GPHG 2019 Finalists Announced (Full List)

Every year, the watchmaking industry celebrates creativity and ingenuity with the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) or the so-called “Oscars of the Watchmaking Industry” – see the report for the 2018 edition here. The most advanced, the most innovative and the most creative timepieces will be awarded prizes at the GPHG 2019. Before the ceremony takes place (November 7, 2019), we’re bringing you, hot off the press, the complete list of finalists selected by the Jury. Only six watches remain in each of the 14 categories and here they are.

Note: if you want to share your predictions with us, feel free to use to comment box at the end of this news article.

Ladies

Women’s watches comprising the following indications only: hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases; may be adorned with a maximum 8-carat gem-setting.

• Bvlgari Serpenti Seduttori Pink Gold and Diamonds
• Chanel J12 Calibre 12.1
• Hermès Galop d’Hermès
• Hublot  Classic Fusion Orlinski Titanium Alternative Pavé
• Moritz Grossmann TEFNUT Arabian Nights Milanaise
• Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée watch

Ladies’ Complication

Women’s watches that are remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These watches may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications (e.g. annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon phases, digital or retrograde time display, worldtime, second time zone or other types of model) and do not fit the definition of the Ladies’ and Mechanical Exception categories.

• Bvlgari Divas Dream The Roman Night
• Chaumet Soleil de Minuit Flying Tourbillon
• Jacob&Co Fleurs de Jardin
• Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time Air Paved
• MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT
• Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Zodiac Lumineux Aries watch

Men’s

Men’s watches comprising the following indications only: hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases; may be adorned with a maximum 5-carat gem-setting.

• Alchemists Mechanical Healing Cu29
• De Bethune DB28 Yellow Tones
• Grand Seiko Spring Drive Manual-winding Platinum
• Grönefeld 1941 Principia Automatic
• Laurent Ferrier Bridge One
• Voutilainen 28ti

Men’s Complication

Men’s watches that are remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These watches may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications (e.g. worldtime, dual-time or other types of model) and do not fit the definition of the Men’s and Mechanical Exception categories.

• Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
• Czapek Genève Place Vendôme “Ombres”
• D.Candaux DC6-Solstice
• Ulysse Nardin Freak X
• Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon
• Zenith Defy El Primero Double Tourbillon

Iconic

Men’s or ladies’ watches from an emblematic collection that has been exercising a lasting influence on watchmaking history and the watch market for more than 25 years.

• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-thin
• Girard-Perregaux Quasar
• Hamilton Intra-Matic Automatic Chronograph
• IWC Schaffhausen IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years”
• TAG Heuer Monaco Eighties
• Zenith El Primero A384 Revival

Chronometry

Mechanical watches comprising at least one tourbillon and/or a special escapement and/or another development improving chronometry (precision timekeeping). Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

• Antoine Preziuso Genève TTR3 Blue Equalizer Frequencies
• Armin Strom Pure Resonance Rose Gold
• Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud Carburised steel regulator
• IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot’s Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “Le Petit Prince”
• TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph
• Zenith Defy Inventor

calendar and astronomy

Men’s mechanical watches comprising at least one calendar and/or astronomical complication (e.g. date, annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon phases display, etc.). Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

• Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar
• Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud Far Side of the Moon
• Girard-Perregaux Cosmos
• Hermès Arceau L’heure de la Lune
• Sarpaneva Lunations
• Ulysse Nardin Marine Mega Yacht

mechanical exception

Men’s and/or ladies’ watches featuring 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.

• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
• Bvlgari Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie Perpetual Calendar
• Genus GNS1.2
• Ulysse Nardin Freak NeXt
• Urwerk AMC
• Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar

chronograph

Mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

• Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic
• Chopard L.U.C Chrono One Flyback
• Hublot Classic Fusion Ferrari GT 3D Carbon
• Louis Moinet Chronosphère
• TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon Nanograph
• Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Carbon

diver’s

Watches linked to the world of diving, whose functions, materials and design are suited to this activity.

• De Bethune DB28GS Grand Bleu
• Longines HydroConquest
• Reservoir Hydrosphere Blackfin
• Ressence Type 5
• Seiko Prospex LX line diver’s
• Ulysse Nardin Diver Great White

JEWELLERY

Watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewellery and gemsetting, and also distinguished by the choice of stones.

• Bvlgari Serpenti Misteriosi Romani
• Chopard Waterlily
• Hermès Arceau H Déco
• Hublot Big Bang One Click Rainbow
• Jacob&Co The Mystery Tourbillon
• Van Cleef & Arpels Jardin de Glace Secret watch

ARTISTIC CRAFTS

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

• Andersen Genève Vita Vinum
• Bereve Timepieces Numbers – Enamel Grand Feu
• Chopard L.U.C XP Esprit de Fleurier Peony
• Hermès Arceau Baobab Cat
• Jacob&Co Astronomia Dragon
• Voutilainen Starry Night Vine

PETITE AIGUILLE

Watches with a retail price between CHF 4,000 and CHF 10,000. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.

• David Rutten Meteorite Watches Streamline
• IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire
• Kudoke Kudoke 2
• Maurice Lacroix Aikon Mercury
• Trilobe Les Matinaux Sunray Grey
• Zenith Pilot Type 20 Silver

CHALLENGE

Watches with a retail price under CHF 4,000. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.

• Ciga Design Single-Hand Mechanical Wristwatch Series·Globe
• Doxa SUB 200
• Gorilla Watches Fastback GT Drift
• Ming 17.06 Copper
• Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain Dial
• Tudor Black Bay P01

Along with these 14 clearly defined categories, the GPHG 2019 will also give an award to watches falling in these categories:

Innovation Prize

This prize rewards the best watch, presented in one of the fourteen categories, that offers an innovative vision of time measurement (in terms of technique, design, materials, etc.) and opens up new development pathways for the watchmaking art. This prize is discretionary and the jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2019.

Audacity Prize

This prize rewards the best watch, presented in one of the fourteen categories, which features a non-conformist, offbeat approach to watchmaking. It is intended to foster creative audacity. This prize is discretionary and the jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2019.

“Horological Revelation” Prize

This prize rewards a watch, created by a young brand (less than ten years of existence since its first model was commercialised) and entered in one of the fourteen categories. It may also reward the mechanical creation of a young talent, in the event that none of the competing watches should be considered worthy of receiving this prize. This prize is optional and the jury will decide whether it should be awarded in 2019.

Special Jury Prize

This prize rewards a personality, institution or initiative that has played a fundamental role in promoting high-quality watchmaking. It cannot be awarded to a watch, nor to a brand as such.

Aiguille d’Or

The best of show, the “Palme d’Or” of the watchmaking industry, a.k.a. the GPHG 2019 prize for the best watch in 2019.

Details about the GPHG 2019

• Date: The prize-giving ceremony will be held at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva on November 7, 2019.
• Exhibitions – where the competing watches will be displayed – details here
  • Sydney – September 28th and 29th 2019
  • Bangkok – October 4th and 5th 2019
  • Mexico City – October 16th and 17th 2019
  • Puebla – Museo del Barroco: October 19th and 20th 2019 and Torres Joyas: October 22nd and 23rd 2019
  • Geneva – November 2nd to 14th 2019
  • Dubai (during the Dubai Watch Week) – November 20th to 24th 2019
• Where to see the ceremony live? Here, on MONOCHROME, thanks to our live feed on November 7, 2019.
• More details – www.gphg.org