Discover the GPHG 2023 Ceremony and all winners: "The Oscars" of the Watchmaking Industry

The so-called Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève or GPHG 2023 is usually compared to the Oscars of the Watchmaking industry. This event stands as the premier platform for the watch industry to display its most exceptional and distinguished creations. The GPHG remains one of the rare events that annually unites various facets of the watch sector, encompassing everything from clocks and jewelry to watches.

During the ceremony that took place on 9th November 2023 at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva, the best watches that were introduced during the year were awarded.

Although we were not part of the shortlisted official media partners of the GPHG, we have still summarised the list of winners  to celebrate the passion we and our community have for horology.

 Here is the full roster of winners at the 2023 GPHG (Bear in mind that several key and influential watchmakers, including Rolex, Swatch Group, and numerous Richemont brands, choose not to participate):

"Aiguille d’Or" Grand Prix: Awarded to the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle, this top honor recognises the finest watch across all categories, symbolizing the pinnacle of the watchmaking industry. This reference from Le Brassus is an ultra-complicated watch with 23 complications, including a Grand Sonnerie Supersonnerie, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, split-seconds flyback chronograph, and flying tourbillon.

We will be discussing the below horological marvel in a separate in-depth article very soon.

Best Ladies’ Watch: The Piaget Hidden Treasures emerged as the most prominent in its category, accurately reflecting modern trends in women's fashion for 2023. The craftsmanship of the gold on this Piaget is particularly remarkable. The bracelet features hand-engraved lines, ensuring each engraving is unique and non-uniform. This results in a stunning, natural appearance, similar to the texture of tree bark.

Best Ladies’ Complication: Dior Grand Soir Automate Etoile de Monsieur Dior was a surprise to many because it is a quartz movement. Although the concept of a complication remains the same, regardless of gender, there are still distinct categories for ladies' and men's complications. 28 pieces worldwide.

Best Men’s Complication: Voutilainen World Timer got by surprise everyone. A leading figure in contemporary independent watchmaking astonished the industry by unveiling a world timer set within a cushion case. This design represents a sophisticated adaptation of a traditional complication, maintaining all the signature elements of Voutilainen's style.

Iconic Watch Award: Ulysse Nardin Freak One took this one home. This price goes to watches belonging to an emblematic collection or model range that has been a timeless influence on the watch history and the industry for more than 20 years. In this particular case, this brand's innovation efforts were instrumental in introducing silicon to the realm of watchmaking and this research eventually was recognised with the GPHG award.

Top Tourbillon Watch: Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit effectively marries a sporty chic design with a classy dial in a case that houses a complex movement. A well-rounded watch by any means.

Best Calendar and Astronomy Watch: Bovet 1822 Récital 20 Astérium, a work of art when looking at it from any possible angle. The skeletonised and perfectly designed movement make it a piece that is simply a joy to look at. We are not sure how it would look on a wrist but it can surely be exhibited in any room and, or museum.

Leading Chronograph Watch: Petermann Bédat Chronographe rattrapante is a remarkable watch created by the talented young watchmakers Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat who upon receiving the award confessed their belief in the significance of a event like GPHG for the industry to have voice and recognition.

Best Sports Watch: Tudor Pelagos 39, introduced in this same year 2023, is the  first-ever winner in this "sports" category. This reference triumphed over contenders from other top brands. Regardless of its evident commercial appeal and exceptional finish, other competitors could have taken the price too. 

Premier Jewellery Watch: Bulgari Serpenti Cleopatra does not require to say much. A watch surrounded by a stunning number of diamonds and gems. Its "Cleopatra" surname fits very well.

Artistic Crafts Watch Award: Piaget Altiplano Métiers d’Art Undula. The beautifully crafted dial, the assymetric yet perfect proportions, the sea-like and exotic colours, and the diamond bezel, all result in a balanced and exquisite wrist watch.

Petite Aiguille Prize: Christopher Ward London C1 Bel Canto is an under €4,000 chiming wrist watch. The case design comes as an unexpected choice, more for what it isn't than what it is. The 41mm grade 5 titanium case presents a straightforward and elegant design.  Watches that feature both chiming mechanisms and dial-side movements are typically produced in limited quantities and come with hefty price tags. Watches that combine both features are even more scarce and expensive so with this one, the brand continues to build a reputation for crafting remarkable watches at affordable prices. 

Challenge Watch Category: Raymond Weil Millésime automatic small seconds made everyone be surprised by the brands' potential yet still being undervalued by aficionados. This €2,000 model surpassed contenders like Nomos and Seiko and this may have a following effect in the community after GPHG.

Best Mechanical Clock: L’Epée 1839 Time Fast II Chrome is a blend of visual design and mechanical innovation. This combination is appealing not only to artists but to collectors, as real combustion engine cars embody passion, nostalgia, treasured memories, and more feelings. A car-shaped mechanical watch transforms into symbols of expression by stirring profound emotions. A different kind of clock but surely one everyone would love to own.

Innovation Prize: Hautlence Sphere Series 1 is an atypical mechanical wrist watch concept that displays the hours very differently under a neo-futuristic TV-screen-shaped case.

Audacity Prize: Maison Alcée Persée Azur offers a distinct experience in timekeeping by standing out as a luxury clock designed for self-assembly, featuring hourly chimes and a mechanical movement.

Excellence in Chronometry: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 3SPC is a watch that has an exceptional level of craftsmanship. It has blown the minds of reviewers that actually claimed that this may be the watch with the finest finishing they had ever encountered.

Horological Revelation: Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans is the first watch but this indie watchmaker but we hope it won't be the last. A time-only watch that is intricately designed, exquisitely decorated, and masterfully crafted. In essence, a well-rounded design and execution that works timelessly well.

Special Jury Prize: Awarded to Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese for their founding of the AHCI. The Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) is an association with the mission to perpetuate the art of independent watch and clock-making. Therefore, this prise recognizes their significant contributions to the watchmaking field and their importance in the whole industry.