The 'Aiguille d'Or' award at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève is the greatest prize that any watch can receive. With four days left to submit their entries to participate in the 2014 GPHG —Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève—, watch brands are wrapping up the last finishing touches to their submissions which should be received at the Foundation of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève by June 23, 2014. The competition is exclusively open to watches launched after March 2013 and before November 30, 2014. The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève was created in 2001 and the Foundation of the GPHG was officially established before a notary in Geneva on May 31st 2011. The five founding members are the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the City of Geneva, the Musée International de l’Horlogerie/International Museum of Horology in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Geneva Laboratory of Horology and Microengineering —Timelab— and the Edipresse group. All the founding members are represented on the Board of the Foundation, which is chaired by Mr. Carlo Lamprecht, former President of the Geneva State Council.
The main objective of the Foundation of the GPHG is to contribute, thanks to its label, to promoting Swiss watchmaking and its values around the world. The GPHG prize giving ceremony held in November of each year at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, which draws elite representatives of the international watchmaking profession. The watches pre-selected for the GPHG, as well as the winners, take part in a traveling exhibition that enables an international audience to discover and admire the finest timepieces of the year, exceptionally united on this occasion. This exhibition is held each year during the months of October and November in the countries that generate the greatest interest in the watch market.
Last year's winner, the Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement L.M. is a true technical revolution that stunned connoisseurs when prototypes of the innovative mechanism were first presented, the Constant Escapement is now integrated into the movements driving the new models of Girard-Perregaux’s Haute Horlogerie collection. Based on the ground-breaking prototypes presented in 2008, it took five years of research and development to bring this signature movement to fruition. Watchmaking history will be forever marked by this significant achievement in chronometry, paired with the superb balance and singularity of this movement. A revolutionary concept addressing a holy grail of watchmaking, Constant Force.
A breakthrough in the field of chronometry with a completely new architecture and design of the escapement —three different patents. Unprecedented precision: a victory over waning power in traditional mechanical watches, through constant power delivery to the oscillator meaning constant amplitude and constant rate. Avant-garde materials and advanced technology. Use of a 14 micron silicon buckled-blade, a strategic component 6 times thinner than a human hair. Long power reserve and linear indicator due to an innovative double twin barrel —patent pending. A total length of 3 meters of barrel spring. Spectacular avant-garde design inspired by the Girard-Perregaux tradition. Now enjoy these macro images.
Sticker Price 115,000CHF for Pink Gold Model. For more info on the GPHG click here and for Girard-Perregaux here.
