The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie De Genève (Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix) is an organisation that awards the top watchmaking prize. The GPHG has been awarding prizes since 2001 that includes different categories such as men’s/women’s, sport watch, technical innovation, and complication. The best watch maker is also prized and a special jury prize.
Recently the GPHG has released the candidates for the current 2018 Grand Prix. Watches are submitted from their respective brands which has led to criticism of the GPHG which rules out major players such as Rolex, Omega, and Patek Phillipe. Although Rolex is not able to partake, they will be participating as Tudor which has submitted the Black Bay 58 and the Black Bay GMT.
A notable addition to the competition is the establishment of a Challenge Watch Prize, which is limited to watches only under CHF 4,000. A controversial inclusion to this new establishment is the addition for smartwatches to compete with the other mechanical watches. A substantial smartwatch submitted is the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 41 Full Ceramic, which is priced at CHF 2,950.
There are also general awards which can be given to any watch in all the prize categories in addition to the main award categories. The best-of-show Aiguille d’Or, the hotly debated Revival Prize, the Innovation Prize, and the Special Jury Prize are the included general awards. A new addition is the Audacity Prize, that “rewards the best watch, presented in one of the 12 categories, which features a non-conformist, offbeat approach to watchmaking.”
This years GPHG has expanded since last year; with this year including a total of 105 brands and 195 total watches submitted. Winners will be picked in early November when the Jury meets in Geneva. To check out all 195 candidate watches go to GPHG.org.
