Rules
Impelled by a unifying spirit that salutes creativity as well as the quest for excellence, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) aims to yearly highlight and reward the most remarkable creations in order to nurture the advancement of the watchmaking art worldwide.
The 2021 list of award-winners will be announced at the 21st GPHG award ceremony that will take place on Thursday November 4, 2021.
1. PARTICIPATION
1.1. Participating in the GPHG automatically implies consent to all articles laid out in these rules.
1.2. The GPHG is open to all watch brands, irrespective of nationality.
1.3. Only watches commercialised after May 2020 and at the latest by the end of October 2021 are eligible to take part.
1.4. To participate, brands must submit their set of entries by July 5, 2021 at the latest via the dedicated digital platform. Entry conditions and procedures are set out in detail in Appendix I.
1.4.1. The GPHG Academy proposes watches for the competition. The eligibility of the proposed watches is verified by the GPHG. The eligible watches put forward by the Academy are submitted to the brands concerned via the dedicated digital platform. The brands decide whether or not to confirm the entries of the proposed watches and may enter other watches for the competition (see the Academy Regulations).
1.4.2. All brands can also enter the competition spontaneously via the dedicated digital platform (see Appendix I).
1.5. Each brand may enter one or several watches in the competition (seven at the most) representing a variety of models and entered in different categories. A single given model may be entered in only one category.
1.6. Brands are free to choose the category in which they enter each watch. Nonetheless, compliance of their entries with these rules is verified by the commissioner.
1.7. The eligibility of the entries is verified by the GPHG.
1.8. The 14 categories are as follows:
- 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 gemsetting.
- 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’ category.
- 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 5-carat gemsetting.
- 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 any other original and/or exceptional horological concept.
- Chronograph: mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Diver’s: watches linked to the world of diving, whose functions, materials and design are suited to this activity.
- Jewellery: watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewellery and gemsetting, and also distinguished by the choice of stones.
- Artistic Crafts: watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of one or several artistic techniques such as enamelling, lacquering, engraving, guilloché (engine-turning), skeleton-working, etc.
- “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.
2. AWARDS
The Academy of the GPHG awards the following prizes:
2.1. “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix
This prize rewards the best overall watch among all categories (Best in Show), also deemed the most representative of the watch industry as a whole. It is the most prestigious award.
2.2. Ladies’ Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Ladies’ category (cf. article 1.8).
2.3. Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Ladies’ Complication category (cf. article 1.8).
2.4. Men’s Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Men’s category (cf. article 1.8).
2.5. Men’s Complication Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Men’s Complication category (cf. article 1.8).
2.6. Iconic Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Iconic category (cf. article 1.8).
2.7. Tourbillon Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Tourbillon category (cf. article 1.8).
2.8. Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Calendar and Astronomy category (cf. article 1.8).
2.9. Mechanical Exception Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Mechanical Exception category (cf. article 1.8).
2.10. Chronograph Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Chronograph category (cf. article 1.8).
2.11. Diver’s Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Diver’s category (cf. article 1.8)
2.12. Jewellery Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Jewellery category (cf. article 1.8)
2.13. Artistic Crafts Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Artistic Crafts category (cf. article 1.8)
2.14. “Petite Aiguille” Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the “Petite Aiguille” category (cf. article 1.8)
2.15. Challenge Watch Prize
This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Challenge category (cf. article 1.8)
2.16. Innovation Prize
This prize rewards the best competing watch offering an innovative vision of time measurement (in terms of technique, design, materials, etc.) and opening up new development pathways for the watchmaking art. This prize is discretionary, the Jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2021.
2.17. Audacity Prize
This prize rewards the best competing watch featuring a non-conformist, offbeat approach to watchmaking. It is intended to foster creative audacity. This prize is discretionary, the Jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2021.
2.18. "Horological Revelation" Prize
This prize rewards a competing watch created by a young brand (less than ten years of existence since its first model was commercialised). It may also reward the mechanical creation of a young talent, in the event that none of the competing watches should be considered worthy of receiving this prize. This prize is discretionary, the Jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2021.
The Jury of the GPHG awards the following prize:
2.19. Special Jury Prize
This prize rewards a personality, institution or initiative that has played a fundamental role in promoting high-quality watchmaking. It cannot be awarded to a watch, nor to a brand as such. This prize is discretionary, the Jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2021.
3. ACADEMY AND JURY
3.1. The presentation and the role of the Academy are laid out in detail in the Academy regulations, available in the Academy section of the gphg.org website.
