The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has just published the list of 2022’s shortlisted (“nominated”) watches in the runup to the eagerly anticipated red-carpet event in Geneva on November 10, 2022.

The 15 regular categories for 2022 are: Ladies, Ladies Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Iconic, Tourbillon, Chronograph, Mechanical Exception, Calendar and Astronomy, Diver’s, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, Petite Aiguille (watches with retail prices between 3,500 and 10,000 Swiss francs), Challenge (watches with retail prices under 3,500 Swiss francs), and a new one called Mechanical Clock.

The main prize of the evening is the Aiguille d’Or, the best watch overall among the entrants, which will be voted in the room by a smaller jury chosen from the now nearly 500 Academy members.

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

GPHG 2022: Ladies

2022 GPHG Ladies category shortlist

The Ladies category contains watches aimed at women that comprise the following indications only: hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phase. These may potentially be adorned with a maximum of nine carats worth of gems.

The shortlisted watches are: Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon Eclipse I, Chaumet Déferlante Secret Timepiece, Chopard Alpine Eagle 33, Konstantin Chaykin Harley Quinn, Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Automatic, and Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée.

Further reading:

• Parmigiani Tonda PF Micro-Rotor In Steel And Platinum On-The-Wrist Review: A Contemporary Chameleon That Stands Out By Fitting In
• Arnold & Son HM Double Hemisphere Perpetual Moon: Perigee-Syzygy Of A Supermoon
• Chopard Alpine Eagle: A Cool – And Ethical – Sports Casual Watch

GPHG 2022: Ladies Complication

2022 GPHG Ladies Complication category shortlist

The Ladies Complication category constitutes women’s watches that are remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These watches may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications (e.g., annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon phases, tourbillon, digital or retrograde time display, world time, or dual time) and do not fit the definition of the Ladies and Mechanical Exception categories.

The shortlisted watches are: Andersen Genève Tempus Terrae Baguettes Aquamarines, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Ultra-Thin RD#3, Chaumet Sous Le Soleil Creative Complication, Chopard Imperiale Flying Tourbillon, Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur, and Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier.

Further reading:

• Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur: Time Traveling Around The World (And A Standout Star At Watches And Wonders 2022)
• Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier: A Perpetually Blooming Microcosm Of Floral Gears
• Chopard Unveils Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon At Watches And Wonders 2022
• Andersen Genève, Worldtimers, And The New BCHH Celestial Voyager

GPHG 2022: Men’s

2022 GPHG Men’s category shortlist

The “Men’s” category comprises watches featuring the following indications only: hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases. These may potentially be adorned with a maximum of nine carats worth of gems.

The shortlisted watches are: Akrivia Chronomètre Contemporain II, Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days, Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Pf Micro Rotor Steel, Sylvain Pinaud Origine, Trilobe Une Folle Journée Black Edition, and Zenith Calibre 135 Observatoire.

Further reading:

• Parmigiani Tonda PF Micro-Rotor In Steel And Platinum On-The-Wrist Review: A Contemporary Chameleon That Stands Out By Fitting In
• Why I Bought It: Rexhep Rexhepi/Akrivia Chronomètre Contemporain
• Trilobe Une Folle Journée: Expanding Upward And Outward, Exposing The Mechanical Ingenuity Behind The Dial

GPHG 2022: Men’s Complication

2022 GPHG Men’s Complication category shortlist

This category comprises watches that are remarkable in terms of their mechanical creativity and complexity. These watches may feature all kinds of classic and/or innovative complications and indications (e.g., world time or dual time) and do not fit the definition of the Men’s and Mechanical Exception categories.

The shortlisted watches are: Armin Strom Orbit Manufacture Edition, Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Tourbillon Openworked, Bovet 1822 Virtuoso V, Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur, Parmigiani Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante, and Singer Reimagined Barista.

Further reading:

• Armin Strom Orbit Manufacture Edition: The Subtle Difference Is Black
• Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur: Time Traveling Around The World (And A Standout Star At Watches And Wonders 2022)
• Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante: A Design Nerd’s Favorite Travel Watch
• Track 1 By Singer Reimagined Is The World’s Most Advanced ‘Flat 6’ Chronograph: It Might Not Sound Like An Air-Cooled 911, But It Sure Laps Like One! (Live Photos, Fast Cars And Price)

GPHG 2022: Iconic

2022 GPHG Iconic category shortlist

The Iconic category is for watches from an emblematic collection that has exercised a lasting influence on watchmaking history and the watch market for more than 20 years.

