Rules 2012

1. PARTICIPATION

1.1. The Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix (GPHG) is open to all watch brands, without any distinction based on nationality or price criteria.

1.2. Only watches meeting the "conditions of participation" set out in Appendix I are eligible to take part.

1.3. The registered watches must feature significant differences compared with the pre-existent models by the same brand that have already competed in the past.

1.4. Brands are free to choose the category in which they register each watch. The compliance of their choice with the present regulations is verified by the Jury Commissioner, whose decision is deemed final and without appeal.

1.5. The seven categories are as follows: Ladies', Men's, Innovation, Jewellery & Artistic Crafts, Complicated, Sports, "Petite Aiguille"

1.6. Brands may present one or several watches, representing different models, per category; and they may do so in several categories, provided they comply with the present regulations. A given model may only be registered in a single category.

1.7. The jury reserves the right to choose three watches from among the models not presented by brands for the competition. These three watches will be presented in an "out-of-competition" category. They will take part in all the international exhibitions and will benefit from the visibility that is given to all the watches presented within the framework of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, but will not take part in the competition.

1.8. The photos and descriptions of the competing watches are presented on the official Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix website, www.gphg.org.

2. AWARDS

The jury of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix awards ten prizes :

2.1. "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix

- This prize rewards the best overall watch among all categories. It is the most prestigious distinction.

2.2. Special Jury Prize

- This prize rewards a stakeholder, an institution or an initiative having played a fundamental role in promoting high-quality watchmaking. It cannot be awarded to a watch, or to a brand as such.

2.3. Ladies' Watch Prize

- This prize rewards the best ladies' watch.

2.4. Men's Watch Prize

- This prize rewards the best men's watch.

2.5. Innovation Prize

- This prize rewards the horological creation featuring the most innovative research on a conceptual level.

2.6. Jewellery and Artistic Crafts Watch Prize

- This prize rewards a watch featuring exceptional masters of one or several of the following techniques: gem-setting, enamelling, engraving, lacquering, openworking.

2.7. Best Complicated Watch Prize

- This prize rewards a watch featuring at least one of the major complications: complete calendar, perpetual calendar, striking mechanism, tourbillon, split-second chronograph. The "small useful complications" (watches with automatic winding, power reserve, etc.) are not classified in this category. The jury may choose to broaden this category to possible new complications presented in the competition.

2.8. Sports Watch Prize

- This prize rewards a watch designed for the measurement or practice of sport, which is at least water-resistant (ISO standard 2281) and shock-resistant (ISO standard 1413).

2.9. "Petite Aiguille" Prize

- This prize rewards a watch with a retail price of under 7,500 Swiss francs.

2.10. Best Watchmaker Prize

- This prize is awarded to the most creative watchmaker of the year. Watchmakers do not need to apply for the prize.

The following prizes are also awarded at the GPHG ceremony:
 

2.11. Public Prize

- This prize is awarded based on public votes as expressed during the exhibitions preceding the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix ceremony or on the internet via the www.gphg.org website or its partner sites.

2.12. Prize for the Best Young Student at the Geneva Watchmaking School

- This prize is awarded to the best first-year student at the Geneva Watchmaking School. The laureate receives a study scholarship granted by the Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild, main sponsor of the GPHG.

3. JURY

3.1. An international and multidisciplinary jury is appointed each year by the Board of the Foundation of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, after consultation with watch industry representatives convened for a special Consultative Committee meeting of the profession.

3.2. The jury members have no direct link with the Foundation of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, nor with the brands in competition.

3.3. The jury is composed of representatives of watch industry professionals (experts, collectors, journalists, etc.). The list of jury members is provided in Appendix II A.

3.4. The brand that wins the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix is automatically out of competition the following year, and its founder or CEO is invited to sit on the jury for one year.

3.5. The president of the jury is appointed by the Board of the Foundation of the GPHG.

3.6. Jury members are duty bound to respect the regulations and are subject to maintain strict confidentiality, thus guaranteeing their independence. Failure to comply with the present article will be sanctioned by immediate exclusion without appeal.

4. JURY COMMISSIONER

4.1. The Jury Commissioner is a personality acknowledged for his or her professional competence in the watchmaking field.

4.2. He or she is appointed by the Board of the Foundation of the GHPG, and serves a consulting role for the jury.

4.3. He or she ensures compliance with the regulations and that the watches presented meet the admission criteria.

4.4. He or she does not have a vote.

4.5. Brands are free to choose the category in which they register each watch. The Jury Commissioner nonetheless verifies that their choice complies with the present regulations, and his or her decisions are final and without appeal.

4.6. See the Commissioner appointed for the current year in Appendix II B.

5. VOTING PROCEDURE

5.1. In a first round of voting, by secret ballot, jury members select ten watches per category and classify them according to their personal order of preference. The first watch gets ten points, the second nine points, and so on through to the tenth, which gets one point. The votes are counted under the supervision of a legal officer. This first selection serves to shortlist ten watches in each of the seven categories.

5.2. The jury members, assisted by the legal officer, meet behind closed doors in Geneva during the exhibition of the pre-selected watches, in order to physically evaluate each of the models and to proceed to the second ballot.

5.3. The second round of voting is another secret ballot in which jury members classify each of the ten watches pre-selected in the first round in each of the seven categories, and award them marks from 1 to 10. The first watch gets ten points, the second nine points, and so on through to the tenth, which gets one point. Each jury member also has twenty additional points to award to the watch they fill deserves the supreme distinction. These points are added to those already attributed. The watch with the highest number of points wins the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix. The watch that has won the "Aiguille d'Or" is no longer taken into account within the category to which it initially belonged. The votes are counted by a notary. This second selection serves to designate the winning and nominated watches in each of the seven categories, and the winner of the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix.

