Tudor Pelagos 39, Bulgari Serpenti Cleopatra and Hautlence Sphere Series 1 were declared winners at the 2023 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
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, Bulgari Serpenti Cleopatra, and Hautlence Sphere Series 1. The latter is exclusive to Cortina Watch.
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.
Bulgari 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.
Hautlence Sphere Series 1 (Innovation Prize)
The Hautlence Sphere Series 1 wins the Innovation Prize at the GPHG 2023.
The Innovation Prize is discretionary and decided by the jury as a recognition to the best competing timepiece offering an innovative vision of time measurement (in terms of technique, design, display, materials, etc.) and/or opening up new development pathways for the watchmaking art (sustainability, traceability, ethics, etc.). The Sphere Series 1 by Hautlence was deemed worthy by the jury to be the most innovative in the 2023 edition. Setting itself apart from the rest is the watch’s distinctive looks. The blue sphere roofed by a small sapphire crystal dome is adorned with engraved numerals, where it spins on multiple axes to reveal the current hour. Though the sequence may appear random at first, it is in fact choreographed and orchestrated by four conical gears and two crossed spindles with a 21-degree tilt. The sphere itself is encased in polished titanium and further treated with a cool blue PVD finish.
To its right is a retrograde minute display, which is partially openworked to highlight the watch’s unique and innovative mechanical components. Together they enable the watch to function in a mesmerising way, both technically and visually. The movement guarantees 72 hours of power reserve. Furthermore, the minute track and applied minute numerals are made of Globolight and affixed to an intermediary sapphire crystal dial for added transparency. The steel case of the Sphere Series 1 features Hautlence’s signature TV screen shape, which has been reworked for this particular reference. The watch is limited to 28 pieces.
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); Bulgari Octo Roma Striking Papillon Tourbillon, Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon (Tourbillon); Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar (Calendar and Astronomy); Hautlence Sphere Series 1 (Mechanical Exception); Singer Reimagined 1969 Chrono, TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper (Chronograph); Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF, TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer, Tudor Pelagos 39 (Sports); Bulgari Serpenti Cleopatra, Chopard Pure Happiness (Jewellery); Bulgari Octo Roma Automatic, Tudor Black Bay (“Petite Aiguille”).
The Singer Reimagined 1969 Chrono was nominated for the Chronograph Prize at the GPHG 2023.
Notably, Hautlence, Parmigiani Fleurier and Singer Reimagined are brands exclusive to Cortina Watch.
Discover more brands with Cortina Watch online or contact us to speak to our sales associated at our boutiques near you.
