The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) 2026, the watch industry’s largest awards ceremony showcasing the best and brightest watchmakers from around the world, has just concluded in Geneva, with Rexhep Rexhepi taking home the top prize, the Grand Prix “Aiguille d’Or”, for the RRCHF Chronograph Flyback.
The ceremony marked the first outing under the leadership of new GPHG jury chairman Wei Koh, and it was held primarily in English for the first time to appeal to a more international audience. Hosted by Stéphane Bern and Arianne Alcorta, the ceremony presented awards in a multitude of categories celebrating watchmaking achievements over the year and throughout the industry’s history.
It was a big night for Chopard, which won four awards in total (including two for Ferdinand Berthoud), and for Audemars Piguet, which won two awards, including the Iconic Watch Prize for its Royal Oak RD 5, as well as for LVMH’s La Fabrique du Temps brands, including LVMH and Daniel Roth, which took home a few awards.
Category winners:
“Golden Needle”
Winner: Rexhep Rexhepi RRCHF Flyback Chronograph
For the grand prize and biggest win – essentially “watch of the year” among entrants – the jury chose the RRCHF Chronograph Flyback from Rexhep Rexhepi. The watch caused a stir when it was revealed, and Rexhep was kind enough to walk us through it and give us a closer look. The young watchmaking phenomenon said he expected a win tonight, but the top prize was a surprise and an unexpected dream.
“This watch truly represents my passion for watchmaking,” he said while accepting the award. “I just wanted to make a chronograph, something thin and something I could wear,” he added.
Here’s Ben’s in-depth analysis of the watch, a great in-depth read on Rexhepi and his work.
Time only
Winner: Chopard LUC 1860
Chopard won the award for “the hour only” with its LUC 1860. In his acceptance speech, Chopard’s Karl-Friedrich Scheufele pointed out that the award came on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the house’s manufacture in Fleurier. The elegant watch has surpassed strong offerings from Bulgari with its new Octo Finnissimo as well as Naoya Hida for the NH Type 8A. You can read Hands On by TanTan for the winning piece here.
Essential
Winner: Daniel Roth Extra Flat Skeleton in Rose Gold
Daniel Roth and the exquisite Extra Flat Rose Gold Skeleton won in the Essential category, beating strong competition from AP’s new Neo Frame and MB&F’s SP One Platinum.
Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, co-founders and master watchmakers of La Fabrique du Temps, accepting the award. In his acceptance speech, Barbasini took a moment to recognize his colleagues at Zenith, another LVMH brand, who are facing potentially significant layoffs.
Here’s Mark Kauzlarich’s hands-on take on this winner.
Complication
Winner: Cléguer Inspiration One
This one was a bit of a surprise since watchmaker Mathieu Cleguer won the prize for his Inspiration One. This timepiece is distinguished by its unique escapement developed by Cleguer, who previously worked at Akrivia de Rexhep Rexhepi. I met Cleguer the day before the awards and I can confirm that he is a great guy who takes his watchmaking very seriously.
Cleguer beat out serious competition, including Czapek’s popular Time Jumper as well as pieces by Vianney Halter, Urwerk and Ulysse Nardin.
Mechanical exception
Winner: Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie
Blancpain won the “Exception Mécanique” prize for its Grande Double Sonnerie. This is an incredible minute repeater with a price to match, which James spoke about in depth during his debut. The price and the piece confirm that Blancpain can still produce extraordinary fine watchmaking to rival the best.
Gemstone set
Winner: Piaget Swinging Pebble
Our Editor-in-Chief, Mark Kauzlarich, awarded the Gemset category, briefly recounting how he was introduced to watchmaking through his grandfather’s pocket watch and emphasizing the beauty and elegance of sharing a passion for watchmaking. Piaget took home the prize for its Swinging Pebble, with CEO Benjamin Comar thanking the jury and event organizers for moving the event to Saturday evening to get him out of the house!
Whirlwind
Winner: Ferdinand Berthoud FB 2TV Chronometer
New victory for Chopard with the Ferdinand Berthoud FB 2TV. Equipped with a one-minute flying tourbillon and a chain and rocket transmission, it clearly won over the jury in the face of stiff competition.
Chronograph
Winner: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Mystérieux
The Chronograph category was, in many ways, the most competitive category of the evening, and Parmigiani Fleurier took home the prize for its surprising and elegant FP Tonda Chronograph Mystérieux. The watch looks like an elegant three-hander until the chronograph mechanism is engaged and other hands are revealed to record the seconds and minutes. Guido Terreni, CEO of Parmigiani, thanked his team, including brand founder Michel Parmigiani, and joked that the Tonda Mystérieux is probably the first watch to make owners say, “Would you like to try my chronograph?” ‘- And
“This one you will do,” he said.
