Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève

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Template:File The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix) is the name of an annual watchmaking prize as well as the organization that awards it.

Awarded in November of each year since 2001, the GPHG includes prizes in important categories, including men's/women's, sport watch, technical innovation, and complication. There is also a prize for the best watch maker and a special jury prize. Originally given by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), the GPHG became a registered public interest organization in 2011.

The organization consists of:

  • The Republic and Canton of Geneva
  • The City of Geneva
  • The Musée International de l’Horlogerie/International Museum of Horology (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds
  • The Geneva Laboratory of Horology and Microengineering (Timelab)
  • The Edipresse group

With the exception of a special audience prize, only a selected jury of watch professionals are allowed to vote, and price is one consideration. GPHG has become one of the most important prizes in the world of watches, awarded annually at a banquet in November. One can compare it with the Academy Awards ("Oscars") of the U.S. film industry. An Asian Edition is also held.

The way to the winner of the Aiguille d'Or (Golden Pointer) automatically gets a seat in the jury in the following year.

Frequent Winners

As of 2018, the following companies have won five or more prizes.

Rank Winner Wins
1 Audemars Piguet 11
2 Piaget 9
2 TAG Heuer 9
2 Vacheron Constantin 9
5 Chopard 7
5 F.P. Journe 7
5 Van Cleef & Arpels 7
5 Zenith 7
9 A. Lange & Söhne 6
9 Breguet 6
9 Greubel Forsey 6
9 Patek Philippe 6
13 Cartier 5
13 Chanel 5
13 Girard-Perregaux 5
13 Hublot 5
13 Jaeger-LeCoultre 5
13 Voutilainen 5

Selection of Winners

Aiguille d'Or Grand Prix

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The grand prize from the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève for "the best overall watch among all categories"

Artistic Crafts Watch Prize

"Watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of one or several artistic techniques, such as: enamelling, lacquering, engraving, guilloché (engine-turning), openworking (skeleton-working), etc."

Audacity Prize

Best Watchmaker Prize

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Complicated Watch Prize

Template:File Template:File Watches with at least one major complication (full calendar, perpetual calendar, striking mechanism, tourbillon, split-seconds chronograph). This prize category was split into various specialties in 2013 and 2014.

Calendar Watch Prize

File:Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Equation of Time RGs.jpg
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Equation of Time, Ref. 26003OR.OO.D002CR.01

Chronograph Watch Prize

Ladies' High-Mech Watch Prize

Women's watches with "mechanical creativity and complexity", renamed Ladies Complication in 2018

Mechanical Exception Watch Prize

Watches with "a special mechanism, such as an innovative or sophisticated display, an automaton, a striking or any other acoustic function, a belt-driven movement or any other original and/or exceptional horological concept".

Men's Complication Watch Prize

This prize was given in 2013 and returned in 2018.

Striking Watch Prize

Watches with a striking indication (repeater, striking, musical, etc)

Tourbillon Watch Prize

Watches featuring a tourbillon, renamed Chronometry in 2018 to include other special timekeeping features

Travel Time Watch Prize

Watches displaying several time zones (world time, dual-time, etc)

Design Watch Prize

Electronic Watch Prize

"Extra-Plate" Watch Prize

"Extra-plate" is French for "ultra-thin"

Geneva Hallmark

Horological Revelation Prize

This prize rewards a watch created by a young brand or talent and was optionally awarded between 2013 and 2015.

Innovation Watch Prize

This prize rewards the watch featuring "the most innovative research on a conceptual level".

Jewellery Watch Prize

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File:Audemars Piguet Millenary Date Pianoforte.jpg
Audemars Piguet Millenary "Pianoforte", Ref. 15325BC.OO.D102CR.01

"Watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewellery making and gemsetting"

Ladies' Watch Prize

Women’s watches with no or basic complications and simple gemsetting

Men's Watch Prize

Men's watches with basic complications and simple gemsetting. Complicated watches were split out in 2013 and 2014.

Middle East Public Prize

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"Pendulette" Prize

"Pendulette" is French for "pendulum"

"Petite Aiguille" Prize

"Petite aiguille" is French for "small (hour) hand", and this award is for watches with a retail price under CHF 7,500 (2012-2013) or 8,000 (2014-2017). For 2018, this prize is for a watch priced between CHF 4,000 and 10,000, with watches priced under this in the new Challenge category.


Challenge Watch Prize

For 2018, a new lower-priced category was introduced below the "Petite Aiguille", with a maximum price of CHF 4,000.

Public Prize

Revival Watch Prize

Watches that are "a contemporary reinterpretation or reissue of an iconic old model"

Special Jury Prize

File:A Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Pour le Merite.jpg
A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph "Pour le Mérite"

Since 2008, this prize is for "a personality, institution or initiative that has played a fundamental role in promoting high-quality watchmaking" rather than a watch or brand.

Sports Watch Prize

Template:File Watches "designed for the measurement or practice of sport" including water and shock resistance