A complete showcase of the finalist works for the Geneva Watch Grand Prix (GPHG) 2026.

The Geneva Watch Grand Prix (GPHG), one of the most prestigious awards in the watch industry, will be held again this year. For 2026, the category structure has been revised, with the addition of "Essential" and "Complication" categories replacing the separate men's and women's divisions, as well as the creation of a new "Gem-Set" category. Furthermore, "Calendar and Astronomy" has been revived as an independent category, resulting in judging across all 14 categories. This article will introduce the 84 finalists across all categories, along with the characteristics of each category.

Here's a look at all 84 works nominated for GPHG 2026.

　The Geneva Watch Grand Prix (GPHG) is an international watch award established in 2001. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding watchmaking, and it is often referred to as the "Academy Awards of the watchmaking world." The nominees and winners announced each year offer an interesting overview of the watchmaking world for that year. In addition to the individual category awards, there is also the "Golden Hand Award (Aiguille d'Or Grand Prix)," the highest award given to the best watch across all categories.

　In 2026, the category structure was revised, replacing the separate gender categories with "Essential" and "Complication" categories, as well as the newly established "Gem Set" category. Furthermore, "Calendar and Astronomy" was revived as an independent category, resulting in judging across all 14 categories. This article will introduce the 84 nominated works in each category, along with the characteristics of each category.

Time Only Category

　The Time Only category is for watches that display only hours, minutes, and seconds using two or three analog hands, without any other displays, complications, or gemstone settings. The nominated works include the NAOYA HIDA & Co. "NH TYPE8A" with a 31mm case and hand-engraved numerals, and the Piaget "Piaget Polo 79" with a sodalite dial, showcasing models that have streamlined their functions while maintaining individuality in proportion and exterior design. Particularly noteworthy is the Bulgari "Octo Finissimo," which has been reduced in size to 37mm, achieving a more compact proportion thanks to the newly developed Cal.BVF 100 movement.

Essential Department

　The Essential category features watches that incorporate basic hour, minute, and second displays, along with date, power reserve, and classic moon phase functions. The nominated watches include Audemars Piguet's "Neo Frame Jumping Hour," a modern reinterpretation of a 1929 design, and MB & F's "SP One," which features three elements positioned to appear as if floating in mid-air, showcasing models that offer unique expressions in time display itself. Of particular note is Grand Seiko's "Masterpiece Collection Hand-Winding Spring Drive Engraved Limited Edition," which features intricate hand-engraving from the dial to the case. As one of the Japanese entries, it will be interesting to see how well this engraving technique is received.

Complications Department

　The Complications category features watches characterized by mechanical ingenuity and complexity, including classic or innovative complications and displays. The nominated watches include the Rederer "CIC 39 InVerto Titanium" with its double remontoir mechanism and the Czapek "Time Jumper" with its unique 24-hour jumping hour mechanism, showcasing models where the mechanism itself is the main attraction. Of particular note is the "UR-Freak" by Ulysse Nardin and Urwerk. This collaboration, which fuses the rotating movement of the Freak with Urwerk's wandering hour into a single movement, strongly reflects the individuality of both brands.

Mechanical Exceptions Division

　The Mechanical Exceptions category recognizes watches with original and exceptional mechanisms, such as innovative displays, special escapements, and acoustic mechanisms. Nominated works include Christian van der Krau's "CVDK Grand Planetarium Eccentric Silicium," which displays the orbits of eight planets in real time, and Konstantin Chaikin's "Thinking Mystery," which achieves a case thickness of just 1.65mm—models that push the limits of mechanical watchmaking. Of particular note is Blancpain's "Grande Double Sonnerie." Developed over eight years, the Cal.15GSQ consists of 1053 parts and features a sonnerie that plays two selectable melodies using four tones and four hammers. Furthermore, it integrates a perpetual calendar and a flying tourbillon, making it the most complex watch in the company's history.

Gem Set Category

　The Gem-Set category, newly established in 2026, is for watches set with gemstones totaling up to 6 carats. The nominees include Bulgari's "Serpenti Eterna," a modern refinement of the iconic "Serpenti"; Chopard's "L'Heure de Diamant," which features a unified design from the dial to the bracelet; and Piaget's "Swinging Pebbles," which revives an original jewelry watch from the archives for the modern era. Rather than simply competing on the quantity or extravagance of gemstones, the lineup reflects the unique worldview of each brand.

