The 2018 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has just published the list of “pre-selected” (shortlisted) watches in the run-up to the eagerly anticipated red-carpet event in Geneva on November 9, 2018.

The categories for 2018 constitute the following: Ladies, Ladies’ Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Chronograph, Chronometry, Mechanical Exception, Sports, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, Petite Aiguille (watches with retail prices between 4,000 and 10,000 Swiss francs), and Challenge (watches with retail prices under 4,000 Swiss francs).

The main prize of the evening is, of course, the Aiguille d’Or, which celebrates the overall best watch among all the entrants according to the jury.

The pre-selected watches will go on a world tour, starting with Venice on September 28. From there the watches will travel to Hong Kong and Singapore before returning to Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire for public viewing from October 31 through November 14.

But enough preamble, let’s have a look at the watches that are in serious contention for the prizes as of today.

GPHG 2018: Ladies

The Ladies category contains watches made expressly for the female wrist comprising only the following indications: hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve, and/or classic moon phase. These timepieces may be adorned with a maximum of eight carats’ worth of gemstones.

Ladies category preselected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève: from top left: Bovet 1822 Amadeo Fleurier 39 Fan, Bulgari Lucea Tubogas Skeleton, Chanel Boy.Friend Skeleton, Chaumet Laurier, Moritz Grossmann Tefnut Twist Classic, and Piaget Possession Lapis Lazuli

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_DAME.

Further reading: Chanel Boy.Friend Skeleton: Intriguing Views From All Angles

GPHG 2018: Ladies Complication

According to this category’s description, Ladies Complication constitutes women’s watches remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications like the annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, moon phase, a digital or retrograde time display, world time, dual time, or others. These do not fit the definition of the Ladies or Mechanical Exception categories.

Ladies Complication category pre-selected watches in the 2018 GPHG, clockwise from top left: Beauregard Dahlia C1, Bulgari Diva Finissima Minute Repeater, Chaumet Espiègleries, Ludovic Ballouard Pink Hours, Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa Tourbillon Galaxy, and Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_COMPLICATION_DAME.

Further reading:

Why I Bought It: Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down
When Confusion Paves The Way To Awe: The Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down
Aventurine: Sparkling, Glittering, Mysterious, And Placing A Galaxy Of Stars On Your Wrist
Best Of SIHH 2018: Top 5 Watches For Women

GPHG 2018: Men

Men’s watches comprise the following indications: hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve, and classic moon phase. These timepieces may be adorned with a maximum of five carats’ worth of gemstones.

Men’s category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Akrivia Chronomètre Contemporain, De Bethune Steel Wheels, H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Flying Hours, MB&F Legacy Machine Split Escapement, Vacheron Constantin Triple Calendrier 1842, and Kari Voutilainen 217QRS

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_HOMME.

Further reading:

Akrivia Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain: A Fork In The Road, A Pivot, Or Something Else Entirely?
De Bethune DB28 Steel Wheels Blue: Distilling The Essence Of Greatness
Moser & Cie. Endeavour Flying Hours: Great Expectations Just Got Greater (Star Wheels Tend To Do That)
Kari Voutilainen 217QRS With Retrograde Date: Striving For Perfect Beauty

GPHG 2018: Men’s Complication

These are men’s watches remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications like the annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, moon phase, a digital or retrograde time display, world time, dual time, or others. These do not fit the definition of the Men’s or Mechanical Exception categories.

Men’s Complication category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic, Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon With Three Bridges Skeleton, H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Vantablack®, Krayon Everywhere Horizon, Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece, Vacheron Constantin Perpetual Calendar Ultra-thin

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_COMPLICATION_HOMME.

Further reading: Design Discussion On Contrast & Texture: How Vantablack And Other Techs Are Disrupting Watch Norms

GPHG 2018: Chronograph

Timepieces entered into the Chronograph category are mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

Chronograph category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Czapek L’Heure Bleue, Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph, Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition 100, Singer Reimagined Singer Track 1 Hong Kong Edition, TAG Heuer Monaco Bamford, and Zenith Defy El Primero 21

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_CHRONOGRAPHE.

Further reading

Track 1 By Singer Reimagined Is The World’s Most Advanced ‘Flat 6’ Chronograph: It Might Not Sounds Like An Air-Cooled 911, But It Sure Laps Like One!
The AgenGraphe By Agenhor: The Most Significant Chronograph Since…Since The Invention Of The Chronograph
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Forged Carbon Bamford Edition: LVMH & Bamford, A Match Made In Heaven Or . . . ?
Montblanc 1858 Collection: Storytelling In The Mountains
Montblanc’s 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Unique Piece For Only Watch 2017: Old School To The Core, And That’s A Good Thing!

