Grand Prix D’Horlogerie De Genève (GPHG) 2015 Winners

Watchmaking excellence and creativity were celebrated on 29 October 2015 in the Grand Théâtre in Geneva at the prize giving ceremony for the 15^th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).

The prestigious international jury of this 15^th edition of the GPHG, uniting the skills and competence of 26 authoritative watch experts and collectors, awarded 17 prizes and decided to grant the supreme distinction, the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix, to Greubel Forsey for the model Tourbillon 24 Seconds Vision.

Here are the following prizes which the jury of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève has awarded. The Hour Glass congratulates these winners.

Ladies’ Watch Prize
Hublot Big Bang Broderie

Irresistible fine embroidery – the most feminine of materials – worn directly against the skin it is synonymous with intimacy… Romantic and sexy, embroidery is the stuff of fantasies. As delicate as it is playful, it embodies a savoir-faire which masters the subtle art of discreet revelation. Hublot continues to revisit artisanal craftsmanship in its own distinctive way with the Big Bang Broderie paying homage to the memory of our grandmothers’ needlework with this fine St. Gallen embroidery – an ancestral art which is 100% Swiss Made – created by Bischoff, the leading Maison Suisse.

Tourbillon Watch Prize
Ulysse Nardin, Ulysse Anchor Tourbillon

The Ulysse Anchor escapement is made entirely of silicium, which benefits include a frictionless pallet fork ensuring time precision. Its lightness and dexterity allows geometrical improvements to be made to the pallet fork, escape wheel and flat springs, which in turn resulted in a constant-force escapement – a revolutionary advancement in watchmaking.

The original innovator, Ulysse Nardin was the first to develop an escapement made of silicium in 2001 – a testament to its pioneering spirit and strive for innovation. In a final touch of artistry, this astonishing construction is housed in a 60-seconds tourbillon cage, the peak of traditional expertise.

Striking Watch Prize
Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges

The Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges displays on its front side not only a Tourbillon with Gold Bridges, but also, the mechanical components that bring to life the minute repeater complication to produce a strong, clear sound.  To achieve such a result, the watchmakers were obliged to re-design not only the entire manual calibre, but also its method of construction and operation.  The chiming sound wave is achieved through the heels of the two gongs, the link between the main plate and the pink gold case-band.

Horological Revelation Prize
Laurent Ferrier Galet Square

Technically speaking, the original Galet has become a square leaning towards a cushion shape. Laurent Ferrier has devoted particular attention to the aesthetic harmony of the model.  The Galet Square measures 41 x 41 mm and it is the first time that Laurent Ferrier is introducing a steel case.

The movement is still the self-winding FBN 229.01 calibre with unidirectional pawl-fitted micro-rotor and a three-day power reserve. This is the third in-house movement developed, assembled and adjusted in the Laurent Ferrier workshops. It is equipped with silicon escapement featuring double direct impulse on the balance.

“Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix
Greubel Forsey, Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision

Ladies’ High-Mech Watch Prize
Fabergé, Lady Compliquée Peacock

Men’s Watch Prize
Voutilainen, Voutilainen GMR

Chronograph Watch Prize
Piaget, Altiplano Chrono

Calendar Watch Prize
Hermès, Slim d’Hermès QP

Mechanical Exception Watch Prize
Jaquet Droz, The Charming Bird

“Petite Aiguille” Prize
Habring2, Felix

Sports Watch Prize
Tudor, Pelagos

Jewellery Watch Prize
Audemars Piguet, Diamond Punk

Artistic Crafts Watch Prize
Blancpain, Villeret, cadran Shakudō

Innovation Watch Prize
Antoine Preziuso, Tourbillon of Tourbillons

Revival Watch Prize
Piaget, Extremely Piaget Double Sided Cuff Watch

Special Jury Prize
Micke Pintus, Yannick Pintus, Jean-Luc Perrin.
The three Vacheron Constantin watchmakers who developed the Reference 57260 watch.

Public Prize
Antoine Preziuso, Tourbillon of Tourbillons

Images credited to WorldTempus.