Dear friends of IWS, direct from Geneva, we are here to announce the winners of the much coveted Grand Prix d’Orologerie de Genève (GPHG) awards for this 22nd edition.
Equivalent to the night of the Oscars for movies, the GPHG evening sees the most remarkable contemporary watchmaking creations produced throughout the year and beyond compete.
The purpose of this event is to award prizes to the different timepieces in each category competing in addition to awarding the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” prize, or “Best in Show.”
Without further ado, let’s go right away to see who won in each category.
Aiguille d’Or
Winner: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 by Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
The most coveted prize of all this year was taken home by Audemars Piguet with its Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4.
It is one of the most complicated watches ever, produced by the House of Le Brassus during this 2023. Made in different variations, this mechanically incredible watch has certainly earned one of the most important awards in the entire watchmaking industry for what it holds within it on a technical level.
Challenge
Winner: Raymond Weil Millésime Automatic Small Seconds
Among the winners of this year’s GPHG, in the Challenge category we instead saw RAYMOND WEIL triumph with his Millésime Automatic Small Seconds. This is a creation of the renowned Swiss manufacture who wanted to pay homage to the tradition of watchmaking within a simple timepiece with a refined design.
Petit Auguille
Winner: Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto
A timepiece created with the intention of bringing haute horology to as many people as possible was announced as the winner in this category. It is Christopher Ward’s C1 Bel Canto with a completely unique sound complication, namely the “Sonnerie au Passage.”
Sport Watch
Winner: Tudor Pelagos 39
In contrast, the sports watch category was won by Tudor with its Pelagos 39 in titanium. From its presentation to the present, this Diver from the Geneva-based house has undoubtedly been one of the most popular modern models ever.
Men’s
Winner: Simon Brette The Chronomètre Artisans
The “best men’s watch” award, on the other hand, was taken home by the very capable Simon Brette with his The Chronomètre Artisans, that is, what I believe to be the most interesting and fascinating watch presented by an independent maison during this 2023.
Inspired by the horological creations of the 1900s, this watch holds within it all the neoclassical tradition of the world of hands in perfect union with stunning decoration and finishing.
Iconic
Winner: Ulysse Nardin Freak One
Il premio di orologio iconico dell’anno è stato conquistato da Ulysse Nardin con il suo Freak One, un orologio che sembra essere stato creato letteralmente su un altro pianeta.
Lady’s
Winner: Piaget Hidden Treasures
In this category dedicated to women’s wrists, we instead saw the Piaget Hidden Treasures triumph. With this hand-engraved watch-bracelet, the maison wanted to reinterpret its wristwatches from the 1960s-70s that have always been recognized for their boldness and creativity in the way of timepieces.
Lady’s complications
Winner: Dior Montres Grand Soir Automate Etoile de Monsieur Dior
The women’s complicated category was conquered by Dior with its Grand Soir Automate Etoile de Monsieur Dior. With this timepiece limited to 28 pieces, the maison for the first time entered the world of creative complication using an automatic caliber.
Artistic Crafts
Winner: Piaget Altiplano Métiers d’Art – Undulata
After her triumph in the “woman” category, Piaget took home the second prize of the evening by also triumphing in the “Artistic Crafts” category with the Altiplano Métiers d’Art – Undulata.
An expression of one of the most interesting watchmaking complications ever, namely the tourbillon, this watch features a fantastic dial that took French artist Rose Saneuil over 44 hours to create.
Jewelry
Winner: Bulgari Serpenti Cleopatra
In contrast, the category dedicated to “jewel watches” was won by Bulgari with its Serpenti Cleopatra. A celebration of one of the brand’s undisputed icons, namely the snake, this watch is able to express in a single object the utmost sophistication of high jewelry combined with the world of hands.
Man’s Complications
Winner: Voutilainen World Timer
The men’s complicated category, on the other hand, was won by what I believe to be one of the greatest watchmakers of our time-Kari Voutilainen.
Indeed, the Finnish watchmaker triumphed with his World Timer, that is, a watch that encompasses one of the most fascinating complications ever, the hours of the world, combined with a hand-finished guilloche dial.
Chronograph
Winner: Petermann Bédat Chronographe rattrapante
Instead, the prize in this category was won by Petermann Bédat’s Chronographe rattrapante, a single-pusher split-seconds chronograph with a jumping minute counter.
Tourbillon
Winner: Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
Laurent Ferrier, on the other hand, was the winner of the “Tourbillon” category with his Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit. Inspired by the world of motor racing, this titanium watch with a salmon-colored dial encapsulates the passion that both founders of the maison share for the world of motorsport.
Calendar and Astronomy
Winner: Bovet 1822 Récital 20 Astérium
The category that saw the pluricomplicates compete was won by Bovet 1822 with its Récital 20 Astérium.
This is a timepiece from the house’s collection of astronomical complications within which, among other functions, is enclosed the Récital 18 Shooting Star (the earth with 24 time zones as seen from the sky) and the Récital 22 Grand Récital (Tellurium).
Mechanical Clock
Winner: L’Epée 1839 Time Fast II Chrome
Instead, the prize in this category was won by L’Epée with the Time Fast II Chrome. A table clock with which the house wanted to pay homage to the design of racing cars from the 1960s, i.e., the period when the highest level of design was expressed for the industry.
Chronometrie
Winner: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 3SPC
The “Chronometry” award was won by Ferdinand Berthoud with the Chronomètre FB 3SPC. It is the only chronometer in the world equipped with a cylindrical balance spring to have been certified by the COSC.
Innovation
Winner: Hautlence Sphere Series 1
Hautlence, on the other hand, won the prize in the “innovation” category with its Sphere Series 1. This is a uniquely designed watch that can tell the time in a completely innovative and unique way through a three-dimensional rotating sphere.
Audacity
Winner: Maison Alcée Persée Azur
Finally, the prize in the “audacity” category was won by Maison Alcée with the Persée Azur. This is a table clock composed of 233 components characterized by a meticulously finished surface in a quite unique way.
Final thoughts
Well this year has come to an end and certainly there were many no-brainer as well as some shocking outcome. What do you think about the winners of GPHG 2023?
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