A few months before the most prestigious awards of the watch world will be distributed, we have brought together our favorites from each category for you.
GPHG, or Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve, is held every year to find the best watches competing in 15 categories, and the models are crowned with 21 different awards. The watches introduced from May 2022 to the end of October 2023 will be evaluated in GPHG 2023. The last applications were closed in June 2023, and the results of the grand rally will be announced in November 2023.
You can reach all the models that will compete in GPHG 2023 from the link. https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2023/competing-watches
My favorite in the Ladies' category: Piaget Hidden Treasures. The watch, which has a 27mm x 22mm x 6.55mm pink gold case and quartz caliber, draws attention with its unusual case-bracelet design and a list price of 161,000 CHF.
My favorite in the Ladies' Complication category: Gucci G-Timeless Planetarium. Although it is a bit large for the wrists of elegant women with its 40mm case diameter, it is not possible to remain indifferent to the tourbillon balance spring located in the center of the dial.
My favorite in the Men's category: Simon Brette Chronometer Artisans. Every single point of the watch, which will be produced in a limited edition of only 12 pieces, from the zirconium case to the extraordinarily detailed craftsmanship in the parts that make up the movement, fascinates.
My favorite in the Men's Complication category: Byrne Gyrodial Zero Rhodium. The indices on the dial of this watch have four faces, and once a day, the prisms bearing the indices rotate around themselves, causing the dial design of the watch to change.
My favorite in the Iconic category: IWC Ingenieur. Needless to explain, I think that IWC, which has perhaps signed one of the most successful reproductions of 2023, deserves this award with its Ingenieur model.
My favorite in the Tourbillon category: Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit. With its titanium case and bracelet, gradient pink dial, and modest tourbillon caliber visible only through the back cover, the Grand Sport Tourbillon combines high watchmaking with sporty details.
My favorite in the Calendar and Astronomy category: IWC Big Pilot's Perpetual Lake Tahoe. Although, with its 46.5mm diameter, I think it is too big to be worn on a "normal" sized wrist, great sacrifices can be made for the harmony of the white ceramic case with the black dial.
My favorite in the Mechanical Exception category: Audemars Piguet Code 11.50 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4. If you ask why, let me list the complications of the watch's mechanism: hour, minute, day, date, month, year, moon phase, flyback chronograph, rattrapante, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, semi-gregorian, petite and grande sonnerie.
My favorite in the Chronograph category: Petermann Bedat Chronographe Rattrapante. 38.6mm diameter platinum case, winding, bi-compax placement, monopusher and split seconds feature. On top of that, Petermann Bedat's breathtaking engineering and craftsmanship. What more could I ask for?
My favorite in the Sports category: Tudor Pelagos 39. I think this watch is a clear challenge to Tudor's coveted crown of the great Rolex.
My favorite in the jewelery category: Tag Heuer Carrera Diamant D'Avant-Garde. I think it is necessary to congratulate Tag Heuer for displaying a game-changing approach to the production of both jewelry and watches.
My favorite in the Artistic Crafts category: Andersen Geneve Jumping Hours Rising Sun. Combining the disappearing jumping hours complication with a breathtaking dial, Andersen Geneve will produce only 50 of this model.
My favorite in the Petite Aiguille category: Christopher Ward London C1 Bel Canto. Fitting the hour repeater complication that rings every hour in a 41mm titanium case, with a price tag of only 3350 CHF, is a laudable achievement.
My favorite in the Challenge category: Nomos Glashütte Cluc Campus 38 Electric Green. Nomos is one of the best examples of not having to pay astronomical prices to get superior quality. I think Club Campus 38 is the brand's watch with the highest price/benefit ratio.
My favorite in the Mechanical Clock category: Maison Alcee Persee Azur. This desk clock, which has a power reserve of more than 12 days, is not only impressive but also the design and production story.