Calendar and astronomy
Winner: Audemars Piguet 150 Heritage
Also very competitive, the “Calendar and Astronomy” category went to Audemars Piguet. This story from Mark suggests that this is probably the most complicated watch ever created.
Accepting the award, AP CEO Ilaria Resta said the challenge she set her team with this timepiece was to introduce the pocket watch into today’s world. It’s a “complicated watch in a compact format. We didn’t want it to be a nostalgic watch. It’s a piece that should live in everyday life,” she said.
Sporty
Winner: Grand Seiko Spring Drive UFA Ushio 300 Diver
My kind of watch, the ‘Sports’ category went to Grand Seiko for its Spring Drive UFA Ushio 300 Diver. A more compact diver for the brand, the watch caused a stir when it debuted at Watches and Wonders this year.
Facing stiff competition from Laurent Ferrier, Hermès, IWC and H. Moser, the jury awarded Grand Seiko for producing a practical and wearable sports watch. In his acceptance speech, Seiko President Akio Naito thanked everyone who “supports Grand Seiko with their passion.”
The “sport” category can encompass many things, the definition being “watches linked to the world of sport, whose functions, materials and design are adapted to physical exercise”.
Jewelry
Winner: Chopard Mystery Nut
The Jewelry category featured some wild and beautiful pieces, with Chopard and its striking “Mystery Nut” taking top honors. Caroline Scheufele, accepting the award, said she often draws inspiration from nature to design Chopard jewelry and was picking nuts from her garden that morning, hoping they would bring her luck. This is certainly the case.
Artistic crafts
Winner: Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Arty Automata
The “Artistic Crafts” category offered numerous examples of artisans demonstrating their mastery of techniques such as enamelling, lacquering, engraving, guillochemarquetry, skeleton work. Louis Vuitton won the prize for its Tambour Taiko Arty Automata. Jean Arnault, head of Louis Vuitton watches and LVMH’s watch unit, said of the timepiece, “We did something crazy this time,” noting small details including the eyelashes that move slightly on the dial.
Little Needle
Winner: Otsuka Lotec n°8
Otsuka Lotec took home top honors in another super competitive category. La Petite Aiguille is open to watches between 4,500 and 10,000 CHF, and the industrial-inspired pieces from the Japanese brand have turned the heads of collectors. Here’s the introduction from Masaharu Wada of Hodinkee Japan and some great photos of the winner.
Challenge
Winner: Baltic x Space One Second Major
Open to watches priced below CHF 4,500, the “Challenge” category was awarded to the Baltic It’s a statement that French watchmaking has truly arrived, and Mark has written an excellent introduction with some great photos if you want to take a closer look.
Mechanical clock
Winner: Cosmo Valley
If clocks are your thing, there were some crazy (and expensive) examples vying for the award in this category. The prize for best mechanical clock went to La Vallée for its Cosmo, an extraordinary object of art from the Italian company based near Lake Cuomo.
The Cosmo still beat out the competition, including De Bethune’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton.
Special jury prizes
Watchmaking revelation
Winner: Dominique Renaud: Pulse60 Titanium Block
The jury awarded this honor to Dominique Renaud for the Pulse60 Titanium Block, his innovative watch design operating at 1 hertz. The watch features a massive balance wheel, an unusual escapement design, and a surprisingly affordable price tag from one half of the famous Renaud and Papi duo.
Iconic Watch Award
Winner: Audemars Piguet RD5
The Audemars Piguet RD5 was a likely contender for the Aguille d’Or. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that the most extreme, innovative and advanced version of AP’s most iconic watch won the award. Mark’s deep technical and practical dive is a must-read.
Price of Audacity
Winner: Konstantin Chaykin ThinkKing Mystery
Konstantin Chaykin’s incredibly thin ThinkKing has been nominated for the Mechanical Exceptional Award, so it’s great to see the Russian watchmaker’s groundbreaking work recognized. Here’s a great look at all 1.65mm of the ridiculously thin prototype version of James’ watch.
Chronometry Prize
Winner: Ferdinand Berthoud Birth of a Watch 3
Another victory for Chopard: the contribution of Ferdinand Berthoud to the Birth of a Watch project, organized by the Time Æeon Foundation. Here’s Mark’s charming, practical work telling you everything you need to know and more about it.
Special Jury Prize
Winner: Patek Philippe major exhibition of watchmaking art
Finally, a worthy recognition for Patek’s traveling exhibition of watchmaking art. The last edition just finished in Milan and Mark was there with all the details. Long-time executive of Patek…
Gn entert
