And the Oscar goes to…the Oscar? Well, kind of. It’s the “Oscars” of the luxury watch world that have taken place every year since 2000: the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Also known by their GPHG abbreviation, these are the prizes that were awarded by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry last night in Geneva. They honor a number of categories in watchmaking, with the famous Aiguille d’Or given to the absolute best timepiece at the event.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the categories, and the amazing watches that won them. You’ll find a full list of all the winners at the end of this article. What do you think – all well deserved, or would you have decided differently?
GPHG 2023: Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix
The prestigious Aiguille d’Or best-in-show award was taken home by the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4. This watch is a re-interpretation of the first ultra-complicated, automatic Audemars Piguet timepiece. A total of four RD versions#4 were presented this year. The ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.04 comes in an 18-karat white gold case with a beige golden dial, in turn hosting a flying tourbillon cage and escapement visible at six o’clock. With its black subdials and black minute track, is there really any wonder this gorgeous timepiece took home the evening’s top prize?
GPHG 2023: Best Ladies’ Watch
These watches were nominated in the “Ladies'” category:
- Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 38 Mintnight
- Beauregard Lili Bouton
- Hermès Arceau Petite Lune
- Piaget Hidden Treasures
- Van Cleef & Arpels Ludo Secret watch
- XRby La Montre d’Art Espressione Romantica
The Piaget Hidden Treasures was the winner in this category. This women’s piece stands out with its remarkable shape and design. The Hidden Treasures features a rose gold, 27-mm case, with the minute and hour hands on this quartz timepiece flowing along a stunning turquoise dial. It can be yours for around $180,000.
GPHG 2023: Most Iconic Watch
The following watches were nominated in the “Iconic” category:
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph
- Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41
- Chopard U.C. 1860
- IWC Schaffhausen Ingenieur Automatic 40
- TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph
- Ulysse Nardin Freak One
Ulysse Nardin have gone back to their roots, winning this category with their impressive Freak One watch. This timepiece and its lack of a dial, hands, and even a crown achieves a truly iconic design that sets it apart from the competition. With a 44-mm case width, and 12-mm thickness, this piece is made of a combination of rose gold and titanium, and is wound through a mechanism in the case back. It costs around $72,000.
GPHG 2023: Best Chronograph Watch
Candidates for the 2023 “Chronograph” award were:
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph
- De Bethune DB Eight
- Grand Seiko Tentagraph
- Petermann Bédat Chronographe rattrapante
- Singer Reimagined 1969 Chrono
- TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper
The winner in this category was Petermann Bédat with the Chronographe rattrapante. This split-seconds chronograph is housed in a 38.6-mm platinum case. The jury, and we, were wowed by this watch’s skeletonized case, and its minute hand that beats at 18,000 vph. It can be had for around $270,000.
The Evening’s Winners
- Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix: Audemars Piguet, Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
- Innovation Prize: Hautlence, Sphere Series 1
- Audacity Prize: Maison Alcée, Persée Azur
- Chronometry Prize: Ferdinand Berthoud, Chronomètre FB 3SPC
- Horological Revelation Prize: Simon Brette, Chronomètre Artisans
- Ladies’ Watch Prize: Piaget, Hidden Treasures
- Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize: Dior Montres, Grand Soir Automate Étoile de Monsieur Dior
- Men’s Complication Watch Prize: Voutilainen, World Timer
- Iconic Watch Prize: Ulysse Nardin, Freak One
- Tourbillon Watch Prize: Laurent Ferrier, Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
- Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize: Bovet 1822, Récital 20 Astérium
- Chronograph Watch Prize: Petermann Bédat, Chronographe rattrapante
- Sports Watch Prize: Tudor, Pelagos 39
- Jewelry Watch Prize: Bvlgari, Serpenti Cleopatra
- Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Piaget, Altiplano Métiers d’Art – Undulata
- Petite Aiguille Prize: Christopher Ward London, C1 Bel Canto
- Challenge Watch Prize: Raymond Weil, Millésime automatic small seconds
- Mechanical Clock Prize: L’Epée 1839, Time Fast II Chrome
- Special Jury Prize: Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese
