The Best Watches of 2026: Full list of winners from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Geneva reaffirmed its position as the global capital of horology on Nov 7, convening the international watchmaking community for the 26th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) awards ceremony. And this year’s edition took on a particularly profound cultural dimension with the presence of the Director-General of Unesco, honouring the craft’s place within the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Selected by an international jury chaired alongside an Academy of more than 1,000 industry members, the night saw major heritage houses emerge triumphant alongside boundary-pushing independent ateliers.

Audemars Piguet took home two top prizes, securing both the Iconic Watch and Calendar and Astronomy trophies, while Chopard repeated its multi-category dominance by claiming both the Time Only and Jewellery honours.

Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, a manufacture owned by Chopard, also secured a notable double win across the Chronometry and Tourbillon categories, while Blancpain clinched the coveted Mechanical Exception award, and Patek Philippe was recognised with the Special Jury Prize.

Yet it was independent master Rexhep Rexhepi who claimed the ultimate crown of the evening, walking away with the prestigious Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix.

Following earlier international showcases in Mumbai and Bangkok, the 84 nominated timepieces remain on view at Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire until Nov 15, after which the award-winning creations head to London for an exclusive exhibition at the Watches of Switzerland Knightsbridge boutique from Nov 18 to 23.

“Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix: Rexhep Rexhepi Chronograph Flyback

Rexhep Rexhepi’s Chronograph Flyback (Reference RRCHF) is an entirely integrated, hand-wound flyback chronograph developed around an asymmetrical calibre architecture. Designed with an emphasis on slender proportions, the 38.8mm platinum case measures 9.7mm in thickness and incorporates a double-stepped bezel, angled lugs, and an indexed caseback aligned vertically with the case. The dial is crafted from in-house storm-blue Grand Feu enamel and features smoked sapphire counters alongside steel hands with downward-stepped tips to facilitate a lower crystal profile.

The movement relies on a traditional column wheel and lateral clutch system paired with an instantaneous jumping-minute counter. Only the chronograph mechanism is visible through the sapphire caseback, leaving the gear train discreetly concealed. Components are fashioned from German silver (maillechort) and decorated entirely by hand with black polishing, perlage, hand-bevelled wheels, anglage, and Geneva stripes. The calibre provides a 72-hour power reserve beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour.

Iconic Watch Prize: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 “150th Anniversary”

Celebrating Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary, the Royal Oak RD#5 brings together a flyback chronograph and a flying tourbillon within an extra-thin 39mm case measuring 8.1mm in thickness. The case and integrated bracelet are constructed from a pairing of titanium and bulk metallic glass (BMG), framing a “cloud 50” Petite Tapisserie dial in midnight blue.

The timepiece is powered by the in-house Calibre 8100, which fundamentally reimagines the chronograph reset mechanism by substituting traditional hammers and heart pieces with a patented rack-and-pinion assembly. This structure stores reset energy during actuation, eliminates the conventional friction spring to prevent hand shudder, and drives an instantaneous jump minute counter and retrograde reset. Movement height is kept compact via a platinum peripheral winding rotor, delivering a 72-hour power reserve.

Special Jury Prize: Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition

The Special Jury Prize was presented to Patek Philippe in recognition of its global Watch Art Grand Exhibition initiative. Initiated in 2012, these large-scale public exhibitions offer immersive, complimentary access to the manufacture’s historical archives, technical complications, artisan métiers d’art, and museum acquisitions.

The distinction celebrates Patek Philippe’s continued institutional commitment to educating the wider public and cultivating appreciation for horological culture worldwide, most recently showcased at the edition held in Milan.

Audacity Prize: Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing Mystery

Measuring 1.65mm in overall thickness, the ThinKing Mystery stands as the thinnest mechanical watch produced in an ultra-limited run. Its construction integrates the movement directly into a 41mm case made from an antimagnetic, non-corrosive alloy, with the caseback doubling as the calibre’s mainplate. The watch is worn on a specialised strap fitted with elastic inserts and titanium supports that absorb wrist torsion.

Konstantin Chaykin’s design employs a patented double balance with toothed coupling, distributing the hairspring, roller, and rim across a single horizontal plane to lower vertical clearance without departing from a Swiss lever escapement. Time is read through a “mystery” display consisting of two spoke-less sapphire discs driven from their peripheries, allowing the hands to appear suspended in mid-air.

Chronometry Prize: Ferdinand Berthoud Naissance d’une Montre 3

Developed in partnership with the Time Æon Foundation over six years, the Naissance d’une Montre 3 (Reference FB 4BTC.1) is a wrist chronometer crafted entirely using historical tools and manual methods without digital assistance. Housed in a 44.3mm white gold case, the openworked dial reveals a movement directly inspired by Ferdinand Berthoud’s Astronomical Pocket Watch No. 3.

The regulating organ combines a split bimetallic Guillaume-type balance wheel with a constant-force fusée-and-chain transmission system, delivering sustained torque across its 50-hour power reserve. Officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, the watch features an off-centred time display, central dead-beat seconds, and a cone-shaped power-reserve indicator.

Horological Revelation Prize: Dominique Renaud Pulse60 Titanium Black

The Pulse60 Titanium Black introduces an unconventional 1Hz regulating organ that oscillates at 7,200 vibrations per hour, matching the 60 beats per minute of a resting human pulse. Housed in a 40mm titanium case, the watch displays a natural half dead-beat seconds directly linked to the individual oscillations of its oversized balance wheel.

To maintain precision at low frequency, Dominique Renaud redesigned the escapement pin and balance plate geometry, enabling balance amplitude to exceed 360 degrees without inducing knocking (rebattement). This expansive rotation leaves the balance freely oscillating for longer stretches between impulses, shielding the regulation from external shock and positional disturbances.

Mechanical Exception Watch Prize: Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie

Developed over eight years and comprising 1,116 components, the Grande Double Sonnerie (Calibre 15GSQ) is the most complex wristwatch ever produced by Blancpain. Encased in 47mm of red gold, the timepiece introduces a world first: a pusher-operated selector that allows the wearer to alternate between a traditional Westminster chime and an exclusive four-note melody composed by Eric Singer.

Acoustic resonance is channelled through a patented membrane fitted directly into the bezel, moderated by a silent magnetic governor. Alongside its grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater striking mechanisms, the calibre integrates a 4Hz flying tourbillon with a silicon balance spring, an integrated retrograde perpetual calendar with under-lug correctors, and twin power-reserve gauges.

Complication Watch Prize: Cleguer Inspiration One

Inaugurating the Cleguer Horology brand, the Inspiration One combines a multi-dimensional visual arrangement with classical chronometric solutions. Designed by Mathieu Cleguer and Lee Yuen-Rapati, the 38.5mm white gold watch features an off-centred grand feu champlevé enamel dial at 2 o’clock, a visible mainspring barrel with a 36-hour reserve scale, and an exposed 12.9mm balance wheel beating at 18,000vph.

The movement centres on the Innate escapement, a reimagined natural escapement that achieves reliable self-starting via an indirect tangential transmission governed by a central lever. The reverse side showcases traditional Geneva-style wheelwork alongside a Maltese cross stop-work mechanism that isolates the most stable portion of mainspring torque.

Chronograph Watch Prize: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux

The Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux is built around the concept of mechanical concealment. Housed in a 40mm stainless steel case with a platinum knurled bezel and Grain d’Orge guilloché dial, the piece functions as an unencumbered three-hand watch until actuated by a mono-pusher set into the caseband at 7.30.

A single press deploys three rhodium-plated chronograph hands instantly to 12 o’clock to begin measurement over the entire dial face, while separate rose gold hands reveal civil time. A second press stops timing, and a third press aligns the rhodium hands back under the civil time display, causing the complication to seamlessly retreat from view.

Tourbillon Watch Prize: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2TV

Forming Chapter 1 of Ferdinand Berthoud’s “Mesure du Temps 1787” collection, the Chronomètre FB 2TV reveals its regulating assembly on the dial side of an ethical 44mm white gold case. The Calibre FB-TV.FC employs a 15mm flying tourbillon governed by an inverted fusée-and-chain transmission that ensures constant force across a 60-hour power reserve.

The movement integrates a stop-seconds device for precise synchronization alongside a flyback zero-reset seconds mechanism controlled by a pusher set into the winding crown. The dial is laid out with three-dimensional architecture, featuring an off-centred subdial for civil time, a mobile cone reserve gauge, and an exposed differential system.

Sports Watch Prize: Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver

Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver (Reference SLGB023) brings the brand’s Ultra Fine Accuracy technology to professional aquatic timekeeping. Cased in high-intensity titanium measuring 40.8mm in diameter, the timepiece is water-resistant to 300m and presents a blue gradient dial patterned after ocean currents (”ushio” in Japanese).

The watch is driven by the Spring Drive Calibre 9RB1, a reinforced iteration of Grand Seiko’s high-precision platform capable of maintaining an annual rate within ±20 seconds. Formulated under the brand’s Evolution 9 design codes, the diver pairs low-centre-of-gravity ergonomics with high-legibility hands and a micro-adjusting extension clasp.

Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize: Audemars Piguet 150 Heritage

The 150 Heritage pocket watch (Reference 75150PT.OO.01) celebrates Audemars Piguet’s 150th milestone with the debut of Calibre 1150. Encased in a 50mm hand-engraved platinum housing with grand feu enamelled dials, the pocket watch unifies 47 functions, encompassing a split-seconds flyback chronograph and a Supersonnerie chiming system.

Visible beneath the hunter caseback is the Universal Calendar, an autonomous mechanical calculator integrating solar, lunar, and lunisolar cycles. The calendar presents 18 distinct indications across a single plane, calculating the dates for equinoxes, solstices, and nine global cultural observances including Easter, Ramadan, Diwali, Pesach, and Chinese New Year.

