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The 22nd annual Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève awards (GPHG 2022) event, presided over poetically by Edouard Baer and eagerly anticipated by the watchmaking industry, took place on Thursday, November 10 at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva.
MB&F's Legacy Machine Sequential Evo was granted the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix "best-in-show" distinction by the GPHG Academy, which is comprised of 650 key professionals in the profession from around the world, and the 2022 Jury, chaired by Nick Foulkes.
In terms of showcasing the finest and most innovative products in the watch industry, the GPGF is unrivalled. It's far from ideal, and a few highly respected watchmakers have declined to participate. No timepieces from Rolex, Richemont (other than Van Cleef & Arpels), or the Swatch Group were entered. Although the GPHG is significant. It's a rare gathering that showcases the entire spectrum of the watch business, from mechanical clocks and jewelry to the intricacies of Swiss watchmaking culture.
Some of the other brands that took home a prize include Akrivia, Bulgari, Grand Seiko, Ferdinand Berthoud, Grönefeld, H. Moser & Cie, Hermès, Krayon, M.A.D. Editions, Parmigiani Fleurier, Sylvain Pinaud, TAG Heuer, Trilobe, Tudor, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Voutilainen. This year's Special Jury Prize, presented annually to a significant individual or organization in the watchmaking industry, was given to François Junod, an automaton-maker and artist.
The Musée Rath in Geneva, Switzerland, is now hosting an exhibition of the 90 nominated watches, including the winners, through November 20, 2022. New York will also host the award ceremonies for 2022's winners from December 1 to 4.
Here’s the list of the winners from this year:
“Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix & Challenge Watch Category
Maximilian Büsser, owner and creative director of MB&F, winner of the “Aiguille d’Or” for the MB&F, Legacy Machine Sequential Evo and the Challenge watch award for M.A.D. Editions, M.A.D.1 Red.
Ladies’ Watch Category
Guido Terreni, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier, winner of the Ladies’ Watch 2022 for the Tonda PF Automatic
Ladies’ Complication Watch & Men’s Complication Watch Category
Laurent Dordet, Hermès Horloger CEO, winner of the Men’s Complication and the Ladies’ Complication Watch 2022 for the Arceau Le temps voyageur.
Iconic Watch Category
Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer, winner of the Iconic Watch 2022 for the Monaco X Gulf
Tourbillon Category
Édouard et Bertrand Meylan, owners of H. Moser & Cie, winners of the Tourbillon Watch 2022 for the Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton
Calendar and Astronomy Watch Category
Rémi Maillat, Founder of Krayon, winner of the Calendar and Astronomy Watch 2022 for Anywhere
Mechanical Exception Watch Category
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, President of Ferdinand Berthoud, winner of the Mechanical Exception category 2022 for the FB 2RSM.2-1
Chronograph Watch Category
Bart and Tim Grönefeld, Co-founders of Grönefeld, winner of the Chronograph Watch 2022 for the 1941 Grönograaf Tantalum
Jewellery Watch Category
Antoine Pin, CEO Watch division Bulgari, winner of the Jewellery Watch 2022 for the Serpenti Misteriosi High Jewellery
Artistic Crafts Watch Category
Kari Voutilainen, Owner and watchmaker of Voutilainen, winner of the Artistic Crafts Watch 2022 for the Voutilainen, Ji-Ku
“Petite Aiguille” Category
Volcy Bloch, CEO of Trilobe and Gautier Massonneau, founder and creative director of Trilobe, winner of the "Petite Aiguille" 2022 for the Nuit Fantastique Dune Edition
Chronometry Category
Akio Naito, President of Seiko Watch Corporation and Takuma Kawauchiya, Grand Seiko movement designer, winner of the Chronometry category 2022 for the Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon.
Innovation & Mechanical Clock Category
Eric de Rocquigny, International Operations & Métiers Director Van Cleef & Arpels, winner of the Innovation and mechanical clock 2022 category for the Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier watch and the Fontaine Aux Oiseaux automation
Audacity Category
Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari Group, winner of the Audacy 2022 category for the Octo Finissimo Ultra 10th Anniversary
“Horological Revelation” Category
Sylvain Pinaud, Watchmaking artisan, winner of the Horological Revelation 2022 for the Origine
Diver’s Watch Category
Christophe Chevalier, Head of Public Relations of Tudor, winner of the Diver’s Watch 2022 for the Pelagos FXD
Men’s Watch Category
Rexhep Rexhepi, Watchmaker and founder of Akrivia, winner of the Men’s Watch 2022 for the Akrivia, Chronomètre Contemporain II
Special Jury Award
François Junod, Automaton-maker and sculptor
Simon Debaz, Winner of the Young Student award 2022
Are you happy with the winners announced last night? Well, almost all the watches were deserving and it was good to see names like Sylvain Pinaud being recognized as well. Watch out for this one. We were however expecting a different outcome from the Men’s Complication category, but that’s just a personal opinion. Congratulations to all the winners at GPHG 2022!
