At one of the most prestigious events in watchmaking, IWC Schaffhausen’s Portugieser Eternal Calendar was awarded with the highest honor, the «Aiguille d’Or». This innovative timepiece, launched earlier this year, features a secular perpetual calendar with a remarkable 400-year gear and an ultra-precise Double Moon phase display, showcasing IWC’s mastery in horological engineering. Apart from this main prize, 19 other watches were honored in different categories.
The award ceremony of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), held at Geneva's Théâtre du Léman and hosted by French actress Carole Bouquet, celebrated 21 winning creations across diverse categories, including awards for eco-innovation, artistic craftsmanship, and exceptional complications.
GPHG Academy President Nick Foulkes led the jury of industry experts in selecting honorees from a lineup of timepieces that exemplify precision, creativity, and mechanical excellence. In addition to IWC, brands like Chopard, Piaget, and Van Cleef & Arpels were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the field.
Outstanding Achievement
The award caps a significant year for IWC, which has long been renowned for its technical prowess. The Portugieser Eternal Calendar’s unprecedented calendar mechanism is designed to account for Gregorian calendar leap year adjustments up to the year 3999, while its moon phase display achieves a level of accuracy projected to deviate by just a single day every 45 million years.
«We are thrilled to win this award,» said Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. «Our team has once again expanded the boundaries of what’s possible in mechanical watchmaking, crafting a timepiece that customers can wear daily while pushing the limits of precision and complexity.»
From Geneva to Bucharest
The 2024 GPHG highlighted not only individual achievements in watchmaking but also ongoing advancements within the industry. Jean-Pierre Hagmann, a master watch case artisan, received the Jury’s Special Prize for his lifelong contributions to horology.
Following the ceremony, the winning timepieces will be displayed in Bucharest, giving watch enthusiasts in Europe an opportunity to witness these masterpieces up close.
Since its founding in 2001, the GPHG has celebrated Swiss watchmaking excellence through a foundation promoting neutrality, independence, and universality. Today, it stands as a global ambassador for high horology, drawing attention to innovations that honor tradition while embracing technological advancement.
And Here Are The Winners:
«Aiguille d’Or» Grand Prix – IWC Schaffhausen, Portugieser Eternal Calendar:
Audacity Prize – Berneron, Mirage Sienna:
Eco-Innovation Prize – Chopard, L.U.C Qualité Fleurier:
Chronometry Prize – Bernhard Lederer, 3 Times Certified Observatory Chronometer:
«Horological Revelation» Prize – Rémy Cools, Tourbillon Atelier:
Iconic Watch Prize – Piaget, Piaget Polo 79:
Tourbillon Watch Prize – Daniel Roth, Tourbillon Souscription:
Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize – Laurent Ferrier, Classic Moon Silver:
Mechanical Exception Watch Prize – Bovet 1822, Récital 28 Prowess 1:
Chronograph Watch Prize – Massena Lab, Chronograph Monopoussoir Sylvain Pinaud x Massena Lab:
Sports Watch Prize – Ming, 37.09 Bluefin:
Men’s Complication Watch Prize – De Bethune, DB Kind Of Grande Complication:
Men’s Watch Prize – Voutilainen, KV20i Reversed:
Time Only Watch Prize – H. Moser & Cie, Streamliner Small Seconds Blue Enamel:
Jewellery Watch Prize – Chopard, Laguna High-Jewellery Secret Watch:
Artistic Crafts Watch Prize – Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté:
Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize – Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Brise d'Été:
Ladies’ Watch Prize – Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Jour Nuit:
«Petite Aiguille» Watch Prize – Kudoke, 3 Salmon:
Challenge Watch Prize – Otsuka Lotec, No.6
