Created in 2001, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has
established itself as the most important award show in the industry. Here’s a look back at how the event started, the performance of the competing brands and, just as important, how much the event has evolved over the last two decades.

The Grand Prix d?Horlogerie de Genève was created in 2001 with the aim to ?highlight and [?] reward the most remarkable contemporary creations and promote the watchmaking art worldwide.? The founding members were the Canton of Geneva, the City of Geneva, the Musée international d?horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds (MIH), the Geneva Laboratory of Watchmaking and Microtechnology (Timelab) and the Edipresse Group. Until 2019, watch brands were able to enter their most promising models in up to 14 categories, with a (comparatively small) fee per watch, and an additional, more substantial, fee for shortlisted watches that would later take part in the global traveling exhibition. Carine Maillard, Director of the GPHG, says, ?The GPHG is a media showcase and a great promotional tool. The preselected watches are presented every year in autumn, during an exceptional exhibition, which travels the globe. Winning watches have significant visibility thanks to international media coverage. We keep registration fees low so all brands can participate.?
Kari Voutilainen on his way to collect one of the two awards he won at the GPHG 2019.

In other words, the GPHG is partiall...