Grand prix d'horlogerie de Genève

On 31 October, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) played host to more than 1,500 guests for this fourteenth edition featuring all watchmaking groups.

To fly the flag for the Swiss watch industry around the world in honour of a watchmaking art that is respectful of tradition and focused on values of creative excellence and innovation, such is the mission of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). This year, sixteen prizes were awarded by the international jury tasked with judging the 72 shortlisted timepieces. In point of fact, brands submit detailed applications and it is on this basis that the 25 jury members carry out their deliberations. Their number includes one person representing the brand that won the Aiguille d’Or the previous year.

As tradition dictates, the Old Grenadiers of Geneva welcomed the many guests, including among others Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann and State Councillor Pierre Maudet. Frédéric Beigbeder, accompanied by the former Miss Switzerland Mélanie Winiger, hosted the ceremony before a 1,500 strong audience.

Before the winning timepieces were announced, the special jury prize was awarded to Walter Lange, of A. Lange & Söhne, for his tireless work to rekindle the family business following its expropriation during the last world war. His tenacity has returned the Saxon brand to the front of the watchmaking stage and boosted employment among the population of Glashütte. Another person honoured during the evening was Quentin Guillerminet, an apprentice at Geneva School of Watchmaking, who received the Best Young Student Award in the form of a study bursary.

But back to the 2014 roll of honour: the supreme distinction, the Aiguille d’Or, this year went to Breguet for its Classique Chronométrie model. Classified in the Men’s category, this watch features the 574DR calibre operating at a frequency of 10 Hz. The major innovation of this timepiece is without doubt its magnetic pivot system. With this invention Breguet has not only mastered the negative effects of magnetism in a mechanical watch, but also improved the pivot action, rotation and stability of the balance-staff. The result of this technical prowess, protected by six patents, is a daily rate of -1/+3 seconds per day, a level of performance exceeding COSC standards (-4/+6 seconds).

Watches for women were feted with three awards: the Women’s Watch was won by Blancpain for its Women Heure Décentrée model. A veritable ode to femininity, this timepiece is enhanced by 152 diamonds. The white mother-of-pearl dial adorned with faceted diamonds has an off-centre hour and minutes counter at 12 o’clock featuring four Arabic numeral indices and hollowed droplet hands, while the Blancpain signature at 6 o’clock delicately accentuates the indication of retrograde seconds. A wave set with an array of diamonds appears on either side of the dial, creating an impression of optimal balance. This timepiece is powered by the 2663SR proprietary automatic calibre. The second prize awarded to feminine models, in the category Complex Mechanical for Women, was won by Christophe Claret for its Margot, which sheds its petals. «He loves me a little, a lot, passionately, madly, not at all». This romantic allegory beloved by sweethearts has been reproduced by the brand at the heart of a mechanical watch. The Jewellery Prize meanwhile went to Bulgari for its Diva Haute Joaillerie Emeraudes. Diamonds and emeralds, baguette-size or brilliant, form the centrepiece of this timepiece, whose dial features a «snow» setting. Both the case and the bracelet are in white gold.

The list of prize-winners continues by category:

  • Men’s Watch: Urban Jürgensen & Sonner for its Seconde Centrale,
  • Chronograph Watch: De Bethune with the DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon,
  • Tourbillon Watch: Grönefeld for its Parallax Tourbillon,
  • Calendar Watch: A. Lange & Söhne for the Richard Lange Quantième Perpétuel «Terraluna»,
  • Watch with striking mechanism: Hublot with its Classic Fusion Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater,
  • Mechanical Exception and Innovation Award: a double for Urwerk with its EMC timepiece,
  • Sports Watch: Zenith for its El Primero Lightweight,
  • Craft Watch: Voutilainen with the Hisui,
  • «Revival» Award : Omega for its Speedmaster «Dark Side of the Moon».


A special category was devoted to watches with a retail price of less than 8,000 francs. The Petite Aiguille was won this year by Seiko for its Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 GMT model. Another special award, the Public Prize, was judged online and at international exhibitions of selected watches. Here, Breguet was again singled out, this time for its Classique Dame.

Thanks to simultaneous interpretation into English, the evening was broadcast live around the world via Euronews.com, Worldtempus.com, Hodinkee.com and on the official website of the GPHG. The local TV channel Léman bleu also covered the event.

November 20, 2014