3.2. The list of Jury 2021 members is available as of October 2021 on the GPHG website.
The composition of the Jury is laid out in detail in Appendix II A.
3.3. Academy and Jury members are duty bound to respect the rules and to maintain strict confidentiality, thus guaranteeing their independence. Failure to comply with this article will be penalised by immediate exclusion from the Academy without appeal.
4. COMMISSIONER
4.1. The Commissioner is a personality acknowledged for his/her professional expertise in watchmaking.
4.2. He/she is appointed by the GPHG Foundation Board.
4.3. He/she ensures compliance with the rules and that competing watches meet admission criteria.
4.4. He/she has no voting rights.
4.5. The name of the commissioner appointed for the current year is published in Appendix II B.
5. VOTING PROCEDURE
First round
5.1. The watches entered in the competition are submitted to a vote by the Academy, which thus elects the nominated watches. All Academy members take part in the first round of voting via the Academy’s secure digital platform.
5.2. In the first round of voting, by secret ballot, Academy members select six watches per category and classify them according to their personal order of preference. The first watch gets six points, the second five points, and so on through to the sixth, which gets one point.
5.3. The first round of voting serves to select six watches in each of the 14 categories. These are the 84 nominated watches. The nominated watches take part in the rest of the competition and in the various exhibitions.
5.4. The GPHG has no access to voting details, but only to the final results. The votes are verified and recorded by a notary.
Second round:
5.5. A Jury of 30 members, drawn from the Academy, is constituted every year (cf. art. 3).
5.6. The Jury members meet behind closed doors in Geneva (subject to public health measures prevailing at the time), in the presence of a notary, a few days before the awards ceremony, in order to physically evaluate each of the nominated models and to proceed to the second ballot.
5.7. The second round of voting is another secret ballot in which Jury members classify each of the six watches nominated in the first round in each of the 14 categories, and award them marks from 1 to 10. The best watch earns ten points, the second earns six points, the third earns four points, the fourth earns three points, the fifth earns two points and the last earns one point. This second selection serves to designate the winning watches in each of the 14 categories.
5.8. The nominated watches are also submitted to the vote of the entire Academy (excluding members of the jury), via the secure platform.
5.9. For each prize, the results of the Academy votes, in proportion to the number of Academy voters, count as 15 votes, which are added to the votes of the 30 members of the jury, i.e. one third of the total of 45 votes. The total count determines the prize list.
5.10. In the event of a draw, the Jury Chairperson’s vote counts double.
5.11. The Jury casts a separate vote for the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix. Initially, a discussion enables Jury members who so wish to express their opinions. A first vote is cast by secret ballot. The result of the Academy vote is added to that of the Jury as mentioned under point 5.9. The watch having achieved the best score and at least half of the votes is designated. If no watch has earned enough votes in the first vote, a second round of voting cast by secret ballot will take place, after discussion, in order to determine the winner among the five finalists from the first vote.
5.12. The Jury casts a separate vote for the Innovation Prize, the Audacity Prize and the “Horological Revelation” Prize. Following discussion, a first vote is cast by secret ballot for each of the awards. The result of the Academy vote is added to that of the Jury as mentioned under point 5.9. The watch having achieved the best score and at least one-third of the votes is designated. If the first round of voting does not yield a clear winner, a second round of voting cast by secret ballot will take place, after discussion, in order to determine the winner among the five finalists from the first vote. The Innovation Prize, the Audacity Prize and the “Horological Revelation” Prize are discretionary, the Jury can decide whether there are grounds for awarding them in 2021.
5.13. Watches having won the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix, the Innovation Prize, the Audacity Prize and/or the “Horological Revelation” Prize are no longer considered in the categories in which they were entered.
5.14. A single brand cannot win more than three awards. If a brand is set to win four prizes, the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix, the Innovation Prize, the Audacity Prize, the Smartwatch Prize and the “Horological Revelation” Prize will be maintained as a priority if they are involved, followed by the awards corresponding to the other categories in which the brand’s watches have earned the highest number of points. A watch no longer eligible for a given category from a brand that has already won three prizes will be replaced by the one that came second (or third if necessary, etc.).
5.15. The Jury also votes for the Special Jury Prize during the meeting mentioned under point 5.6. Following discussion, the Jury members agree on three names proposed for the prize. The ensuing vote is cast by secret ballot.
5.16 The GPHG has no access to the details of the votes, only the final results. The ballots are counted, checked and recorded by the notary.