The shortlisted watches are: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Openworked, Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43, Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0, IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot’s Watch 43, TAG Heuer Monaco X Gulf, and Zenith Defy Revival A3642.

Further reading:

• TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02 Gulf Special Edition: Revving Up With A Bold Color Scheme

GPHG 2022: Tourbillon

2022 GPHG Tourbillon category shortlist

In the Tourbillon category we find men’s mechanical watches with at least one tourbillon. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

The shortlisted watches are: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked, Grand Seiko Kodo Constant Force Tourbillon, Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture, H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton, Parmigiani Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon, and Theo Auffret Tourbillon Grand Sport.

Further reading:

• Hands On & Live Photos: MB&F x H. Moser LM101 And H. Moser x MB&F Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon
• Grand Seiko Kodo Constant Force Tourbillon: Grand Seiko Unleashed
• Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Double Rainbow Flying Tourbillon And The Fun Of Following Scintillating Rainbows

• Grand Seiko T0 Constant Force Tourbillon: I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes

GPHG 2022: Calendar and Astronomy

2022 GPHG Calendar and Astronomy category shortlist

The Calendar and Astronomy category emphasizes mechanical watches comprising at least one calendar and/or astronomical complication (e.g., date, annual calendar, perpetual calendar, equation of time, complex moon phases display, etc.). Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.

The shortlisted watches are: Arnold & Son Luna Magna Platinum, DRT Tempus Fugit, H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Perpetual Calendar, HYT Moon Runner Supernova Blue, Krayon Anywhere, and Sarpaneva Watches Nocturne.

Further reading:

• Arnold & Son Luna Magna And Luna Magna Ultimate 1: Marbles, Moons, And Magnificence
• Krayon Everywhere: Who Knew Mechanically Calculating Sunrise/Sunset (Nearly) Anywhere On The Planet Would Be A Mental Workout (For The Author)? Plus Lots Of Videos
• H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Perpetual Calendar: Elegant Minimalism

GPHG 2022: Mechanical Exception

2022 GPHG Mechanical Exception category shortlist

The Mechanical Exception category comprises watches featuring a special mechanism such as an innovative or sophisticated display, an automaton, a striking or any other acoustic function, a special escapement, a belt-driven movement, or another original and/or exceptional horological concept.

The shortlisted watches are: Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance First Edition, Bovet 1822 Récital 20 Astérium, Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra 10th Anniversary, Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon, Ferdinand Berthoud FB 2RSM.2-1, and Ulysse Nardin Freak S.

Further reading:

• Armin Strom First Edition Mirrored Force Resonance: Reboot Or Rebirth?
• Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra: Seemingly Both Impossibly Thin And Impossibly Deep
• Ulysse Nardin Freak S: Taking Freaky Back Toward Its Roots
• Bovet Récital 20 Astérium: The Galaxy On Your Wrist

GPHG 2022: Chronograph

2022 GPHG Chronograph category shortlist

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

The shortlisted watches are: Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Limited Edition, Czapek Rattrapante Ice Blue, Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf Tantalum, Louis Moinet Time to Race, MB&F Legacy Machine Sequential Evo, and Parmigiani Tonda PF Chronographe Steel.

Further reading:

• Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf: My (Current) Predicted Winner For This Year’s ‘Best Chronograph’ At The 2022 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève
• MB&F LM Sequential EVO Dual Chronograph: An Ingenious Application Of A Simple Idea (That Nobody Had Thought Of Before)
• All-New Parmigiani Tonda PF Collection: Elegant Simplicity, Even When Complicated 
• You Are There: Breitling Launches The Limited Editon Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute And Collectors Strut Their Stuff

GPHG 2022: Diver’s

2022 GPHG Diver’s category shortlist

The Diver’s category contains watches linked to the field of diving, whose functions, materials, and design are suited to this activity.

The shortlisted watches are: ArtyA Depth Gauge, Breitling Superocean Automatic 42, Doxa Army Limited Edition, Grand Seiko Spring Drive 5 Days Caliber 9RA5, TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver, and Tudor Pelagos FXD.

