What is the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG)?
Firstly, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is hailed as the “Oscars of the watchmaking world,” initially founded in 2001 by the Edipresse Group, the Swiss Canton of Geneva, and the City of Geneva. Around 2011, an independent foundation was formed by well-known and professional practitioners within the watch industry, including watchmakers, watch media personnel, as well as historians and art critics. After the foundation was established, all event activities were operated by the foundation to maintain its independence and fairness.
The GPHG was established to reward outstanding watch creations each year, attract public attention, and promote the tradition and cultural heritage of the watchmaking industry. Today, this award is regarded as the “Oscars” of the watchmaking world, being the most credible and prestigious award in the field.
Every year in the second half, the GPHG announces the year’s awards and the nominated works for each category, and conducts exhibitions in various cities worldwide, allowing people from different regions to appreciate the selected watches chosen by the jury. The final results are revealed in early November, accompanied by a grand award ceremony where winners are invited to attend. The award-winning and nominated pieces are collected in museums, serving as important milestones for future generations to witness and understand the development of watchmaking technology.
Since 2020, the GPHG Foundation has expanded its organization, bringing more professionals into the selection committee, and established an academy to attract aspiring individuals to join the watchmaking profession, thereby embracing diverse opinions and perspectives to enhance the excitement and richness of the awards.
2024 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix GPHG
Recently, the GPHG Foundation announced the nominees for the 24th edition of the 2024 awards. This year’s list features the most notable works of the year, with Chopard and Parmigiani each being nominated in six categories, making them the biggest winners of this edition. Notably, the Malaysian brand Ming was nominated for the Best Sports Watch with its 37.09 Bluefin dive watch, showcasing the innovative strength of Asian brands and successfully making it to the list, highlighting the rise of Asian brands on the international stage.
This year’s awards cover 15 categories, with a total of 273 timepieces nominated, ultimately selecting 90 finalists. The final list of winners will be announced on November 13, 2024, in Geneva. To promote watchmaking culture, the organizers will hold a series of traveling exhibitions before the final announcement, starting in Hong Kong (September 28-30) at Christie’s headquarters, then moving to Ho Chi Minh City (October 9-11) at the Saigon Opera House; continuing to New York (October 18-21), and finally returning to Geneva (October 30-November 17). These exhibitions not only showcase selected masterpieces but also include lectures and seminars aimed at attracting more attention.
Among the many awards, the most anticipated “Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix” is awarded annually to the piece most unanimously recognized by the jury. In 2023, this honor was given to Audemars Piguet’s Ultra-Complication Universelle watch, the most complex piece in its Code 11.59 series.
This year, Parmigiani and Chopard have particularly stood out, competing fiercely in the Best Ladies’ Watch and Best Entry Watch categories. Additionally, Parmigiani is also nominated for Best Men’s Watch, Chronograph, and other awards, while Chopard is nominated in categories such as Best Men’s Complication Watch and Tourbillon Watch.
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