GPHG celebrates best innovations and creations in the watchmaking industry

The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie (GPHG) is to the watch world what the Academy Awards is to the movie industry. In its 15th edition this year, the GPHG celebrates the industry’s best innovations and creations.

This year, more than 200 watches were submitted for a spot in the final selection, with 72 finalists in 16 categories.

The awards were decided by a jury of 26 major industry leaders and figures, including Aurel Bacs, co-founder and partner with Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, watchmaker Philippe Dufour, Italian watch collector and author John Goldberger, Lebanese gemologist and jeweller Claude Sfeir and American rock star and collector Eric Singer. A public prize was voted for by the public.

“I was profoundly impressed by the diversity of this year’s finalists showing that the Swiss watch industry does not only know one but actually several trends,” says Bacs.

The watch of the year, the Aiguille d’Or Grand Prize, went to Greubel Forsey’s Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision. The brand makes just 900 pieces in global circulation .

The Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision is a time-only tourbillon that measures 43.5mm on the wrist.

The Ladies’ watch prize went to Hublot’s Big Bang Broderie, while the Ladies’ High-Mech watch prize went to the Lady Compliquée Peacock from Fabergé. The Voutilainen GMR by independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen and his team took home the Men’s watch prize. The watch, limited to only 12 pieces, combines a GMT function with a power reserve indicator.