Rules
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) aims, in a spirit of sharing and cooperation, to yearly highlight and reward high-quality creations in order to nurture the advancement of the watchmaking art and contribute to promoting the watch industry worldwide.
1. PARTICIPATION
1.1. The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is open to all watch brands, irrespective of nationality.
1.2. Only watches commercialised after March 2015 and at the latest by November 30, 2016 – are eligible to take part.
1.3. To participate, brands must submit their entries by June 22, 2016 at the latest. Entry conditions and procedures are set out in detail in Appendix 1.
1.4. Brands may enter one or several watches in the competition (six at the most) representing a variety of models and entered in different categories. A single given model may be entered in only one category.
1.5. 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 jury commissioner.
1.6. The twelve categories are as follows:
- Ladies’ : women’s watches comprising two at most of the following indications: date, power reserve, classic moon phase, second time zone; may be adorned with a maximum 5-carat gemsetting.
- Ladies’ High-Mech : 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 and do not fit the definition of the Ladies’ category.
- Men’s: men’s watches comprising two at most of the following indications: date, power reserve, classic moon phase; may be adorned with a maximum 5-carat gemsetting.
- Chronograph : mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Tourbillon : mechanical watches comprising at least one tourbillon. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Calendar : mechanical watches comprising at least one calendar and/or astronomical complication (e.g. annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon-phase display, etc.). Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
- Travel Time : Mechanical watches displaying several time zones (eg: worldtime, dual-time or other types of model). 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 belt-driven movement or any other original and/or exceptional horological concept.
- “Petite Aiguille” : watches with a retail price of under CHF 8,000.
- Sports : watches linked to the field of sports, whose functions, materials and design are suited to physical activities.
- 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.
In the event where less than four watches were to be entered in one of the categories, the said category would be cancelled. The jury commissioner will replace the models entered in other categories that correspond to their characteristics, with the assent of the brands concerned.
1.7. Photos and descriptions of watch entries are presented at each stage on the official Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève website - www.gphg.org.
1.8. The 2016 list of prize-winners will be announced at the 16th prize-giving ceremony of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, which will take place at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva on Thursday November 10, 2016.
2. AWARDS
The jury of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards the following prizes:
2.1. “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix
- This prize rewards the best overall watch among all categories and is the most prestigious award.
2.2. Ladies’ Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Ladies’ category (cf. article 1.6).
2.3. Ladies’ High-Mech Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Ladies’ High-Mech category (cf. article 1.6).
2.4. Men’s Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Men’s category (cf. article 1.6).
2.5. Chronograph Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Chronograph category (cf. article 1.6).
2.6. Tourbillon Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Tourbillon category (cf. article 1.6).
2.7. Calendar Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Calendar category (cf. article 1.6).
2.8. Travel Time Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Travel Time category (cf. article 1.6).
2.9. Mechanical Exception Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Mechanical Exception category (cf. article 1.6)
2.10. “Petite Aiguille” Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the “Petite Aiguille” category (cf. article 1.6)
2.11. Sports Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Sports category (cf. article 1.6)
2.12. Jewellery Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Jewellery category (cf. article 1.6)
2.13. Artistic Crafts Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch competing in the Artistic Crafts category (cf. article 1.6)
2.14. Revival Watch Prize
- This prize rewards the best watch presented in one of the twelve categories, which features a contemporary re-edition or reinterpretation of an iconic historical model.
2.15. 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.
The following prizes are also awarded at the GPHG prize-giving ceremony:
2.16. Public Prize
- This prize is awarded based on public votes as expressed during the international exhibitions preceding the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève ceremony or on the internet via the www.gphg.org website or its partner sites.
2.17. 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 winner receives a study scholarship granted by the Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild, principal sponsor of the GPHG.
3. JURY
3.1. An official, international, multidisciplinary jury is appointed each year by the Board of the Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, after consultation with various watch industry representatives.
3.2. The jury is composed of more than 20 representatives from the watch industry (experts, collectors, journalists, etc.). The list of the 2016 jury members is provided in Appendix II A.
3.3. The brand that wins the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix is automatically ineligible for the competition the following year, and its founder or CEO is invited to sit on the jury for one year.
3.4. The president of the jury is appointed by the Board of the Foundation of the GPHG.
3.5. 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 without appeal.
4. JURY COMMISSIONER
4.1. The jury commissioner is a personality acknowledged for his professional expertise in watchmaking.
4.2. He is appointed by the Board of the Foundation of the GHPG, and serves as consultative role with the jury.
4.3. He ensures compliance with the rules and that competing watches meet admission criteria.
4.4. He 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. In the first round of voting, by secret ballot, jury 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. The votes are counted under the supervision of a notary.
5.2. The first round of voting serves to select six watches in each of the twelve categories. These are the pre-selected watches. The pre-selected watches take part in the rest of the competition and in the various exhibitions.
Second round :
5.3. Jury members, assisted by the notary, meet behind closed doors in Geneva during the exhibition of the pre-selected watches, in order to physically evaluate each of the pre-selected models and to proceed to the second ballot.
5.4. The second round of voting is another secret ballot in which jury members classify each of the six watches pre-selected in the first round in each of the twelve categories, and award them marks from one to six. The first watch gets six points, the second five points, and so on through to the sixth, which gets one point. The votes are counted by a notary. This second selection serves to designate the winning watches in each of the twelve categories.
5.5. In the event of a draw, the Jury President’s vote counts double.
5.6. The jury casts a separate vote for the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix. Following discussion, the jury members jointly define the three to five watches among the pre-selected watches they consider most deserving of this prize. The ensuing vote is cast by secret ballot. The watch that wins the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix is no longer taken into account in the category in which it was initially competing.
