Audemars Piguet has won the watch industry’s biggest award with its timepiece, Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle (RD#4) picking up the Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix 2023 trophy.
The 2023 edition of the glittering Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), saw 90 watches and clocks vied for coveted prizes in 15 categories including ladies’, men’s, calendar and astronomy, jewellery and mechanical clock.
The Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix award is presented to the “Best In Show” timepiece, at the prestigious event in Geneva.
Released to much fanfare earlier this year, RD#4 is the most complicated timepiece in the history of the Swiss watchmaking giant. Not only is it a flex in terms of its modern day watchmaking ability, but it also pays tribute to the manufacture’s legacy of high complications, thanks to feat of engineering that includes 40 functions, including 23 complications, among which a Grande Sonnerie Supersonnerie, a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, a split-seconds flyback chronograph and a flying tourbillon.
The Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix was accepted on stage by the Audemars Piguet’s out-going CEO, François-Henry Bennahmias.
Winners of the GPHG watchmaking awards
Men’s Complication – WINNER: Voutilainen – World Timer
Men’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. world time, dual time or other types of model) and do not fit the definition of the Men’s and Mechanical Exception categories.
Iconic – WINNER: Ulysse Nardin – Freak One
Watches stemming from an emblematic collection or model that has been exercising a lasting influence on watchmaking history and the watch market for more than 20 years.
Sports – WINNER: Tudor – Pelagos 39
Watches linked to the world of sport, whose functions, materials and design are suited to physical exercise.
Ladies – WINNER: Piaget – Hidden Treasures
Women’s watches comprising the following indications only – hours, minutes, seconds, simple date (day of the month), power reserve, classic moon phases – and potentially adorned with a maximum 9-carat gemsetting.
Chronograph – WINNER: Petermann Bédat – Chronographe rattrapante
Mechanical watches comprising at least one chronograph indication. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.
Calendar and Astronomy – WINNER: Bovet 1822 – Récital 20 Astérium
Men’s 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.