Founded in 2001, the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is an annual event that seeks to recognise the contemporary creativity and innovation of watchmakers around the world. The 2020 edition took place on Thursday 12 November at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva. The ceremony, which was presented by French actor Edouard Baer, could also be viewed virtually.
The jury, made up of international professionals from a variety of sectors, including watchmakers, designers, journalist, photographers, etc., awarded 19 prizes to 84 timepieces divided into 14 categories, ranging from luxury watches for men and women to diving chronographs, as well as the Aiguille d’Or, the most prestigious distinction.
The Molitor jewellery shop shows you some of the winners.
Grand Prix de l’Aiguille d’Or
Piaget, Altiplano Ultimate Concept
At just two millimetres thick, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept is the thinnest mechanical watch in the world. The unique design, which includes the case being part of the movement, required four years of work and resulted in five patents.
Innovation Prize
Parmigiani Fleurier, Hijri
The new Hijri Perpetual Calendar by Parmigiani Fleurier is the quintessential expression of culture and haute horlogerie.This perpetual calendar wristwatch based on the Hijri or Islamic lunar calendar indicates hours and minutes, the date in Arabic numerals, and the name and length of the month in poetic Arabic calligraphy.The timepiece also indicates abundant and common years. Moreover, it features a moon phase display in an aventurine sky, a very on-trend material.
Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize
Vacheron Constantin, Overseas perpetual calendar ultra-thin skeleton
Highly regarded by collectors for its gold cladding and its reliability, this Overseas will take you on a journey into the intricacies of the perpetual calendar. This complication, which ensures extraordinary accuracy until 1 March 2100, is the manifestation of superior performance. The movement contains 276 components and is an outstanding achievement in design and miniaturisation.