Essential Watch Prize: Daniel Roth Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton

The Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton translates Daniel Roth’s signature double-ellipse aesthetic into an openworked architectural form. Cased in 5N rose gold measuring 35.5mm by 38.6mm with a profile of just 6.9mm, the watch exposes the manually wound Calibre DR002SR.

Manufactured at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, the movement bridges have been structurally redesigned to create negative space while maintaining chronometric rigidity. The rose gold bridges feature pronounced interior and exterior angles executed and polished by hand, operating at 28,800vph with a 65-hour power reserve.

Time Only Watch Prize: Chopard L.U.C 1860

Marking the 30th anniversary of Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier, the L.U.C 1860 Chronometer revives the proportions of the original 1996 model in a 36.5mm case made from recycled Lucent Steel. Its hand-guilloché gold dial is rendered in “Areuse Blue”, a tone inspired by the river flowing adjacent to the Fleurier workshop.

Powering the watch is the ultra-thin Calibre 96.40-L, measuring 3.30mm in thickness and fitted with a 22k gold micro-rotor. Using two stacked mainspring barrels arranged via Chopard Twin technology, the movement achieves a 65-hour power reserve. It carries chronometer certification from the COSC and bears the Poinçon de Genève.

Jewellery Watch Prize: Chopard Mystery Nut

Conceived by Chopard co-president Caroline Scheufele, the Mystery Nut is a high jewellery secret watch crafted in the form of a walnut pendant. The shell is fashioned from 18k ethical rose gold set with brown and cognac diamonds, suspended from a sautoir necklace featuring nearly 430 carats of cascading briolette diamonds.

A concealed clasp opens the walnut to reveal an in-house self-winding moonphase watch set against blued titanium and diamond framing. The opposite internal shell depicts an openwork scene in diamond guipure, highlighting a diamond-set dove bearing an olive branch against a blued guilloché titanium background.

Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Arty Automata

The Tambour Taiko Arty Automata combines an automaton mechanism with Grand Feu champlevé enamelling across a 42mm white gold case. The dial is constructed across four distinct vertical tiers requiring more than 250 hours of hand decoration and 23 bespoke enamel shades, encircled by a bezel channel-set with baguette sapphires and rubies.

Actuating the pusher at 8 o’clock engages seven mechanical animations driven by the automatic Calibre LFT AU05.01. Monogram flowers rotate in counter directions, the central letters transform from “LOVE” to “MOVE”, and the peace-sign flying tourbillon executes a continuous 60-second rotation.

Gemset Watch Prize: Piaget Swinging Pebble

Drawing inspiration from Piaget’s 1972 Kimono pocket watches, the Swinging Pebble reinterprets historical pendant timepieces through lapidary carving and high jewellery. Each watch is sculpted from a single solid slice of pietersite stone, selected for its fluid veining and natural sheen.

Nested within the pietersite pebble is an asymmetric 18k white gold watch case set with 2.43 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds. The pendant is suspended from a hand-twisted, articulated white gold chain produced using traditional goldsmithing techniques.

“Petite Aiguille” Watch Prize: Otsuka Lotec No.8

Founded by independent horologist Jiro Katayama, Tokyo-based Otsuka Lotec took the “Petite Aiguille” prize with the No.8. Inspired by the layout of analogue audio mixing consoles, the 31mm by 47.8mm stainless steel case features a two-tiered display driven by an in-house module fitted to a Miyota base movement.

At the turn of every hour, the hour channel advances instantaneously while the vertical minute fader returns from 60 to 0 in a damped retrograde motion regulated by an internal flywheel. The proprietary module comprises 62 parts and integrates an ultra-miniature 1.5mm ball bearing manufactured by MinebeaMitsumi.

Challenge Watch Prize: SpaceOne x Baltic – Seconde Majeure

Created as a partnership between French brands SpaceOne and Baltic, the Seconde Majeure is built around an openworked jumping-hour complication engineered by independent watchmaker Théo Auffret. Housed in a 38.5mm stainless steel case, the dial is machined entirely from German silver and acts as the module’s mainplate.

The complication comprises three visible elements: a central driving wheel making one turn every 60 minutes, a 12-toothed hour star, and a high-tension jumper spring. The spring accumulates torque as the central wheel advances, instantaneously releasing the energy at the top of the hour to jump the hour disc.

Mechanical Clock Prize: La Vallée Cosmo

La Vallée’s Cosmo is an astronomical timekeeper featuring a 14.5kg mechanical movement magnetically suspended within a hand-blown Murano glass dome. The entire mechanism rotates on its central axis once per sidereal day, producing an evolving map of standard, solar, and sidereal time alongside complete celestial coordinates.

Driven by a patented transmission comprising just two eccentric gears, the clock powers a flexure-based remontoire and a 70mm magnetic balance wheel beating at 3,240vph. The mechanism yields a 406-day power reserve from a single winding, with the glass dome acting as an acoustic sounding board that amplifies the clock’s escapement.