Eye On The Prize

The Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix leads the 16 prestigious awards in the 18th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG), which will be given to the finest watches introduced this year. Jurors serving in the event’s 2018 edition—around 30 experts coming from diverse backgrounds but who all share a passion for horology—have already picked 72 watches, divided into a dozen categories, that will compete for the coveted honors.

The categories are Ladies, Ladies’ Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Chronograph, Chronometry, Mechanical Exception, Sports, Jewelry, Artistic Crafts, “Petite Aiguille,” and Challenge.

A record number of entries, ranging from brands belonging to the major watch groups to several independent maisons, are vying for both artistic and technical recognition that are sure to enhance their international reputation. All 72 of the chosen watches, representing 40 brands, will be scrutinized, if not debated upon, by the jurors when they meet behind closed doors in a couple of months’ time. Voting for the entries will be done via secret balloting.

The watches that have been selected to compete will be featured in a series of exhibitions, starting in Venice on September 28. The collection will then be flown to Hong Kong where it will be on display at the Liang Yi Museum on October 10 and 11. The next venue is The Hour Glass in Singapore, where the exhibit will run from October 17 to 21. Upon returning to Geneva, the watches will be housed in the Palatine rooms of the Musee d’Art et d’Histoire from November 1 to 14, where the exhibit will be accompanied by other shows dedicated to watch-making art and culture.

The winning watches will be announced on November 9 at the 18th GPHG prize-giving ceremony that is set to be held at the Theatre du Leman in Geneva. Genevan authorities and representatives of the global watch-making industry are expected to attend the program. To serve as the master of ceremonies is French actor and producer Edouard Baer, and the proceedings will be broadcast live on Euronews, the GPHG website and other digital spaces.

The 72 watches, already winners by virtue of having been chosen for the awards, are the following: