Article of the week
Frederique Constant's Latest Addition to the Highlife Chronograph Collection

The Highlife collection, Frederique Constant’s most celebrated lines, debuted in 1999 as an affordable luxury sports watch. Relaunched in 2020, the collection gained fresh momentum, and by 2022, the brand introduced the Highlife Chronograph to its portfolio.

This year, Frederique Constant commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Highlife collection with a stunning addition to the 41mm Chronograph Automatic lineup. The latest release is a limited edition of 1,888 pieces, featuring a stainless steel case, an off white opaline dial, and striking green subdials. This model joins its predecessors versions with blue and black subdials housed in steel cases, and a more recent iteration with a blue dial and a gold-plated case.

News Results of The Grand Prix de la Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) 2024

IWC Takes Top Honors Amid Fierce Competition

The 2024 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has crowned its grand winner at a glittering awards ceremony held last night at Geneva’s Théâtre du Léman.

Every year, the watchmaking world focuses its attention on Geneva for this prestigious event, often dubbed the "Oscars of Watchmaking." The GPHG celebrates horological brilliance and innovation, showcasing the finest timepieces of the year. For its 24th edition, 90 remarkable watches were shortlisted, first by a panel of Academy members and then by a final jury, to compete for top honors across 20 categories.

This year, the GPHG jury recognized astronomical precision by awarding the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar, the brand’s first secular calendar. Van Cleef & Arpels stood out with three category wins, while Chopard claimed the newly introduced Eco-Innovation Prize, acknowledging its commitment to sustainability.

Notably, this year’s competition lacked some of the industry’s heavyweights. Absent were Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin, along with Audemars Piguet, whose Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle won last year’s prestigious Aiguille d'Or prize.

 

The 2024 GPHG once again demonstrated the diversity, creativity, and precision of modern watchmaking, cementing its status as the pinnacle event in the horological calendar.

The full list of winners at the 2024 edition of the GPHG, along with all represented categories.

 

Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix

IWC Schaffhausen, Portugieser Eternal Calendar


The Aiguille d’Or, the most prestigious award of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), honors the best overall timepiece across all categories, often regarded as the most representative of the watch industry. For 2024, this accolade celebrates IWC's Portugieser Eternal Calendar, recognizing both the enduring legacy of the collection and the ingenuity of the brand’s R&D team, which has crafted one of the most advanced calendar watches available today. you can read the full article about the watch from here.

 

Ladies’ Watch

Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Jour Nuit


This category includes elegant feminine watches with straightforward functions such as hours, minutes, seconds, simple date, power reserve, or moon phases. These timepieces may feature a maximum of 9-carat gem-setting.
Van Cleef & Arpels triumphed in this category, highlighting their dominance across women’s watchmaking with victories in three categories.

 

Ladies’ Complication

Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Brise d’Été


This category showcases feminine watches that stand out for mechanical creativity and complexity, featuring complications like annual or perpetual calendars, tourbillons, chronographs, or dual time displays. Van Cleef & Arpels continued their stellar performance, securing another win with the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été.

 

Time-Only Watch
H. Moser & Cie, Streamliner Small Seconds Blue Enamel


This category is for watches with two or three hands and purely analog time indications: hours, minutes, and seconds. H. Moser & Cie impressed with their minimalistic yet sophisticated design.

the full article about the watch from here.

Men’s Watch

Voutilainen, KV20i Reversed


Reserved for masculine watches with essential functions such as hours, minutes, seconds, simple date, power reserve, or moon phases, this category saw Voutilainen take home the prize.

Notably, the last six Men's Watch prizes have alternated between independent watchmakers Rexhep Rexhepi and Kari Voutilainen. the full article about the watch from here.

 

Men’s Complication

De Bethune, DB Kind of Grande Complication

This award recognizes mechanically creative and complex masculine watches with complications like world time, dual time, or others. De Bethune claimed the prize with the most intricate watch to emerge from its Auberson workshop. 

You can read our full review of the DB Kind of Grande Complication here.

 

Iconic Watch

Piaget, Piaget Polo 79


This category celebrates watches from emblematic collections or those offering contemporary reinterpretations. In its 150th-anniversary year, Piaget revived the iconic Polo 79. Learn more about this exceptional design in our detailed article here.

 

Tourbillon

Daniel Roth Tourbillon Souscription


Dedicated to watches featuring at least one tourbillon, this category honored Daniel Roth, whose revival under LVMH marks a significant milestone. 

This was the only watch from the French group in this year’s GPHG, a departure from past years dominated by Bulgari. the full article is here.

 

Calendar and Astronomy

Laurent Ferrier, Classic Moon Silver


This award celebrates mechanical watches with calendar or astronomical complications. Laurent Ferrier shined once again, securing a win in this category, adding to their accolades from previous editions. you can read our article about the Classic Moon Silver from here.

Mechanical Exception

Bovet 1822, Récital 28 Prowess 1


This prize recognizes watches with exceptional mechanisms, such as automata, striking mechanisms, or innovative escapements. Bovet’s Récital 28 exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship. you can know more about this complicated watch in this detailed article.

 

Chronograph

Sylvain Pinaud x Massena Lab, Chronograph Monopoussoir


This award acknowledges timepieces featuring at least one chronograph function. Sylvain Pinaud’s collaboration with Massena Lab brought forward a stunning monopusher chronograph.

 

Sports Watch

Ming, 37.09 Bluefin


This category celebrates watches designed for physical activity, combining robust functionality with sporty aesthetics. Dive into our full review of this impressive timepiece here.

 

Jewellery Watch

Chopard, Laguna High-Jewellery Secret Watch


Watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewellery and gemsetting, and also distinguished by the choice of stones.Chopard demonstrated unparalleled expertise in gem-setting and jewelry design, earning the prize in this glamorous category.

 

Artistic Crafts

Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté


This category highlights exceptional mastery in techniques such as enameling, engraving, or guilloché. Van Cleef & Arpels secured another win with this artistic marvel.

 

Petite Aiguille

Kudoke, Kudoke 3 Salmon


Reserved for watches priced between CHF 3,000 and CHF 10,000, this category recognized the Kudoke 3 Salmon for its refined design and craftsmanship.

 

Challenge

Otsuka, Lotec No.6


This award is for watches priced under CHF 3,000. Otsuka’s Lotec No.6 stood out for its excellent value and innovative design.

 

Eco-Innovation Prize

Chopard, L.U.C Qualité Fleurier


This discretionary prize acknowledges watches incorporating sustainable practices, including traceability, ethical materials, and eco-conscious innovations.

 

Audacity Prize

Berneron, Mirage Sienna


Awarded for creativity and a non-conformist approach, this prize celebrates bold design. The Mirage Sienna embodies daring horological innovation. the full article about the watch from here.

 

Horological Revelation Prize

Rémy Cools, Tourbillon Atelier


This award honors timepieces by emerging brands with fewer than 10 years in existence. Rémy Cools’ focus on craftsmanship and detail earned him this prestigious recognition. 

Read our full review of the Tourbillon Atelier here.

 

Chronometry Prize

Bernhard Lederer, 3 Times Certified Observatory Chronometer


This prize highlights timepieces with exceptional precision, officially certified by renowned authorities such as COSC or TIMELAB. the full article about the watch here.

 

Special Jury Prize

Jean-Pierre Hagmann, Casemaker


Recognizing significant contributions to high-end watchmaking, this prize was awarded to octogenarian Jean-Pierre Hagmann, who continues to craft cases using traditional techniques, a rare art in today’s industry.

This prize honors a personality, institution, or initiative that has made a significant contribution to promoting high-quality watchmaking. It is not awarded to a timepiece or a brand itself. As a discretionary award, the Jury determines whether it will be presented in 2024.

 

Rexhep Rexhepi or his Akrivia watches may not be featured in this edition, but the man behind the cases of these masterpieces deserves recognition: the octogenarian casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann. Hagmann has been instrumental in transforming Rexhepi’s operation since coming out of his second retirement in late 2019.

At 81 years old, Hagmann continues to craft cases using traditional methods and old-world machinery. In an era dominated by CNC and computer-assisted manufacturing, his approach keeps alive the lost art of traditional casemaking for high-end timepieces. 

The Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix trophy was designed by Geneva-based graphic designer Roger Pfund, who also created the Swiss passport and numerous banknotes. The trophy’s hand motif symbolizes skill and mastery—essential attributes in watchmaking. Pfund drew inspiration from Michelangelo's fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The trophies, crafted in gilded bronze, are produced by the TEC Group.

The 90 nominated timepieces, including the 20 winners, are on display at the Musée Rath in Geneva until November 17. From November 21 to 23, the winning watches will also be showcased at the Central University Library of Bucharest.

 

 

For more information visit GPHG official website.


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