On October 28, the winners of the different categories of the awards were announced.Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG 2015). The covetedAiguille d’Or went to Greubel-Forsey’s 24-second Vision Tourbillon, while thepublic award went to Antoine Preziuso's Tourbillon of Tourbillons.
And I mention these two first because they do not have specific candidates since they are all candidates. Oh, I forgot, thespecial jury prize, which went to the team of watchmakers behind the Vacheron Constantin 57260, a super complicated pocket size and the only one outside the other categories.
Comparing the results of these other categories of the GPHG 2015 awards with our pools (part 1 and part 2) I must recognize that the criteria – and I assume the knowledge – of the jury and mine differ quite a bit. Not only in the chosen ones but even in the preselected ones, because authentic wonders were left out of the final and lost their position in favor of anodyne creations, to be fair.
I don't quite understand, for example, how in the Women's High Mech section (Ladies' High-Mech) a Montblanc perpetual calendar is prioritizedleaving a delicious HyT Iceberg out of the race. Or why in the sectionmen's watch, dominated by the classic line, a freak like MB&F sneaks inwhile a future icon of elegance like H. Moser stays to see them come.
It may all have to do with two very important points. The first objective is thatOnly those who pay to do so compete. Exactly: in order to compete in the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix you have to fill out a form, send some photos or renderings... and pay 500 CHF (five hundred Swiss francs) per candidate.
It is certainly not an exorbitant amount for what usually moves in the industry, but the key is that it has to be the brand that presents it; If not, it is not considered. That would also explain thedisparity in watchmaking level of some of the competitorsin the same category of the 2015 GPHG awards.
The second, subjective because it is my own opinion, has to do withthe weight of the watch groups. I would explain one of the preselection examples that I have given above, which is repeated in almost all categories. Another of them – clamorous, always in my opinion – is the prize that the Girard Perregaux (“Tourbillon Minute Repeater under Three Golden Bridges”) wins over the Akrivia or, if you hurry me, the ZeitWerk of Lange & Söhne.
The Trois Ponts D'Or is very old! Nobody knew him and they had to reward him now? We could continue dissecting category by category of the GPHG 2015 awards, and perhaps some would remain unscathed...
In short, I think that no matter how much importance they want to give it with aHollywood staging and the world tour of exhibitions(Hong Kong, Dubai, London, Geneva...) the GPHG remains an expensive party of friends... who have paid their entrance.
We have told you everything:
Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève 2015 I & II
Best watch strap | Best annual calendar watch | Best watch winder | Best Black Luxury watch | Best Luxury Watches Men | Best Swiss Luxury Watches Women | Best Men Diamond Watches under 1000 | Best Diamond Watches Women | Best Luxury Dive Watch
