Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – 2018
by Abdon FLORES
The Oscars of the horology have been unveiled and given. The judges have chosen among 72 watches to pick the best ones of the fifteen competing categories plus two special prizes. The 18th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) took place on the stage of the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva.
The prestigious distinctions rewarded the work of the following brands: Akrivia, Bovet 1822, Chanel, De Bethune, Greubel Forsey, Habring2, Hermès, Konstantin Chaykin, Krayon, Laurent Ferrier, Nomos Glashütte, Seiko, Singer Reimagined, Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels. The Special Jury Prize, which honours an influential actor on the watchmaking scene, was awarded to Jean-Claude Biver.
Presented by actor Edouard Baer and enlivened with songs performed by Véronic DiCaire, this 18th prize-winning ceremony took place before an audience of 1,300 guests –including Swiss Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann –who had congregated in Geneva to celebrate the vitality of the watchmaking art.
The winning watches
Aiguille d’Or “Grand Prix: Bovet 1822, Récital 22 Grand Récital
Revival Prize: Vacheron Constantin, Historiques Triple calendrier 1942
Innovation Prize: Krayon, Everywhere Horizon
Ladies’ Watch Prize: Chanel, Boy-friend Skeleton
Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize: Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Planétarium
Men’s Watch Prize: Akrivia, Chronomètre Contemporain
Men’s Complication Prize: Laurent Ferrier, Galet Annual Calendar School Piece
Chronograph Watch Prize: Singer Reimagined, Singer Track1 Hong Kong Edition
Chronometry Watch Prize: De Bethune, DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon
Mechanical Exception Watch Prize: Greubel Forsey, Grande Sonnerie
Sports Watch Prize: Seiko, Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Re-creation
Jewellery Watch Prize: Van Cleef & Arpels, Secret de Coccinelle
Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Hermès, Arceau Robe du soir
“Petite Aiguille” Prize: Habring 2, Doppel-Felix
Challenge Watch Prize: Nomos Glashütte, Tangente neomatik 41 Update
Audacity Prize: Konstantin Chaykin, Clown
Special Jury Prize: Jean-Claude Biver, President non-executive of the LVMH Group Watch division, Chairman of Hublot & Zenit.
