Off to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève....This year I have been invited to the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève for the first time. This is one of the major events in the watchmaking year and I am curious to see many of the big names in watchmaking all together for one evening in the Grand Théâtre du Genève. Of the around 350 watches that were submitted this year the international jury selected 62 that were then sent on a wandering exhibition in Singapore, Zurich and Geneva. These watches were all first offered for sale in the 21 months before these awards. Strangely enough, during this evening as you will see, there is not a single one of these watches to be seen, only their images on the screen.
With my mind on other things than staying in the middle of the lane I decide to take public transport, also realising that it is faster than driving. I must only remember to get off the train in downtown Geneva, if I find myself at the airport I have gone too far.
The train station in Geneva.
A short hop on the bus and we will be chauffeured to the door of the Grand Théâtre de Genève where the show will be held.
In front of the theatre General Dufour is greeting the guests from his horse.
After our greeting by the general young Swiss misses greet us again near the door.
While this young lady seems to be there to warn the Japanese not to enter this evening.
Inside the excitement is mounting before the doors are opened.
In the theatre we can see the projections on the building outside in the dark on the screen.
The evening begins with a presentation of an Introduction and Tarantella from Pablo de Sarasate played by Fabrizio von Arx, violin and Julien Quentin, piano.
Our hosts for the evening are Mr. Christian Lüscher and Mme. Natacha Wenger. Here they are warming up for the announcement of the first prize of the evening, “Le Prix de la montre sport” (Sport Watch).
Le Prix de la montre sport was taken by the tourbillon divers watch (!!!???) the RM025 from Richard Mille. Here we see Mr. Richard Mille who proclaimed, “it is really great to win”.
Le Prix de la montre Homme (Mens Watch) was attributed to the AP Jules Audemars with Audemars Piguet escapement. Here we see Mr. Philippe Merck the CEO of AP accepting the prize.
Le Prix de la montre dame (Ladies Watch) was won by the Piaget Limelight Twice, a reversible ladies watch with two very different dials. Piaget CEO Mr. Philippe Léopold-Metzger thanked his whole team for their great work.
Le Prix de la montre design (Design Watch) was taken by the Harry Winston Opus 9
Mr. Tom O’Neil CEO of Harry Winston Timepieces called the designer and watchmaker involved in making the Opus 9, Mr. Eric Giroud and Mr. Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, to join him on the stage.
Le Prix de la Haute Complication (Complicated Watch) was won by the Double Tourbillon Technique by Gruebel Forsey. Mr. Stephen Forsey thanked in the name of his team.
Le Prix de la montre joallerie (Jewellery Watch) was given to the One Million $ Black Caviar Bang of Hublot. Mr. Jean-Claude Biver accepted the prize in all modesty reminding of the responsibility that success brings with it.
At this occasion the best first year student at the Geneva watchmaking school this year is also honoured. Unfortunately I did not catch his name, but here we see him with Mr. Richard Mille who is offering him his prize, which is a watch from RM and an internship working in the shop of Richard Mille.
The Prix du Public was given to the Meccanico dG from De Grisogono as chosen by public vote on the Internet.
The “internationally known” Swiss actor Mr. Vincent Perez (totally unknown to me) then pulled the ballot for the winner of the prize, a watch by Vulcain, among those who have voted for the Prix du Public. The globe containing all the ballots is held in the gentile hands of Miss Suisse Romande, Mme. Liliane Murenzi.
Mr. Fawaz Gruosi, owner of de Grisogono, thanked the public for this distinction.
Le Prix du Meilleur Horloger Concepteur (Best Watchmaker) was won by Mr. Anthony Randall, british watchmaker, for the totality of his life’s work. Mr. Randall seemed somewhat mystified about what his work had to do with Geneva, nothing at all in his view. He seems to be missing the point that this yearly contest, although called Grand Prix de Genève, is not about Geneva, but about Haute Horlogerie, wherever it is done.
The Prix Spécial du Jury (Special Jury Prize) this year was for Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. Dr. Oechslin, director of the MIH in La Chaux-de-Fonds and conceptor of many well known watches was surprised and honoured by this prize.
After another intermède musical with Fabriziol von Arx and Julien Quentin….
... the Grand Prix de l’Aiguille d’Or (Golden Hand Award) was presented by Mr. François-Paul Journe, himself winner of this prize in 2008.
This, the most prestigious prize of the evening, was won by the Lange Zeitwerk from A. Lange & Söhne. Mr. Walter Lange himself, 4th generation of the Lange dynasty in Glasshütte, thanked for this award.
Mr. Walter Lange with Mr. Jerzy Schaper of A. Lange holding the award.
This was the highlight and end of this 9th edition of the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève.
Although carrying Geneva in its name this competition is international and according to article 1 of its rules is open to all watchmakers without distinction of nationality. From a total of about 350 watches submitted this year the jury preselected 62 that were shown in public exhibitions in Singapore, Zurich and Geneva. The final winners were selected from these 62 watches.
Representatives of the town and canton of Geneva spoke about promoting watchmaking activities and appreciation in Geneva, Switzerland and around the world. This made the only awkward moment of the evening all the more distressing. As Walter Lange, one of the most distinguished personalities in the industry coming from a long heritage of high horology in Germany, started to address his thanks for receiving the Prix de l’Aiguille d’Or, the most prestigious of the evening, and the public realised he was speaking in German and not French there was a murmur of disapproval throughout the hall. This distressingly parochial reaction was not worthy of an international public. I found it was a disgrace. Will other non- French speakers submit their work now knowing they may receive such a response? How can they claim to be an international competition if French is the only language allowed? We can just hope that possible international participants won’t be discouraged and that in the future the public doesn’t allow itself such a slip again.
The evening continued with champagne apéritif and little munchies for all. I am told that the evening was long with parties for those staying in Geneva, but I headed back home with the train.
I hope you have enjoyed,
Don
Edited to correct the name of the pianist DonC
This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-11-18 20:25:24 This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2009-11-20 15:02:41 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-11-21 08:29:57
