World Cup 2022: Mickey new football star

Of course, no one can match the duel in front of a board of Ronaldo and Messithe two legendary footballers of this 2022 football world cup. But the most famous mouse in the world is also back on the football pitch. After a first horological reincarnation in 2021Bulgari once again puts Mickey Mouse center stage with a new Gérald Genta Arena Bi-Retrograde, on whose dial the mythical mouse plays football.

It was in 1969 that the famous watch designer Gérald Genta convinced the Disney giant to be able to create collections of luxury watches with dials adorned with his characters, starting with Mickey. A mouse that has always made the heyday of watchmaking, from Ingersoll in the 1930s to Damian Hirst and Swatch in 2018.

“Our vision of a 21st century Gérald Genta is the sum of an Arena Sport case and the retrograde, explained to us in 2021 Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari. It is reminiscent of the original part, but does not have a screw in common. Offered in a more contemporary size, it features a latest-generation Bulgari retrograde movement.” In this year of the football World Cup, the famous mouse once again occupies the center of the ball-to-foot dial. This watch with triple complications (retrograde date and minutes, jumping hours) is equipped with a self-winding in-house BVL300 caliber offering a 42-hour power reserve. Fans of the magnificent vintage complications by Gérald Genta no doubt now dream of seeing the resurrection of another of his most famous models, the Donald Golfeur, on which the club-shaped hand indicated the retrograde minutes.

On this 2022 edition with a 41 mm diameter steel case, the dial is in fact neither metal nor lacquered. For a more elegant and artisanal look, the craftsmen of the Bulgari house have this time decided to use a mother-of-pearl dial, whose micro-reliefs give a singular depth to the whole. Technically speaking, each dial is in fact the result of 14 negatives (plates) used to create the colored pattern of the design using the pad printing technique. Certain areas of the pattern are then covered with transparent lacquer to bring shine, sparkle and volume to specific details. In total, more than 20 manual operations are required to give life to this Mickey footballer whose mobile arm indicates the minutes. Above its left foot, we find the jumping hours window. Next to its other foot, an openworked hand sweeps a retrograde date at 180°. This Bulgari Gérald Genta Arena Bi-Retrograde Mickey Mouse Playing Football is a limited edition of only 200 pieces, offered at €24,000