PRESS RELEASE: 6 October, 2022
The 84 pre-selected watches and 6 clocks of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Genève 2022 are competing for the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix or for one of the prizes in the 15 categories that reward contemporary watchmaking excellence. The prestigious celebration of horology is announcing winners on 10 November.
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is back again this year – the prize-giving ceremony will be held 10 November in Geneva at the Théâtre du Léman.
Since 2020 the Academy of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has been established and already has many registered members worldwide – including company CEOs, watchmakers, experts, retailers, avid collectors and media members; both online and offline.
This year I was honoured to be part of the Academy – we had the task to propose eligible watch models to the GPHG 2022, then vote for the pre-selected ones on a certified digital platform. It is nice to see that some of my preferred choices are among the nominated timepieces, which were announced in September.
UPDATE – 10 November, 2022
“Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix: MB&F, Legacy Machine Sequential Evo
Ladies’ Watch Prize: Parmigiani Fleurier, Tonda PF Automatic
Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize: Hermès, Arceau Le temps voyageur
Men’s Watch Prize: Akrivia, Chronomètre Contemporain II
Men’s Complication Watch Prize: Hermès, Arceau Le temps voyageur
Iconic Watch Prize: TAG Heuer, Monaco X Gulf
Tourbillon Watch Prize: H. Moser & Cie, Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton
Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize: Krayon, Anywhere
Mechanical Exception Watch Prize: Ferdinand Berthoud, FB 2RSM.2-1
Chronograph Watch Prize: Grönefeld, 1941 Grönograaf Tantalum
Diver’s Watch Prize: Tudor, Pelagos FXD
Jewellery Watch Prize: Bulgari, Serpenti Misteriosi High Jewellery
Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Voutilainen, Ji-Ku
“Petite Aiguille” Prize: Trilobe, Nuit Fantastique Dune Edition
Challenge Watch Prize: M.A.D. Editions, M.A.D.1 Red
Mechanical Clock Prize: Van Cleef & Arpels, Fontaine Aux Oiseaux automaton
Innovation Prize: Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier watch
Audacity Prize: Bulgari, Octo Finissimo Ultra 10th Anniversary
Chronometry Prize: Grand Seiko, Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon
“Horological Revelation” Prize: Sylvain Pinaud, Origine
Special Jury Prize: François Junod, automaton-maker and sculptor
The Jury
Today GPHG just announced the composition of the Jury for the 22nd edition. Historian, author and journalist, Nick Foulkes will chair the next Jury again – he took over the role in 2021 from auctioneer and vintage watch expert Aurel Bacs. The Jury unites the expertise of 30 personalities from the world of watchmaking and the arts. You can find the whole Jury here.
The Jury will meet behind closed doors in Geneva a few days before the ceremony to physically evaluate the nominated timepieces and proceed to a secret ballot under notarial supervision. The entire Academy will also take part in selecting the award winners via a vote on the dedicated digital platform.
GPHG 2022 events
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Genève is not only a competition and the celebration of fine watchmaking every year but also a great occasion to meet with people in the industry and learn more about watches.
This year before the Gala you can not only discover the timepieces at the Rath Museum in Geneva in partnership with the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire but also register for “Introduction to watchmaking” workshops and guided tours. (Please see the other GPHG exhibitions in the US, India and Morocco here.)
Categories
The categories of 2022 include: Ladies’, Ladies’ Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Iconic, Tourbillon, Calendar and Astronomy, Mechanical Exception, Chronograph, Diver’s, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, “Petite Aiguille” (watches with a retail price between CHF 3,500 and CHF 10,000), Challenge (watches with a retail price under CHF 3,500) and for the first time, Mechanical Clocks. This new category opens the competition to time-measuring instruments such as longcase clocks and table clocks.
The “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix appreciates the top watchmaking excellence – the winning brand is automatically ineligible for the competition the following year, and its founder or CEO is invited to sit on the jury for one year – this year Jean-Christophe Babin CEO of Bulgari, the brand that won the 2021 “Aiguille d’Or” joined.
You can find a few from the pre-selected timepieces in different categories below (see the full list on the site of GPHG).
