Photo Essay: 2007 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève

[IanS]

The Grand Théâtre de Genève was once again The Horological Center of the World on Wednesday night (14th November)
for the 2007 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.

And what an evening it was as this year the winners appeared to have been selected more on merit than the seemingly,
'It's-my-turn ' allocation.



While, the red carpet was rolled out for the big night, that the event took place at all is thanks to Rolex.
The city of Geneva, had, until this year; donated the use of the Grand Théâtre to the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie;
however, market forces (and an expensive renovation) meant that the Grand Prix now has to pay rent for the evening.



Rolex generously stepped in as a sponsor . . .and as if that was not enough;
in the interests of ensuring complete transparency, they withdrew their (extremely popular)
Milgauss from competition in the Best Men's Watch category.


Talent watch designer Eric Giroud looking forward to the event. Eric works closely with Max Büsser; however his focus
on the night was another of his clients, Harry Winston, who had a watch in the Best Complicated Watch category (more on that later).


John Simonian (Westime) and Richard Mille catch up. If John wished Richard all the best then his wishes paid off big time!


If you think it is busy pre-award ceremony, you should see it post-awards (and you will)


Guests start to take their seats.


I didn't see 'Fancy Dress' on the invitation!


This is where I started to realize that we could be in for a great night. Those of you who saw my post a month ago on
'Jean Marc Wiederrecht - Perhaps the best master watchmaker you have never heard of' will understand how happy I felt
(and judging from the riotous, and very un-Swiss-like, applause, most of the crowd felt the same way) seeing the prize of Best Watchmaker Concepter, go to a well-deserving Jean Marc.


This is the first year the Best Watchmaker Concepter prize has been awarded and it recognizes a lifetime's work rather than just one watch.


Bernard Fornas from Cartier picks up the best Ladies Watch for Cartier's Ballon Bleu.
This watch also received the prize for best Ladies Watch at the recent Montres Passion awards .


While my fingers were tightly crossed for URWERK's 103 here, I do not think that anybody (including myself) begrudged
the Audemars Piguet Millenary Dead Seconds picking up first prize in the Best Design catagory.

The fact that URWERK's talented small team came so close and was only pipped at the post (apparently the judging was close)
by such a high calibre timepiece hopefully bears well for the future.


Audemars Piguet's CEO Georges Henri Meylan, picks up the prize for Best Design.


An elated and emotional Kari Voutilainen accepting the award for Best Mens Watch for his sublime
‘Observatoire’.


Kari's prize had me wanting to race down and kiss the jury (which I'm sure would have them scattering).
Congratulations Kari and I tip my hat to all those who voted for him.


What it may lack in elegance, Hublot's One Million Dollar Big Bang more than makes up for in being an incredible showcase
for the art and craft of fine sertissage (gem-setting).

Skills such as these would quickly die out but for the support of men like Jean-Claude Biver.


The prize for the Best Complicated Watch went to Harry Winston's Tourbillon “Glissière”.

I felt that the American CEO of Harry Winston, Thomas O'Neil, deserved a prize for reading out his speech
entirely in French, while obviously not comfortable in the language. Chapeau!


Georges Henri Meylan takes the stage once again to accept the prize for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
Alinghi Team Chronograph in the Best Sports Watch category.
This watch should also get a prize for 'Longest Name':


The Zenith Defy Xtreme Open Stealth leaves me scratching my head, but I must be in the minority as the watch won the public's vote for most popular watch. Zenith's president and chief designer Thierry Nataf was understandably overjoyed to have his vision vindicated by the public's confidence.


The incredible Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso grande complication à triptyque was awarded the Special Jury Prize
(out of category but meriting special recognition). Pictured is the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Mr. Jerome Lambert accepting the award.


And the BIG ONE! The Aiguille d'Or (Golden Hand) went to Richard Mille's RM 012. This was another very popular choice
by the jury judging from the appreciative noise from the crowd.

That's last year's winner (and this year member of the jury) François- Paul Journe on the left.






There is nothing like free champagne to attract a crowd.


From left to right: Jean-Marc Wiederrecht (Agenhor - Watchmaker Conceptor), Richard Mille ( Aiguille d'Or), Georges Henri Meylan (Design and Best Sport Watch, Thierry Nataf (Public's Prize), Bernard Fornas (Cartier-Ladies Watch), Kari Voutilainen (Mens Watch), Jerome Lambert (JLC-Special Jury Prize). Thomas O'Neil (Harry Winston - Complicated Watch), Jean-Claude Biver (Gem-set Watch)

[foversta]

Thanks Ian for this superb report !

Well, I must confess I'm not convinced by all the choices but I'm very happy with the prize won by Kari Voutilainen ! I'm a bit disapointed by the fact that Urwerk didn't win but they will try harder next time !



Thanks again for this excelent report.

[MarkS]

for paying the rent of the Théâtre and for withdrawing their Milgauss which leveled the road for Kari Voutilainen's Observatoire !

The Grand Prix 2008 will have to look for an other sponsor for the clock featured on the speaker's tribune, have you noticed how crazy the indication goes over the event ?

The group picture of all the winners at the end of your post is a good shot and a difficult one to get, where do you get them all together on a same picture !

Many thanks for being there for us, MarkS

[Amr KSA]

it was a great event, and most of the prizes were well-deserved (except for that Zenith then again, a lot of the public that voted are not necessarily watch-savvy).

it was my first time at the GP, and the experience was overwhelming! it really felt like being in a UN summit of the Horology world

[Jack Forster]

. . . I must say a very distinguished lineup this year. It gives me considerable pleasure to see that one of my favorite watches of this or any other year, the Millenary with Deadbeat Seconds, won in the Best Design category (a watch which has moved the hearts of many, even if there is The Unpleasant Matter of the Bill ) and to see Jean Marc Weiderrecht and Kari Voutilainen winning in their respective categories was VERY gratifying.

I must also say, hats off big time to Rolex for their sponsorship and also for withdrawing the Milgauss, which is a watch I lie awake at night thinking about .

Thanks Ian and congratulations again to the winners and all participants!

Jack

[Lol-x]

Very sporting and generous of Rolex to sponsor the event and then go one step further of withdrawing their entry (Milgauss).
Thanks for sharing the evening.

[IanS]

though with the sheer number of people there it was perhaps not surprising.

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the event.

[Milan]

As usual Ian truly some fantastic reporting from our horological equivalent of Oscars.

IMVHO the results were indeed a bit to predictable and not that much unforeseen with the great exception of Kari and Zenith .

Very valiant and unexpected move by Rolex which definitely deserves a round of and from all of us.