The winners of the grandest prizes of watchmaking were announced in a historic evening at a glitzy ceremony held at the theatre of the Fairmont Grand Hotel Geneva.
The GPHG, or Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, revealed its 2023 winners, including a suite of award-winning timepieces carried by Cortina Watch, namely Tudor Pelagos 39 and Bvlgari Serpenti Cleopatra.
The unique trophies of the GPHG evoke the artisanal craftsmanship required in producing watches of the highest calibre
What is the GPHG, or Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève?
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is an annual celebration of watchmaking often compared favourably by industry stalwarts to the Academy Awards. It is therefore nicknamed the Oscars of watchmaking, and regarded as the most-valuable awards in watchmaking.
Every year watchmakers enter their finest creations, sorted in various categories, into the GPHG. Regulations may differ from year to year, where a new category could be created to help enliven the proceedings. The 15 categories for the 2023 edition were namely Ladies’, Ladies’ Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Iconic, Tourbillon, Calendar and Astronomy, Chronograph, Mechanical Exception, Sports, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, “Petite Aiguille”, Challenge, and Mechanical Clock.
The panel of judges, also known as the jury or Academy, hail from all corners of the globe, comprising leading critics, experienced journalists, master watchmakers, revered leaders in the watch industry, and CEOs of various influential watch brands.
The GPHG is an annual celebration of watchmaking triumphs
From the preliminary rounds, timepieces are selected for the finals. Of the nominees, only one is declared the outright winner of the respective category. On top of that, there are several special prizes awarded based on the jury’s discretion. These awards are Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix, Ladies’ Watch Prize, Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize, Men’s Complication Watch Prize, Iconic Watch Prize, Tourbillon Watch Prize, Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize, Chronograph Watch Prize, Sports Watch Prize, Jewellery Watch Prize, Artistic Crafts Watch Prize, “Petite Aiguille” Prize, Challenge Watch Prize, Mechanical Clock Prize, Chronometry Prize, “Horological Revelation” Prize, Audacity Prize, and Innovation Prize.
It is customary of the GPHG to hold worldwide exhibitions of the nominated timepieces leading up the award ceremony. In fact, Kuala Lumpur played host to the said exhibition on October 5-8.
The GPHG 2023 award-winning watches available at Cortina Watch:
Tudor Pelagos 39 (Sports Watch Prize)
The Tudor Pelagos 39 snaps up the Sports Watch Prize at the GPHG 2023
A combination of technical diving and urban sophistication, Tudor’s new Pelagos 39 model is adjudged the best watch in the Sports category. Primarily crafted with Grade 2 titanium, the Pelagos 39 is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel and a sunray satin finish ceramic insert in Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminous material.
The dive watch in a 39mm case also features luminescent ceramic composite monobloc hour markers and a rapid adjustment system for the clasp and a diver’s extension, to highlight the brand’s legacy in professional dive watches. Water resistance to 200 metres. At its core lies the Manufacture Calibre MT5400, accredited as a chronometer by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). With a power reserve of around 70 hours, the movement ensures reliability for the entire weekend.
Bvlgari Serpenti Cleopatra (Jewellery Watch Prize)
The Bulgari Serpenti Cleopatra is named as the winner of the Jewellery Watch category at the GPHG 2023
Voted the best timepiece in the Jewellery category, the Serpenti Cleopatra is an encapsulation of Bulgari’s technical know-how in jewellery and watchmaking and design. Embellished on the pink case bracelet are a plethora of rare and precious gemstones, including three topaz (~24 ct), two rubellites (~13.4 ct), two tanzanites (~13 ct), two amethysts (~11 ct) and pavé-set diamonds (F-G IF-VVS ~86.5 ct) on the bracelet, case and dial. The manchette-style bejewelled timepiece pays homage to the significance that gemstones played during Antiquity, and of course, Cleopatra’s times. It is also a colourful celebration of Bulgari’s long-standing inspiration and icon: the snake.
The notable GPHG 2023 nominated watches available at Cortina Watch:
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante was nominated for the Men’s Complication Prize at the GPHG 2023
Apart from the award-winning creations, other nominated timepieces available at Cortina Watch include Chopard Imperiale Jumping Hour (Ladies’ Complication); Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor (Men’s); Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante (Men’s Complication); Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41, Chopard L.U.C 1860, TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph (Iconic); Bvlgari Octo Roma Striking Papillon Tourbillon, Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon (Tourbillon); Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar (Calendar and Astronomy); Singer Reimagined 1969 Chrono, TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper (Chronograph); Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF, TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer, Tudor Pelagos 39 (Sports); Bvlgari Serpenti Cleopatra, Chopard Pure Happiness (Jewellery); Bvlgari Octo Roma Automatic, Tudor Black Bay (“Petite Aiguille”).
The Reimagined 1969 Chrono was nominated for the Chronograph Prize at the GPHG 2023
Notably, Parmigiani Fleurier and Singer Reimagined are brands exclusive to Cortina Watch.
Discover more brands and collections at Cortina Watch boutiques, or online.
