The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), a foundation set up by the city of Geneva in association with some of the world’s best-known watch brands, will hold its annual awards ceremony, known as the Oscar ceremony for watches, at a gala event at Geneva’s Museum of Art and History this month. The most prestigious international horology awards show will hand out nearly 20 prizes. The six nominees in each of the 14 categories were selected by votes cast by the 350 members of the GPHG Academy, from hundreds of entries. A smaller group of 30 members will select the final winners. Here are some of the nominees in the key categories.
BVLGARI OCTO FINISSIMO S BLUE DIAL
The distinctive octagonal watch in 40mm steel case with a blue lacquered dial featuring sunburst finishing. Self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 60 hours.
DE BETHUNE DB28XP STARRY SKY
The ‘microlight’ decoration on the titanium dial, which gives the impression of a starry sky, is uniquely a De Bethune innovation. Comes in a 43mm titanium case. The manual-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 144 hours.
VOUTILAINEN 28SC
The elegant two-tone dial of this watch is made from silver and engine-turned by hand. Comes in a 38.5mm titanium case. The manual-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 65 hours.
HERMÈS SLIM D’HERMÈS GMT
GMT watch with two day/night indicators for home time and travel time on a blue dial, comes in a 39.5mm pink gold case that is just 9.48mm in thickness. The time, in a given destination, is adjusted with a dedicated push button. The self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 42 hours.
GIRARD-PERREGAUX QUASAR LIGHT
The glittering tourbillon of this skeletonised watch appears to float inside an invisible case made from a single 46mm sapphire disk. The self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 60 hours. Limited to 18 pieces.
BOVET 1822 RÉCITAL 27
This triple time zone watch, with an additional moon phase indicator on a blue guilloche dial, comes in a 46.3mm titanium case. Manual-winding mechanical movement with a seven-day power reserve. Limited to 60 pieces.
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN PORTUGIESER CHRONOGRAPH
The quarter-second scale on the inner réhaut (inner bezel) of this chronograph not only allows precise reading of the stop time, but also reminds us of the Portugieser’s origins as a nautical precision instrument. Comes with a green dial in a 41mm steel case. Self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 46 hours.
BREITLING CHRONOMAT B01 42
The distinctive dial with three counters in a 42mm steel case is made from galvanic copper that has been sunbrushed, and features galvanic black counters. Self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 70 hours.
PIAGET ALTIPLANO ORIGIN AUTOMATIC
The minimalistic, classical-looking watch comes with a white opaline dial in a 40mm white gold case. The self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 44 hours.
SARPANEVA WATCHES LUNATIONS HARVEST MOON
The skeletonised watch houses an ultra-precise calibre that mimics the monthly moon phases to the decimal of a second — 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.3 seconds, and needs no adjustment for 14,000 years. Comes in a 42mm steel case with a manual-winding mechanical movement, with power reserve of 60 hours.
CHOPARD L.U.C PERPETUAL TWIN
The perpetual calendar watch comes in a 43mm, 18K rose gold watch with a ruthenium grey dial, with four sub-dials and a date indicator. The self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of approximately 65 hours.
VACHERON CONSTANTIN OVERSEAS PERPETUAL CALENDAR ULTRA-THIN SKELETON
Open-worked perpetual calendar watch with moon phase, comes in a 50mm pink gold case. The self-winding ultra-thin skeletonised mechanical movement, which is only 4.05mm thick, has a power reserve of 40 hours.
ULYSSE NARDIN DIVER X CAPE HORN
The distinctive dial with three counters in a 42mm steel case, is made from galvanic copper that has been sun-brushed, and features galvanic black counters. Self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 70 hours.
GRAND SEIKO 9RA5 PROFESSIONAL DIVER’S 600M
This watch is helium and water resistant to 600 metres, and comes in a 46.9mm high-intensity titanium case that is 40 per cent lighter than steel. The spring drive movement has a power reserve of 120 hours.
DOXA SUB 300 CARBON AQUA LUNG US DIVERS
This watch is water resistant up to 300 metres, and comes in a pressure-resistant 42.5mm titanium case with a screw-down crown. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is treated with an antireflective coating. The automatic movement ensures a power reserve of 38 hours.
