The much-anticipated return of the Gérald Genta Arena Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse, a beloved watchmaking classic

A BVLGARI spinoff breathes new life into Gerald Genta’s classic designs. We live in a world where it’s said all press is good press, where controversial stunts attract clicks, likes and eyeballs. But in 1984, esteemed watch designer Gérald Genta, creator of the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, launched an attention-grabbing collection that elevated cartoon character watches to high art, using a combination of complications, precious metals and diamonds. The Retro Fantasy collection was considered blasphemous at the time; Genta was tossed from showing them at a prestigious watch event. It only makes sense that after years of designing the most enduring watches of our time, Genta wanted to have some fun.

Although Genta passed away in 2011, his namesake brand lives on today. Acquired by BVLGARI in 2000, super-exclusive Genta limited-edition reproductions have been issued over the past few years, but this year brought about the one watch that Genta lovers have pined for: the Gerald Genta Arena Retrograde with Smiling Disney Mickey Mouse. A delightful classic of watchmaking history, the Retrograde Smiling Mickey has evolved to become one of the brand’s signature timepieces, a highly sought-after collector’s item, nearly impossible to find until now.

The new model is entirely faithful to the original with its jumping hour indicated in the window at five and Mickey’s left arm standing in for the minute hand, snapping back to 00 after the minutes reach 60. Powered by the BVL262 mechanical mono-retrograde movement, the 41 mm stainless-steel watch is limited to just 150 pieces. Mickey appears on a rhodium-plated sunburst dial, and that’s paired with a bright red rubber strap. With a dial as animated as the cartoon mouse himself, the return of Mickey couldn’t have come at a better time.