Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève opens to showcase the world's greatest watchmaking
It's time... for the biggest annual event in watchmaking to take place. The 2021 edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève opens Friday evening (October 22) and will show the true face of horology as it stands post-COVID.
The quest for excellence is a guiding force across many crafts and disciplines, and the luxury watch industry is no different. The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) aims to highlight and reward the most remarkable creations of the past 12 months.
The 2021 list of award winners will be announced at the 21st GPHG award ceremony on Thursday, November 4, 2021.
You will be able to watch the ceremony LIVE in the media player above
“First of all, it's probably the best-known watch prize in the world, number one. Second, it's recognition by the peers. Because you have experts choosing the watches, you have experts voting for the watches,” Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling told Euronews, ahead of the opening.
For the second year in a row, the Grenchen-based watchmaker has four pieces in the 84 nominated by the GPHG Academy.
“Of course, at the end of the day, it's the consumer who decides what watch is successful or not,” said Kern. “But at least you know it's something good if you win.”
And the most prestigious prize here is the "Grand Prix de l'Aiguille d'Or", won last year by Piaget for their Altiplano Ultimate Concept model.
Only watches released into the market between May 2020 and the end of October 2021 have been eligible to take part in the Grand Prix.
Among the nominees are such radial luminaries as Vacheron Constantin, Louis Vuitton Montres, Zenith Watches, Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Hermès, Chanel, Breitling and Audemars Piguet.
Related : Turn back time: How the Swiss watch industry is embracing second-hand sales
There are 14 categories in this year's selection including two 'complication' categories, one for men and one for ladies. Watches in these categories are remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These watches may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications (e.g. annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon phases, tourbillon, digital or retrograde time display, world time, dual time or other types of model) and do not fit the definition of the ordinary gender categories, which are as follows:
Ladies’: women’s watches comprising the following indications only - hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases - and potentially adorned with a maximum 9-carat gemsetting.
Men’s: men’s watches comprising the following indications only - hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases - and potentially adorned with a maximum 5-carat gemsetting.
Other categories to look out for are:
- Iconic: watches from an emblematic collection that has been exercising a lasting influence on watchmaking history and the watch market for more than 20 years.
- Calendar and Astronomy: men’s mechanical watches comprising at least one calendar and/or astronomical complication (e.g. date, annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon phases display, etc.). Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Mechanical Exception: watches featuring a special mechanism, such as an innovative or sophisticated display, an automaton, a striking or any other acoustic function, a special escapement, a belt-driven movement or any other original and/or exceptional horological concept.
- Jewellery: watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewellery and gemsetting, and also distinguished by the choice of stones.
- Artistic Crafts: watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of one or several artistic techniques such as enamelling, lacquering, engraving, guilloché (engine-turning), skeleton-working, etc.
- Petite Aiguille: watches with a retail price between CHF 3,500 and CHF 10,000. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.
- Tourbillon: men’s mechanical watches comprising at least one tourbillon. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Chronograph: mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Diver’s: watches linked to the world of diving, whose functions, materials and design are suited to this activity.
- Challenge: watches with a retail price equal to or under CHF 3,500. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.
Be sure to tune in to watch the awards LIVE on November 4th.