5.7. The jury casts a separate vote for the Revival Watch Prize. Following discussion, the jury members jointly define the three to five watches they consider most deserving of this prize. The ensuing vote is cast be secret ballot. The watch that wins the Revival Watch Prize is no longer taken into account in the category in which it was initially competing.
5.8. A single brand cannot win more than three prizes. If a brand is set to win four prizes, the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix and the “Revival” Prize will be maintained as a priority if they are involved, followed by the prizes 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.). The Public Prize is unaffected by this issue.
5.9. The jury also votes for the Special Jury Prize during the meeting mentioned under point 5.3. Following discussion, the members of the jury agree on three names proposed for the prize. The ensuing vote is cast by secret ballot.
5.10. The names of the winners are revealed in the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva during the prize-giving ceremony (see date in Appendix III).
6. TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
6.1. The watches pre-selected in accordance with Article 5.2 are displayed during an international travelling exhibition during the six weeks prior to the prize-giving ceremony. The finalist watches in each of the twelve categories, as well as the winners in the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix, the Revival Prize and the Public Prize are also displayed as part of 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 from September 20 until end of November 2016.
6.3. The organising body of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève covers all exhibition expenses (insurance, security, presentation). Brands will only be asked to make a single flat-rate contribution to organisation and shipping expenses to the amount of CHF 5’000 per watch.
7. DONATING WINNING WATCHES
7.1 Prize-winning brands are invited (but are under no 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 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
8. REFERENCES TO THE GRAND PRIX D’HORLOGERIE DE GENÈVE
8.1. 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.
8.2. Prize-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.
8.3. Prize-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.
9. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES
9.1 Participation in the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève automatically implies acceptance of all articles contained in these rules.
APPENDIX I
Entry conditions and procedures
1.1. Only watches respecting the criteria of the point 1.2 of the 2016 rules are eligible to participate.
1.2. To take part, brands must send their entries by June 22,2016 at the latest to the following address:
Fondation du Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève
Rue de la Mairie 3, CH-1207 Geneva
1.3. Entries must include the following elements:
- A duly completed entry form (to be downloaded from www.gphg.org, in “ Entries”, and returned in printed format accompanied with a USB stick containing the digital resources listed below). Please note that each model is allowed to enter in one category only.
- Photos of each watch (at least an upright presentation) / digital format, 300 dpi, JPEG, RGB colours.
- A written description of each watch in French and English (digital format, Word).
- “GPHG candidature” Excel file duly completed (to be downloaded from www.gphg.org / “ Entries”).
- Logo of the brand (EPS and AI).
- Video: if you wish, you may also send us a link (YouTube, Dailymotion or other) to a video presenting your watch (max. of 30 seconds).
For any further information, please e-mail organisation@gphg.org
1.4. Registration costs CHF 500 per candidate watch. This sum is intended to cover administrative expenses relating to the entry. These costs will be invoiced upon receipt of the entry and must be settled within 30 days.
APPENDIX II
A. Composition of the 2016 official jury
For the 2016 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the jury is composed as follows:
President :
Aurel Bacs, expert in collector's watches, Co-Founder and Partner with Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo / Switzerland
Members :
Carlos Alonso, publisher and editor-in-chief of Tiempo de Relojes and director of the Salon Internacional Alta Relojeria / Mexico
René Beyer, co-owner and CEO of Beyer Chronometrie AG and of the Watch and Clock Museum in Zurich / Switzerland
David Chang, founder of Watchina and director of Beijing Collectors' Association / China
Stephan Ciejka, director and editor-in-chief of La Revue des Montres / France
Benjamin Clymer, founder and editor-in-chief of Hodinkee / USA
Zhixiang Ding, publisher and editor-in-chief of Chronos China / China
Elizabeth Doerr, freelance specialised watch journalist / Germany
Philippe Dufour, watchmaker / Switzerland
Moritz Elsaesser, watchmaker CW 21, president and owner of Mainly Watches, collector / USA
Nick Foulkes, historian, author, contributor to the Financial Times / United Kingdom
John Goldberger, watch collector, author and publisher of books on vintage watches / Italy
Heekyung Jung, publisher, journalist and trainer / Korea
Sean Li, watch collector, editor in chief of Revolution Hong Kong and editorial director of watches of Tatler Asia / China
Pierre Maillard, editor in chief of Europa Star and filmmaker / Switzerland
Takeshi Matsuyama, author, history of watch, contributor to the Men's EX /Japan
Paola Pujia, editor-in-chief of Orologi-Le Misure del Tempo / Italy
Gianfranco Ritschel, Consultant and trainer in watchmaking / Switzerland
William Rohr, collector, managing director of TimeZone.com, watch expert at Bonhams Auctioneers / USA
David Sadigh, Founder and CEO of Digital Luxury Group / Switzerland
Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, vice-chairman of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons / Dubai
Claude Sfeir, collector, gemologist, jeweler / Lebanon
Antoine Simonin, watchmaker, teacher, former director of Wostep / Switzerland
Chantal Thomass, fashion designer / France
Kim-Eva Wempe, owner and personally liable partner of the Gerhard D. Wempe KG based in Hamburg / Germany
Tina Zegg, owner & managing Partner of Zegg & Cerlati / Monaco
Robert Greubel & Stephen Forsey, co-founders of Greubel Forsey, brand laureate of the 2015 "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix, out of competition in 2016. (A single vote)
By way of a reminder: the brand that wins the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix is automatically ineligible for the competition the following year, and its founder or CEO is invited to sit on the jury for one year.
B. Jury Commissioner
For the 2016 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the commissioner of the jury is:
Ludwig Oechslin, watch expert and former curator, MIH, Musée International d’Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds
APPENDIX III
Date
The prize-giving ceremony for the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève will take place at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva on Thursday November 10, 2016.