5.17. The names of the winners are revealed during the awards ceremony which will take place on November 4, 2021.
6. TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
6.1. The watches nominated in accordance with Article 5.3 are displayed during an international travelling exhibition prior to the awards ceremony. An exhibition also takes place after the awards ceremony, presenting the winning watches. In the event of public health imperatives, these exhibitions can be cancelled.
6.2. The watches nominated by the Jury must be available for these exhibitions between September 23, 2021 and November 20, 2021 (until the end of November for award-winners).
6.3. The GPHG covers all exhibition expenses (insurance, security, presentation). See article 8.2 regarding the flat-rate fee.
7. SPECIFIC VISIBILITY
An internationally renowned instrument for the global promotion of watchmaking, the GPHG contributes to the influence and dynamism of the industry as a whole. More specifically, qualitative visibility for the competing watches involves the following aspects:
7.1. The promotion of nominated watches is notably achieved through the exhibitions, global communication and targeted digital marketing operations (via social media and multimedia networks).
7.2. Academicians around the world represent an array of high-quality, regularly informed stakeholders forming a vast network of ambassadors for the competing, nominated and award-winning watches.
7.3. The national and international press receives a steady feed of information relating to the current edition.
7.4. The GPHG website (www.gphg.org) presents the photos and descriptions of competing watches at each stage of the competition.
8. EXPENSES
8.1. The entry fee is CHF 700 per candidate watch. This amount is intended to cover the administrative expenses relating to the entry. This fee is invoiced as soon as the set of entries is received and must be settled within 30 days.
8.2. In case of nomination, a single flat-rate fee is payable for each watch nominated in accordance with article 5.3. This amounts to CHF 6,000 per watch and relates to the organisation of the competition and the exhibitions, as well as to the communication and marketing services devoted to the nominated watches.
9. REFERENCES TO THE GRAND PRIX D’HORLOGERIE DE GENÈVE
9.1. The “Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève” brand name and logo are the property of the Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
9.2. Award-winners are entitled to use this brand name and logo, provided they ensure strict compliance with the following restrictive conditions:
- The brand name and logo must only appear in association with the watch that won the prize and in a well-defined medium or context (whatever the nature or form of the latter), to the exclusion of any other watch in the same medium or within the same context.
- The category and year in which the prize was won must be specifically mentioned directly below the brand name or logo.
9.3. Award-winners wishing to use this brand name or logo in any other manner must request prior approval from the Foundation, which may refuse such permission without indicating the grounds for such a refusal.
10. MAH collections
10.1. Award-winning brands are invited (but not obliged) to donate an example of each award-winning watch to the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève (MAH) which nurtures its watchmaking heritage collections by means of these donations.
APPENDIX I
Entry conditions and procedures
1.1. Only watches commercialised according to Article 1, point 1.3 of the present rules are eligible to participate.
1.2. To participate in the 2020 GPHG, brands must submit their set of entries by July 5, 2021 at the very latest via the dedicated digital platform.
1.3. The GPHG contacts the brands concerned by the Academy’s submissions as soon as entries open and provides them with a platform access code. In the event of a spontaneous entry: contact organisation@gphg.org to get a platform access code.
1.4. The entry fee is CHF 700 per candidate watch. This sum is intended to cover administrative expenses relating to the entry. These costs will be invoiced upon receipt of the set of entries and must be settled within 30 days.
For any further information, send an email to the following address: organisation@gphg.org
APPENDIX II
A. Composition of the official 2021 Jury
2.1. The Jury is composed each year of 30 members from the Academy
2.2. The Jury is composed as follows each year:
- 14 members drawn at random from among the members of the Academy (in the different colleges, except the college of brands)
- 15 members chosen by the GPHG from within the Academy (in the different colleges, except the college of brands)
- 1 representative (president, owner or CEO) of the brand that won the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix the previous year. The latter does not take part in the vote for the categories in which watches from his/her brand are competing.
The GPHG is careful to maintain the best possible balance in terms of colleges and geographical zones.
2.3. The Chairperson of the Jury is chosen by the GPHG Foundation Board from the 30 above-mentioned members.
2.4. All Jury members must participate in the meeting for the second round of voting mentioned under point 5.6.
B. Commissioner
For the 2021 edition of the GPHG, the commissioner is:
Régis Hugenin-Dumittan, holder of a doctorate in history, curator-director of the MIH, Musée International d’Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds.