Genus: history, models and value

Founder(s)

Sébastien Billières, Catherine Henry

Headquarters

Geneva

Owner / group

Independent

Genus: origins and founding

Genus was set up in Geneva by watchmaker Sébastien Billières and entrepreneur Catherine Henry. The brand presented its first watch, the GNS1.2, in 2019. It describes itself as a small, self-financed company.

Founders and family

Sébastien Billières comes from a watchmaking family and trained at the Geneva watchmaking school. He worked for several high-end houses and independents before going independent in 2007, and he also restores watches and teaches watchmaking. Catherine Henry came from the pharmaceutical, insurance and finance industries and leads the brand's business development.

Genus history and milestones

• 2019: launch of the GNS1.2 in 18k white gold, limited to 8 pieces.
• 2019: the GNS1.2 wins the Mechanical Exception Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).

Famous Genus models

The GNS1.2 is the brand's defining watch. Instead of hands, twelve small "satellites" travel around the edge of the case and show the hour when they reach a fixed pointer at 9 o'clock. A small mobile element, which the brand calls the "Genus", moves across two circular 30-minute tracks to show the tens of minutes. The exact minute is read on a rotating disc at 3 o'clock. The first version has a 43 mm white gold case.

Movements and technique

The hand-wound movement was developed by Genus. Parts are made by partners, while Genus decorates and assembles the movements in its Geneva workshop. The calibre has over 400 parts, runs at 18,000 vph with about 50 hours of power reserve, and has a main plate and bridges in 18k gold. Two patents were filed for the display.

Genus today

Genus remains an independent haute horlogerie brand in Geneva with very small production.

Genus prices on the pre-owned market

Genus watches are made in tiny numbers, so they almost never appear on the open market. When one does, the value depends on the model, the edition number, the condition of the complex mechanism and whether the full box and papers are present. Service history is important for such an unusual movement.

How to recognise a genuine Genus

With so few pieces made, provenance is the best check: the edition number on the watch should match the papers, and the purchase history should be traceable. For general checks, see our guide on how to spot a fake watch.

What is your Genus worth?

Send us photos for a free watch value estimate. For a rare independent piece like this, a written watch appraisal is often the better choice for insurance or an estate.

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