News After Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe, the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix this year awarded its highest distinction to the most Genevan of watchmakers from Marseilles.
On 11 November, in the sumptuous setting of the Grand Theatre, the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix remained true to its young but nonetheless well-established tradition: for its fourth edition, as in previous years, an avalanche of prizes was awarded to a profusion of watch models for their technical or aesthetic qualities. This abundance – not to say plethora – of awards in no way detracts from the seriousness of the event, as attested by the quality of the prize-winning watches and an international panel of judges beyond all suspicion. Chaired by the director of the city’s art and history museums, Cäsar Menz, the panel included such renowned connoisseurs as Catherine Cardinal, Osvaldo Patrizzi, René Beyer, Patrick Cremers, Eugenio Zigliotto and Joe Thompson.
While in 2003 the prize-winners were all luxury watch manufacturers from Geneva and the Vallée de Joux, this year firms from Neuchâtel and elsewhere did exceptionally well. Even so, the Aiguille d'or, the evening’s most coveted distinction, went to François-Paul Journe for the extraordinary Tourbillon Souverain with deadbeat seconds. The watchmaker from Marseilles established in Geneva thus received deserved reward for his innovative spirit, his continual search for total quality and his extremely high level of professionalism. His company Montres Journe SA, founded only five years ago, becomes the successor to two undisputed giants of the industry, Vacheron Constantin, feted in 2001, and Patek Philippe, which achieved the double in 2002 and 2003.
During the ceremony, presented by actress Maria Mettral and Me Charles Poncet, awards were given to the following timepieces:
- Special jury prize: Lange Double Split from A. Lange & Söhne;
- Ladies’ watch prize: Cat's Eye from Girard-Perregaux;
- Men’s watch prize: Gondolo Calendario from Patek Philippe and Grande ChronoMaster Open El Primero from Zenith;
- Design watch prize: Monaco Sixty Nine from TAG Heuer;
- Extra-flat watch prize: Villeret extra-flat from Blancpain;
- Prize for technical innovation and complication: Grande Complication Gyrotourbillon from Jaeger-LeCoultre;
- Sports watch prize: Luminor Submersible 2500M from Panerai;
- Public prize: Color Dreams D from Franck Muller;
- Middle East public prize: Patrimony Hommage aux Grands Explorateurs from Vacheron Constantin.
At the traditional cocktail party that followed the ceremony, the prize-winning watches were widely commented on by the many professionals in attendance. And while everyone generally acknowledged the merit of the jury’s decisions, the absence of watches that have undoubtedly marked the watchmaking year, such as the Bugatti Type 370 from Parmigiani or the Monaco V4 from TAG Heuer, did not go unnoticed.
Lastly, mention should be made that a copy of each prize-winning model will be donated to the Geneva Museum of Watchmaking and Enamelware, to replenish collections depleted as a result of the spectacular break-in at the end of 2002, and that a prize was awarded also to the best student at Geneva School of Watchmaking, in this instance the young Grégory Proz (aged 19).
November 23, 2004
