The Swiss watchmaking world’s version of the Academy Awards took place on Nov. 15, when 1,500 of the industry’s movers and shakers gathered in Geneva to attend the 13th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

The jury awarded the grand prize, the prestigious Aiguille d’Or, to Girard-Perregaux for its 2013 Constant Escapement L.M. watch, which features a mechanism designed to apply a constant force to the torque of the spring during the power reserve duration, thereby improving the movement’s precision and accuracy.

 

Girard-Perregaux’s Constant Escapement L.M. watch took home the Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève on Nov. 15. Photo courtesy of Girard-Perregaux.

“This award acknowledges the innovative capacity and technical mastery of Girard-Perregaux,” said Michele Sofisti, CEO of parent company the Sowind Group, in a statement. “The Constant Escapement L.M. is the embodiment of our vision of watchmaking, which is an art in movement. It pays homage to our history, marked by the creativity that has been the hallmark of Girard-Perregaux since 1791.”

 

Michele Sofisti, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, at center, celebrates his big win. Photo courtesy of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

The ceremony was live streamed and simultaneously translated into English on Euronews.com, Worldtempus.com, and the official Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève website, Gphg.org.

In addition to the Aiguille d’Or, 14 additional prizes were awarded:

Grande Complication Prize: A. Lange & Söhne, 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar?

Ladies’ Complications Watch Prize: Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Ballerine Enchantée?

Ladies’ Watch Prize: DeLaneau, Rondo Translucent Champagne?

Men’s Complications Watch Prize: Romain Gauthier, Logical One?

Men’s Watch Prize: Voutilainen, V-8R?

Innovation Prize: Vianney Halter, Deep Space Tourbillon?

Jewellery Watch Prize: Chopard, L’Heure du Diamant?

Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Chanel, Mademoiselle Privé Camélia Brodé?

Sports Watch Prize: Zenith, El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th?

Petite Aiguille Watch Prize: Habring2, Jumping Second Pilot?

Revival Prize: Tudor, Heritage Black Bay?

Horological Revelation Prize: Ressence, Type 3?

Special Jury Prize: Philippe Dufour??

Public Prize : A. Lange & Söhne, 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar

Chopard’s L’Heure du Diamant? timepiece earned the Jewellery Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Photo courtesy of Chopard. 

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