The 70 watches preselected by the jury are online

The prize-giving ceremony of the 12th Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix (GPHG) will take place on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, attended by Mr Alain Berset, Federal Councillor, and the Geneva authorities.

In the meantime, the Foundation of the Watchmaking Grand Prix cordially invites you to become acquainted with the list of 70 watches preselected by the jury on its official website:

www.gphg.org or www.worldtempus.com

After consulting this list, internet users are invited to vote for their favourite watch, thus participating in the choice of the Prix du Public and automatically becoming part of a draw with the chance of winning a timepiece.

From October 2012 onwards, a mobile GPHG app will be downloadable free of charge. This app will provide easy access to all the information on the official GPHG site, offering a new type of presentation of the watches in the competition.

As is customary, the watches preselected by the jury will be part of a travelling exhibition providing an opportunity for an international public to become acquainted with and admire the most beautiful watchmaking creations of the year, brought together exceptionally on this occasion. Les Ambassadeurs will host the first stage of the exhibition in their boutique on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. The 70 timepieces will subsequently be presented in Hong Kong, followed by Shanghai on the famous Bund. Back in Geneva, they will be on display at the Cité du Temps. The exhibition in Geneva, the final stage prior to the prize-giving ceremony, will be inaugurated on October 31 and open to the public from November 2 to 8. After the ceremony, the three finalist watches in each of the seven categories as well as the winners of the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix and the Public Prize will be exhibited at the Swiss Embassy in Moscow (the calendar of exhibitions can be viewed on www.gphg.org.

A showcase for Swiss watchmaking excellence all over the world, the GPHG also contributes to Geneva’s reputation as a watchmaking capital. In light of this, the Geneva and Moscow GPHG exhibitions will pay tribute to this town. Representing a transposition of Geneva’s topography to the display windows, the exhbition concept devised by three designers from the HEAD in Geneva will illustrate the ties between the horological creations and their environment.

As is the case every year, the GPHG prize-giving evening will bring together the elite from the international watchmaking profession in Geneva. Eleven prizes including the prestigious Aiguille d’or will reward the most beautiful creations of the year and the most significant players from the world of watchmaking. A study grant offered by the Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild, main partner of the GPHG, will also reward a young talent.

The 12th event will be an opportunity to raise watchmaking to the status of the 12th Art. On this occasion, Geneva will be linked to New York where the live broadcasting of the ceremony will be the centre of an event in a prestigious shop on Madison Avenue. Available in English for enthusiasts all over the world, the prize-giving ceremony will also be broadcast live on www.gphg.org or www.worldtemous.com.

As usual, the ceremony will be followed by a gala dinner, this year organised by a company called Theillard, who will present a brand new “watchmaking” concept for the tables. The official GPHG After Party, organised in partnership with Les Ambassadeurs, will host some 700 privileged guests at the BFM, gathered to celebrate the winners of this 12th GPHG.

The Foundation of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix was created in May 2011 in order to ensure the transparency, sustainability and internationalisation of the GPHG. It is sponsored by the State and the City of Geneva.

PRESS: JOELLE BELINA - press@gphg.org