GPHG 2018: Chronometry

In the Chronometry category – renamed from last year’s “Tourbillon and Escapement” – we find mechanical watches that contain at least one tourbillon and/or a special escapement and/or another development improving precision timekeeping. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

Chronometry category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: David Candaux Half Hunter, De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius Tourbillon, Montblanc Star Legacy Suspended Exo Tourbillon Limited Edition 58, TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon Chronograph Tête de Vipère Chronometer, Ulysse Nardin Executive Tourbillon Free Wheel, and Zenith Defy Zero G

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_CHRONOMETRIE.

Further reading: Zenith Defy Zero G: A Lesson In Miniaturization

GPHG 2018: Mechanical Exception

The Mechanical Exception category features men’s or ladies’ watches with a special mechanism such as an innovative or sophisticated display, an automaton, a belt-driven movement, a striking or other acoustic function, or any other original and/or exceptional horological concept.

Mechanical Exception category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Andersen Genève & Konstantin Chaykin Automaton Joker, Bovet 1822 Récital 22 Grand Récital, Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Carbon, Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tri-Axial Tourbillon, Greubel Forsey Grande Sonnerie, and Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_EXCEPTION_MECANIQUE.

Further reading:

Greubel Forsey Grande Sonnerie: Confounding Expectations In A Class Of Its Own

The Astronomical Grandeur Of The Bovet Récital 22 Grand Récital

Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision: Promises Realized

GPHG 2018: Sport

The Sport category contains watches linked to the field of sports, whose functions, materials, and design are suited to physical activities. Smartwatches are admissible here.

Sprots category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève: clockwise from top left: Fabergé Visionnaire Chronograph Dynamique, Montblanc 1858 Pocket Watch Limited Edition 100, Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Re-creation, Zenith Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback, Ulysse Nardin Diver, TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf

For more information, please visit www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_SPORT

Further reading:

A Coaxial Vision Of Time: Fabergé Visionnaire Chronograph
5 Professional Diver’s Watches Surfacing At Baselworld 2018
Montblanc 1858 Collection: Storytelling In The Mountains

GPHG 2018: Jewellery

Jewellery watches demonstrate exceptional mastery of the art of jewelry and gemsetting. These timepieces are also distinguished by the choice of stones featured in them.

Jewellery category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Antoine Preziuso Trillion Tourbillon of Tourbillons, Bulgari Serpenti High Jewellery, Chanel Bouton de Camélia, de Grisogono Cascata, Piaget High Jewellery Cuff Watch Dentelle d’Or, and Van Cleef & Arpels Secret de Coccinelle

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_JOAILLERIE.

Further reading:

5 Dazzling Gem-Set Watches For Men From 2018 Ranging From Relatively Discreet To Obvious And Flagrant Before Ending In Full Bling
Antoine Preziuso Tourbillon of Tourbillons: Fractals Meet ‘Inception’
Bulgari’s Beloved Serpenti: A Brief History

GPHG 2018: Artistic Crafts

Watches in the Artistic Crafts category demonstrate exceptional mastery of one or several artistic techniques such as enameling, lacquering, engraving, guilloche (engine-turning), skeletonizing, and more.

Artistic Crafts category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Chaumet Ecritures de Chaumet, Fabergé Clover, Hermès Arceau Robe du Soir, Piaget Altiplano Tourbillon Malachite, Vacheron Constantin Les Aérostiers Paris 1783, and Van’t hoff Ballet in Blue

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_METIER_D_ARTS.

GPHG 2018: Petite Aiguille

Watches entered into the Petite Aiguille category are offered for a retail price that falls between 4,000 and 10,000 Swiss francs.

Petite Aiguille category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Habring2 Doppel-Felix, Konstantin Chaykin Clown, Longines Record, Ming 19.01, Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur, and Vicenterra Tycho Brahe Série T2 Anthra

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_PETITE_AIGUILLE.

Further reading:

Habring2 Gets Happy (And Serious) With Felix, Featuring First Austrian Movement
Why I Bought It: Konstantin Chaykin Joker
Ulysse Nardin Adds A Casual Military Look To The Marine Torpilleur Collection
Ming 19.01 By Ming Thein, Unparalleled Quality For Price

GPHG 2018: Challenge

Watches entered into the Challenge category are offered for a retail price under 4,000 Swiss francs.

Challenge category pre-selected watches for the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, clockwise from top left: Gorilla Watches Fastback Drift, Longines Conquest V.H.P. GMT Flash Setting, Nomos Glashütte Tangente neomatik 41 update, Reservoir Longbridge British Racing, Seiko Presage Shippo Enamel, and Tudor Black Bay GMT

For more information, please visit gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2018/pre-selected-watches#2018_CHALLENGE.

In case you missed our coverage of the 2017 event, you might like What We Liked And What We Didn’t At The 2017 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Plus How Well Our Panel’s Forecasts Did.

You may also enjoy our closing remarks from the 2016 competition in What We Liked And What We Didn’t At The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.