Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/03/25/send-us-your-recommendations-and-suggestions-of-watches-to-nominate-for-the-2023-grand-prix-dhorlogerie-de-geneve-gphg/
While it’s all hands on deck for the Quill & Pad team preparing for Watches & Wonders next week, a recent email from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) was a reminder that the red carpet event in November is already fast approaching.
Tim and Bart Grönefeld lifting Maximilian Büsser in celebration at the 2022 GPHG
As GPHG Academy members, GaryG, Joshua Munchow, and myself have been asked to nominate watches for later consideration by the Academy and the jury in selecting the six finalists in each category.
While we spend much of our lives immersed in the world of watches, we don’t know of everything out there and there may well be, and are likely to be, gems that we are not aware of. So please send us your suggestions and recommendations for watches in the 15 categories below.
Please note that only timepieces commercialized after May 2022 and at the latest by end of October 2023 are eligible to take part.
The 2023 GPHG categories are:
Ladies’: women’s watches comprising the following indications only – hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases; and potentially adorned with a maximum 9-carat gem setting.
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, tourbillon, digital or retrograde time display, world time, dual time or other types of model) and do not fit the definition of the Ladies’ and Mechanical Exception categories.
Men’s: men’s watches comprising the following indications only – hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases – and potentially adorned with a maximum 9-carat gem setting.
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. world time, dual time or other types of model) and do not fit the definition of the Men’s and Mechanical Exception categories.
Iconic: watches from an emblematic collection that has been exercising a lasting influence on watchmaking history and the watch market for more than 20 years.
Tourbillon: men’s mechanical watches comprising at least one tourbillon. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
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.
Mechanical Exception: watches featuring a special mechanism, such as an innovative or sophisticated display, an automaton, a striking or any other acoustic function, a special escapement, a belt-driven movement or featuring another original and/or exceptional horological concept.
Chronograph: mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
Sports: this has replaced the Diver’s Watch category and the rules haven’t been published as yet, but you can take a good guess. Pick which Tudor will win this year.
Jewelry: watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewelry and gem setting, and also distinguished by the choice of stones.
Artistic Crafts: watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of one or several artistic techniques such as enameling, lacquering, engraving, guilloché (engine-turning), skeleton-working, etc. I’m looking forward to seeing which watch by Kari Voutilainen will win here this year.
Petite Aiguille: watches with a retail price between CHF 3,500 and CHF 10,000. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.
Challenge: watches with a retail price equal to or under CHF 3,500. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.
Mechanical Clock: mechanical time-measuring instruments, such as longcase clocks or table clocks. Wristwatches are not allowed in this category.
Send us your suggestions in the comments below. We have until the 20th of April to make our submissions, so you can update your suggestions after Watches & Wonders next week.
For more information, please visit www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en
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Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/03/25/send-us-your-recommendations-and-suggestions-of-watches-to-nominate-for-the-2023-grand-prix-dhorlogerie-de-geneve-gphg/
