who play the game regularly, this watch was made to take on the courts instead of living in the spectators’ booth. We were fortunate to go hands-on with this new release and are happy to share our thoughts.
Gerald Charles continues to adapt its unique case shape to different use cases. Highly complicated movements, precious metal cases, and innovative dial finishes describe some of the options within the ever-growing catalog. Today’s new Maestro GC Sport Tennis is a more casual take on the design, but it works well. Best of all, it’s incredibly comfortable on the wrist and could be used while playing tennis.
The Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sport Tennis
Tennis is one of the few sports I still play. It’s a fantastic game because it only requires one additional participant. It also provides a great workout in a relatively short amount of time. When playing, it’s important to be comfortable. That means lightweight clothing, the right shoes, and a minimum of other accessories. Every so often, though, I choose to wear a watch. Something digital or quartz and titanium usually describes my selection. The new Gerald Charles Maestro GC Sport Tennis seeks to change my mind and the notions of others by offering a mechanical wristwatch suitable for the game.
All about lightness and comfort
Indeed, Gerald Charles has prioritized two key attributes with its Maestro GC Sport Tennis that meet my criteria. Lightness and comfort are evident in the design and wearing experience. The watch begins with a 39mm by 41mm Grade 5 titanium case. It also maintains a minimal 9mm thickness, including the flat antireflecetive sapphire crystal.
Speaking of antireflective things, the Maestro GC Sport Tennis features a unique Darkblast case. This is a proprietary sandblasted and coated finish that resists abrasion and corrosion. The material is also used on the titanium loop of the Optic yellow Velcro strap, which feels like nothing on the wrist.
Other case details
The GC Sport Tennis continues with the familiar Gerald Charles case shape. This includes the stepped, barreled bezel and vertical lugs. From a comfort standpoint, these lugs curve down to hug the wrist. The brand has created an internal ergonomic standard called ErgonTeq, which ensures the perfect fit for a range of wrist sizes. Additionally, note the unusual placement of the screw-down crown on the left side of the case instead of the right. This prevents any pinching or discomfort during sports activities like tennis. Fancy jumping in the pool after a match? The Sport Tennis has a 100m depth rating, so it’ll be ready for a dip.
A tennis-ball-like dial color
The GC Sport Tennis contains an Optic yellow dial with a textured finish. However, it also has a dégradé effect towards the edges. It possesses a three-dimensional effect that looks like a felt-covered tennis ball. I wasn’t sure about the color scheme when I saw the initial photos. In real life, though, it works well and achieves the desired sporty feel. As a sports watch, the Maestro GC Sport Tennis also contains a healthy level of Super-LumiNova within the applied indexes and hands.
Caliber 2.0
Inside the GC Sport Tennis, expect to find the automatic Gerald Charles caliber 2.0 (also known as the Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier GCA3002). We’ve seen this movement in other GC watches, such as the Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli. It’s a lovely caliber to view through the sapphire display, including colimaçon, Côtes de Genève, and perlage. Performance-wise, it has a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 50 hours. The gold rotor has the hallmark honeycomb pattern, and because it’s 2025, there’s also a 25th-anniversary logo.
Final thoughts
The thought of sporting a high-end mechanical watch like the Maestro GC Sport Tennis might sound a bit strange, but the watch has been tested extensively by pro players Andrea Vavassori and Hubert Hurkacz. At €17,600, the latest release from Gerald Charles is a luxurious splurge, but it’s distinctive. Plus, if the success of prior releases, such as the Clay and Grass, is any indication, the 200 pieces will sell out quickly. Does anyone need this watch? No, but it’s a lot of fun!
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