Further reading:

• Why I Bought It: Tudor Pelagos

GPHG 2022: Jewellery

2022 GPHG Jewellery category shortlist

The Jewellery category includes watches demonstrating exceptional mastery of the art of jewelry and gem setting. The watches are also distinguished by the choice of stones.

The shortlisted watches are: Bulgari Serpenti Misteriosi High Jewellery, Chopard Animal World Peacock Watch, Jacob & Co Astronomia Metaverso NFT Venus, Piaget Extravagant Touch Watch, TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d’Avant-Garde, and Van Cleef & Arpels Perles de Glace Rose.

Further reading:

• Bulgari’s Beloved Serpenti: A Brief History

• Jacob & Co Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette: A Universe On The Wrist

GPHG 2022: Artistic Crafts

2022 GPHG Artistic Crafts category shortlist

Watches in the Artistic Crafts category demonstrate exceptional mastery of one or several artistic techniques such as enameling, lacquering, engraving, guilloché (engine-turning), skeleton-working, etc.

The shortlisted watches are: Bovet 1822 Amadeo Amadeo Skeleton Tourbillon, Hermès Arceau Hermès Story, Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow, Van Cleef & Arpels Charms Coccinelle Féerique, and Voutilainen Ji-Ku.

GPHG 2022: Petite Aiguille

2022 GPHG Petite Aiguille shortlist

Watches entered into the Petite Aiguille category have a retail price between CHF 3,500 and CHF 10,000. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.

The shortlisted watches are: Breitling Top Time Triumph, Gelfman Watch IN-16 Nixie, Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT 9R66, Louis Erard x Massena Lab Le Régulateur Gold, Trilobe Nuit Fantastique Dune Edition, and Zenith Defy Skyline.

Further reading:

• Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein x Manuel Emch x A Cast Of Guest Artists = Amazing (And Affordable) Watches

• Trilobe Nuit Fantastique & Trilobe x Daniel Buren La Réciproque Clock: Take Your Time Telling Time

GPHG 2022: Challenge

2022 GPHG Challenge watches category shortlist

Watches entered into the Challenge category have a retail price equal to or under CHF 3,500. Smartwatches are admissible in this category.

The shortlisted watches are: Kurono Tokyo Calendrier Type 1, Louis Erard Le Régulateur x seconde/seconde/, M.A.D. Editions M.A.D.1 Red, Massena Lab Uni-Racer Safari, TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph, and Tudor Ranger.

Further reading:

• M.A.D.1 Friends Edition From (Not By) MB&F: Why I Bought It, Why You Can’t (Not Yet Anyway), And Why It’s A Marketing Masterclass – Plus Video of Max Büsser Explaining The Watch And Concept

• Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein x Manuel Emch x A Cast Of Guest Artists = Amazing (And Affordable) Watches

• Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein x Manuel Emch x A Cast Of Guest Artists = Amazing (And Affordable) Watches

GPHG 2022: Mechanical Clocks

2022 GPHG Mechanical Clocks category shortlist

This year (2022) is the first in a long time, if not ever, that mechanical clocks have had their own category in the GPHG, and it is long-awaited and warmly welcomed. Last year (2021) in particular had sensational clocks entered that were well-deserving prizes.

This category is for mechanical time-measuring instruments like long-case and table clocks. Wristwatches are not allowed in this category.

The shortlisted watches are: BCHH Celestial Infinity, L’Epée 1839 Time Fast II, Matthias Naeschke NT 8 GT, Miki Eleta The Passage of Time, UTINAM Lebru x Silberstein KB2, and Van Cleef & Arpels Fontaine Aux Oiseaux.

Further reading:

• Our Predictions For The Aiguille d’Or (Grand Prize) Of The 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG): Will It Be A Watch Or A Clock?
• What We Liked And What We Didn’t Like At The 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Plus How Well Our Panel’s Forecasts Did (Spoiler Alert: Not Very)
• Inspired Interstellar Exploration: Miki Eleta BY 21Dez12ME Starship Clock

Let us know your likes and dislikes in the comments below and look for our GPHG prediction round tables coming soon!

For more information, please visit www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/gphg-2022/nominated-watches.