5.4. In case of a draw, a simple majority secret ballot among jury members serves to decide between the competing watches. In case of another draw, the Jury President's vote counts double.

5.5. During the second round of voting, only one watch per brand may be chosen in each category. If two or more watches from the same brand are among the nominated watches, only the one with the highest number of points will be kept in the competition. The following ones will be replaced by those just behind them in the rankings, by order of the number of points obtained.

5.6. A brand may only win one prize. If two or more watches by the same brand win a prize, the one with the highest number of points wins the prize in its category. The others are replaced by the watches ranked second in their category.

5.7. The jury also votes for the Special Jury Prize and the Best Watchmaker Prize during the meeting mentioned under point 5.2. After discussions, the members of the jury agree on three names proposed for each of the two prizes. The ensuing vote is cast by secret ballot.

5.8. The names of the winners are revealed in the Grand Théâtre de Genève during the prize-giving ceremony (see date in Appendix III).

6. TRAVELLING EXHIBITION

6.1. The watches pre-selected in accordance with Article 5.1 shall be presented in the framework of an international travelling exhibition during the two months prior to the prize-giving ceremony. The three finalist watches in each of the categories, as well as the winners in the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix and the Public Prize will also be displayed in a special exhibition that will take place after the prize-giving ceremony.

6.2. The watches pre-selected by the jury must be available for these exhibitions.

6.3. The Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix covers all exhibition expenses (insurance, security, presentation). Brands will only be asked to make a single flat-rate contribution to organisation and shipping expenses in the amount of 5,000 CHF per watch.

7. GIFT OF WINNING WATCHES

7.1. The laureate brands are invited (but are not under any obligation) to donate one of each prize-winning watch to the Geneva Art and History Museum, which will devote a showcase to the history of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.

8. MENTIONS OF THE GENEVA WATCHMAKING GRAND PRIX

8.1. The "Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève" brand name and the associated logo are the property of the Foundation of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.

8.2. Laureates are entitled to use this brand name and logo, provided they display 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.
   

8.3. Laureates wishing to use this brand name or logo in any other ways will need to request prior approval from the Foundation, which may refuse such permission without indicating the grounds for such a refusal.

9. ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATIONS

Participation in the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix automatically implies acceptance of all articles contained in the regulations.

APPENDIX I

Conditions of participation
 

1.1. Only watches commercialised after March 2011 - except for the Best Complicated Watch Prize open to watches commercialised after March 2010 - and at the latest before December 31^st 2012 are entitled to participate.

1.2. To take part, brands must send their candidacy files by June 25^th 2012 at the latest to the following address:

Fondation du Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève
Rue des Rois 11, CP 5320, CH-1211 Geneva 11.

1.3. The candidacy files must comprise the following resources (in paper and digital form):

• Photos of each watch (minimum 300 dpi, JPEG format, RGB colour).
• A textual description of each watch, obligatorily in both French and English (Word or PDF).
• A duly filled out registration form (to be downloaded from www.gphg.org), printed and signed), specifying the category in each watch is competing (reminder: a given watch may participate only once and may not compete in several categories)
• "GPHG candidature" EXCEL file duly filled in (to be downloaded from www.gphg.org and returned with the other digital resources).
• Brand logo (EPS and AI).

For any further information, kindly send an email to the following address: organisation@gphg.org

1.4. Registration fees amount to CHF 500 per candidate watch. This sum is intended to cover the administrative expenses relating to the registration. These costs will be invoiced upon reception of the candidacy file and must be settled within 30 days.

APPENDIX II

A. Composition of the jury

1. For the 2012 edition of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, the jury is composed as follows:

• Sebastian Whitestone, specialist in antiquarian horology, director of Bobinet Ltd / United-Kingdom - Jury President
• Dr. Rony Abi Nakhlé, collector, President of the Lebanese Canadian University / Lebanon
• Carlos Alonso, publisher and editor-in-chief of Tiempo de Relojes and director of the Salon Internacional Alta Relojeria / Mexico
• Jean-Philippe Arm, editor-in-chief of Watch Around / Switzerland
• Aurel Bacs, international director of the watch department of Christie's / Switzerland
• Gisbert Brunner, writer and freelance journalist specialising in horology / Germany
• Elizabeth Doerr, freelance specialised watch journalist / Germany
• Dominique Fléchon, historian and fine watchmaking expert with the Fondation de la haute horlogerie / Switzerland-France
• Tomoko Kayama, editor-in-chief of World Wrist Watch (World Photo Press) / Japan
• Sean Li, collector and editorial director of Revolution in Hong Kong / China
• Marcel Philippe, collector, Assistant District Attorney for New York City / USA
• Paola Pulla, editor-in-chief of Orologi-Le Misure del Tempo / Italy
• Haig Simonian, correspondent for Switzerland and Austria of the Financial Times / Switzerland
• Alexey Tarhanov, journalist for Kommersant magazine/ Russia
• Denis Flageollet, co-founder of De Bethune, brand laureate of the 2011 "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix, out of competition in 2012.

B. Jury commissioner

1. For the 2012 edition of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, the Jury Commissioner is:

• Patrick König, CEO of Embassy Jewel AG, Lucerne

APPENDIX III

Date

1. The prize-giving ceremony for the 2012 edition of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix will take place in the Grand Théâtre de Genève on Thursday November 15^th 2012.