Now that the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) and its Academy has announced the shortlist of watches for the 2023 GPHG awards, the nominated watches will embark on a traveling exhibition with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, the only city in South East Asia. The world’s leading specialist watch retailer The Hour Glass will host this exhibition at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Centre Court from 5th to 8th October 2023.
Eighty-four watches from 14 of the awards’ 15 categories will offer enthusiasts in the region a glimpse into the pinnacle of contemporary watchmaking. The 14 categories comprise the Men’s and Ladies’, Men’s and Ladies’ Complications, Iconic, Tourbillon, Calendar and Astronomy, Mechanical Exception, Chronograph, Sports, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, Challenge or entry-level and “Petite Aiguille” or mid-range priced. Only shortlisted entries for the Mechanical Clock category will be absent from the exhibition.
Winners for these prestigious awards in 2022 include MB&F, whose Legacy Machine Sequential Evo watch took home the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix or best in class prize, TAG Heuer (Iconic Watch Prize for the Monaco X Gulf), and Akrivia (Men’s Watch Prize for the Chronomètre Contemporain II).
To celebrate the auspicious occasion, The Hour Glass is hosting a series of interactive events throughout the traveling exhibition’s stop in Kuala Lumpur. In addition to delighting collectors and enthusiasts with events such as a watch photography workshop, the programme also
includes a DIY mechanical clock workshop and a colouring session with Hublot for children to cultivate an early appreciation for the art of watchmaking.
“Being a part of this distinctive global platform that honors horological design and craftsmanship is a great privilege,” Michael Tay, Group Managing Director of The Hour Glass said. “We are pleased that Kuala Lumpur was selected as one of the few stops for this traveling exhibition in recognition of its status as a watch hub and mature market for independent artisanal watch enthusiasts. This aligns with our mission to advance watch culture by offering our community of collectors access to some of the most extraordinary watches of our generation.”
“Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève partners comprise an elite group of connoisseurs who authentically represent and promote the highest tenets of haute horlogerie,” says Raymond Loretan, president of the GPHG Foundation. “The Hour Glass has consistently displayed its expertise and discernment in this area, and we are proud to once again have them join us as a partner and sit on the jury for the 2023 awards.”
Malaysia marks the third stop on a worldwide tour that commenced in Macao and continued to Hong Kong. Other cities to host the traveling exhibition include New York, Geneva, Dubai, and then culminates in Zurich.
A Celebration of Excellence
The Geneva stop coincides with the GPHG prize-giving ceremony, which will take place at the Théâtre du Léman on 9th November 2023. All nominated watches will be presented here and winners for the coveted 20 or so prizes, including the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix (Best in Show) distinction, will be announced following a closed-door selection by the GPHG Jury.
Created in 2001, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has been recognised as a public interest organisation since 2011 and is overseen by the Canton and City of Geneva. Its primary purpose is to highlight and reward the most remarkable contemporary creations from the watchmaking world and promote its art, traditions, and innovation worldwide.
The most notable way it does this is through the GPHG awards ceremony, an annual competition involving several hundreds of watches marketed during the year and attributing to the highest awards in this domain.
Held in November of each year, the awards draw elite representatives of the international watchmaking profession, united in honouring the finest creations and creators who breathe vitality and creativity into the watchmaking world.