Tourbillon section

　The Tourbillon category is for mechanical watches equipped with a single tourbillon. This year's nominees include Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud's "Chronometer FB 2TV," which combines a fusee chain with a tourbillon, and Louis Vuitton's "Escale Worldtime Flying Tourbillon," which features a flying tourbillon at the center of the world time display. These are just a few examples of models that combine the tourbillon with unique mechanisms and expressions. Of particular note is Arnold & Son's "Constant Force Tourbillon 11 Platinum," which pays homage to the historical relationship between John Arnold and Breguet. This model incorporates a constant force mechanism that provides stable energy to the tourbillon, aiming to improve isochronism.

Chronograph section

　The chronograph category is for mechanical watches equipped with at least one chronograph display. The nominated watches include Parmigiani Fleurier's "Tonda PF Chronograph Mystérieuse," which only reveals the chronograph hand when measuring, and otherwise appears as a three-hand watch, and Audemars Piguet's "Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Flying Tourbillon Chronograph (RD#5) “150th Anniversary”," which employs a rack-and-pinion zero-reset mechanism instead of the conventional heart cam and hammer. These are just a few examples of models that rethink chronograph displays and mechanisms from a new perspective. Of particular note is TAG Heuer's "TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph." Its newly developed Cal.TH80-00 employs a "compliant chronograph" that replaces many of the conventional levers and springs responsible for start, stop, and reset with two bistable components. This watch brings a new approach to the very basic structure of the chronograph, a timepiece with a long history.

Calendar and Astronomy Section

　The Calendar and Astronomy category is for mechanical watches equipped with calendar and astronomical display mechanisms. Nominees include the Verneron "Quantième Annuel," which combines four jumping displays with a retrograde date display, and the Christian van der Krau "CVDK Venus Annual Calendar," which displays the relative positions of the sun, Venus, and Earth, as well as the moon's orbit in real time. From perpetual calendars to innovative astronomical displays, the different approaches of each company to calendars and astronomy are the highlights of this category.

Sports department

　The Sports category focuses on watches related to sports, featuring functions, materials, and designs suitable for physical activity. Nominees include the Chopard "Zagato Lab One Concept," made with ceramicized titanium and weighing approximately 43.2g including the strap, and the Grand Seiko "Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive UFA Ushio 300 Diver," which combines a Spring Drive UFA with an accuracy of ±20 seconds per year and 300m water resistance. Furthermore, the H. Moser "Streamliner Pump White," which incorporates Reebok's "Pump" into the winding mechanism of a mechanical watch, and the Hermès "Hermès H08 Skeleton," which houses a specially designed skeleton movement in a titanium case, are just a few examples of the diverse array of watches that express sports not only in terms of performance, but also in terms of materials, design, and lifestyle.

Jewelry Department

　The jewelry category is for watches that demonstrate exceptional skill in jewelry making, gem setting, and gem selection. Nominated works include Bulgari's "Tubogas Manchette," which boldly combines gemstones and gold; Piaget's "Flowing Curves Cuff Watch," which uses black opal and metalwork; and Jacob & Co.'s "Billionaire Double Tourbillon Angel Cut," which features approximately 80 carats of diamonds. The highlight is the expressive power of each maison as high jewelry, going beyond the realm of watches.

Artistic Crafts Department

　The Artistic Crafts category is for watches that utilize traditional craft techniques such as enamel, engraving, guilloché decoration, and skeletonization. Nominees include Andersen Geneva's "Celestial Voyager VK Edition," which features a miniature cityscape painted on mother-of-pearl, and Louis Vuitton's "Tambour Taiko Arti Automata," which uses 23 colors of champlevé enamel.

Small Needle (PETITE AIGUILLE) category

　The "Petite Aiguille" (Small Hand) category is for watches with a retail price of 4500 to 1 Swiss francs. Nominees include the Frederique Constant "Classic Worldtimer Manufacture," which features world time functionality with an in-house movement, and the Min x JN Shapiro "37.06 Lightning," which combines hand-applied guilloché with the burnt finish of titanium. These are models that demonstrate ingenuity in technology and finishing despite the price constraints. From Japan, the Otsuka Lowtec "No. 8" is nominated. It makes a statement with its design reminiscent of an open-reel tape recorder and its unique retrograde minute display that slowly returns to zero.

Challenge Division

　The Challenge category is for watches with a retail price of 4500 Swiss francs or less. Nominees include the Frederique Constant "Classic Moneta Handwinding," which combines a hand-wound movement with a classic design; the Favre-Leuba "Chief Skeleton," which employs a specially designed skeleton movement; and the Seiko "King Seiko Vanac," which combines a titanium case with the Cal.8L45 movement, which boasts a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.

Mechanical Clock Division

　The Mechanical Clock category is for mechanical clocks and similar devices whose primary purpose is timekeeping. The nominated works include clocks with chiming mechanisms to announce the time, automata, and complex astronomical displays. The large-scale mechanisms and three-dimensional designs are the highlights unique to this category.