Dear IWS readers, reporting live from Geneva, we are here once again this year to announce the winners of the highly coveted Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève ( GPHG) awards, now in their 26th edition.
The “Oscars of the watchmaking world” once again brought together some of the most extraordinary creations unveiled over the course of the year, in a competition that saw 84 timepieces vying for the industry’s most prestigious awards, foremost among them the coveted Aiguille d’Or, the prize awarded to the best watch of the year.
Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Official Nomination Tour, Bangkok, 2026 | Credits: GPHG
The 2026 edition also brings several new features, starting with the jury, which this year is chaired for the first time by Wei Koh, founder of Revolution and The Rake, who takes over from Nicolas Foulkes. Joining him are 23 prominent figures from some of the most representative sectors of the international watchmaking world: journalists, collectors, master watchmakers, and industry leaders.
Notable names include Rémy Cools, François Junod, Michael Tay, Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, and Gregory Kissling, CEO of Breguet, who joined the jury following the Maison’s victory at the Aiguille d’Or in 2025. This panel brings together diverse perspectives and experiences, tasked with evaluating not only the technical excellence but also the creativity and savoir-faire of the entries in the competition.
Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Official Nomination Tour, Geneva, 2026 | Credits: GPHG
And the changes also extend to the awards themselves. For the first time, the GPHG is moving away from the traditional distinction between men’s and women’s categories, opting instead for a classification based on the watches’ features and complications. This is a significant change for an event that, year after year, continues to evolve alongside the industry it represents.
But let’s turn to the stars of the evening. Who took home the most coveted awards in watchmaking in 2026? Without further ado, let’s discover all the winners, category by category.
GPHG 2026
Time Only
Chopard – L.U.C 1860 Chronometer
Essential
DANIEL ROTH – Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton
Challenge
SpaceOne X Baltic – Second Major
“Petite Aiguille”
OTSUKA LOTEC – No. 08
Complication
CLEGUER – Inspiration One
Tourbillon
Ferdinand Berthoud – FB 2T Chronometer
Calendar and Astronomy
Audemars Piguet – 150 Heritage
Mechanical Exception
Blancpain – Grande Double Sonnerie
Gemset
Piaget – Swinging Pebble
Sports
Grand Seiko – Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver
Chronograph
PARMIGIANI FLEURIER – Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux
Jewelry
Chopard – Mystery Nut
Artistic Crafts
Louis Vuitton – Tambour Taiko Arty Automata
Mechanical Clock
LA VALLÉE – Cosmo
Revelation
Dominique Renaud – Pulse 60 Titanium Black
Audacity
Konstantin Chaykin – ThinKing Mystery
Chronometry
Ferdinand Berthoud – The Birth of a Watch 3
Icon
Audemars Piguet – Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5
“Aiguille d’Or”
REXHEP REXHEPI – Flyback Chronograph
Now it’s your turn, our jury!
Once again this year, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève has come to a close, offering us great excitement, a few surprises, and, we’re sure, more than a few talking points.
After all, that’s part of the beauty of our passion: exchanging views, having different tastes, and why not?finding ourselves rooting for a watch that may not have managed to take home the coveted award. Because beyond the awards, every edition of the GPHG reminds us just how extraordinarily rich and diverse the world of watchmaking is.
For our part, it has been a pleasure to share this evening with you once again and to tell you about the creations that have earned their place among this year’s standout pieces.
Now, though, we’re curious to hear from you! What was your favorite watch? Do you agree with the jury’s choices, or would you have chosen someone else?
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