The New Mickey Mouse Watch Review

November 18, 2022

Last year, during Geneva Watch Days, Bulgari released a revival (of sorts) of the Grald Genta Mickey Mouse Retrograde watch. As interesting as this modern take on the '90s character watch was, the buried lede was Bulgari's announcement that it would continue to produce Grald Genta watches as its own brand. This meant that future releases C like the Mickey watch C would not be collaborations between Bulgari and Genta, but rather the re-platforming of Grald Genta as its own thing. Of course, that wasn't technically news. The Genta brand was acquired by Bulgari in 2000.? After the launch of the 2021 Mickey Mouse watch, we were on the lookout for future watches under the Genta umbrella. We never guessed that we would see another showing from the house of mouse so soon, but here we are. In what seems to be a release set to coincide with the World Cup, Bulgari has announced a new, bi-retrograde Mickey Mouse Genta design featuring the character playing around with a soccer ball (a football ball? A football? A ftbol?) right on the dial. Like the last release, there is a jumping hour display, and Mickey's arm operates as a watch hand in full character-watch fashion for the retrograde minutes. This watch builds on the 2021 Mickey with a second retrograde date function right by Mickey's feet. It isn't operated by his foot, but rather a more conventional hand. We can't have everything. But we can have a pretty special mother-of-pearl dial utilizing 14 plates and coated with transparent lacquer. The case is 41mm and made of steel in the Genta Arena case design. Inside beats the BVL300, bolstered by the retrograde date function. The watch is limited to 200 pieces. What We Think It's Mickey Mouse on a watch, an industry of timepieces unto itself. I bet a large portion of the readership has come into contact with or owned a Mickey watch in some capacity. I know I have. That very idea was part and parcel of the inspiration for a world-famous watch designer like Genta to bring the iconic Disney character into one of his watch designs (and to seek the license to do so in the first place). Sure, Genta is most associated with the Royal Oak, the Nautilus, and a whole host of similarly designed integrated bracelet pieces from the '70s and '80s. But I feel like the Mickey Mouse watch C and it's crazy to say this C is a palette cleanser. Aren't we a little bit tired of seeing the same thing, over and over? That's not to slight any of the aforementioned watches. They're empirically important to the history of the industry. But if brands are in the business of reviving timepieces, let's mix it up. Let's get Mickey Mouse back in the fray. Let's get him horsing around with a soccer ball!? At first glance, the design could seem to be a bit too playful. The World Cup tie-in, intentional or not, makes this watch even more specific than your standard issue Mickey watch. In many ways, a watch like this requires a level of special interest in three tiers: You have to love Genta (especially his later designs), you have to be a fan of Mickey Mouse, and you have to love the sport with the white and black kicky ball. While I certainly don't fall into the latter category (basketball is my sport), I could still see how someone might spring for this with only the other two boxes checked. Watch collectors are a most curious bunch. Luckily, only 200 of these watches will be produced and I'm sure there are 200 folks out there who can check all three boxes. This will assure this piece's place in the realm of collectability due to its limited nature. Functionally, I find the addition of the retrograde date to be a very cool and useful function. That being said, I don't think a watch like this would ever serve as a daily piece.?Plus, if I'm the sort of person wearing a Soccer Mickey Genta watch, do I really care what the date is? I also wish Mickey's foot served as the "hand" for the date function. It would be neat, in a sick sort of way, to see just how contorted his limbs could get telling the time and date with one hand and one leg. But I digress. People will, no doubt, moan about the price, the design, and all the other things they moan about. I personally look forward to seeing this one in the metal someday soon, and will report my thoughts on build and execution once I do. This isn't an everyday watch, it isn't a regular production watch. In many ways, it's a design statement piece, a revival of sorts, though more a furtherance of a particular design. It's limited, it's expensive, and no doubt, it will sell out. I think it's best to judge a watch in its proper context, and rarely is there a context as specific as this one here. The Basics Brand: Grald GentaModel: Arena Bi-Retrograde With Mickey Playing FootballReference Number: 103786Diameter: 41mmCase Material: SteelDial Color: Mother-of-PearlIndexes: Retrograde displayStrap/Bracelet: Textured red rubber strap; polished stainless steel Grald Genta folding clasp The Movement Caliber: BVL300Functions: Bi-Retrograde for minutes and date, jumping hourDiameter: 26.2mmPower Reserve: 42 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 4Hz Pricing & Availability Price: $23,200Availability: ImmediatelyLimited Edition: 200 pieces Shop this story Hodinkee is an authorized retailer of Bulgari watches. Explore our entire collection here.?Bulgari is part of the LVMH group. Although LVMH Luxury Ventures is a minority investor in HODINKEE, we maintain complete editorial independence.