Critics have spoken. Do you agree?

So the list of 72 contenders have finally been trimmed to 15 award-winners at the 17th edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie (GPHG), the so-called horological Academy Awards to hat-doff the best in contemporary watchmaking. While all the timepieces that ended up on the pedestal are well-deserved winners, were there any surprises?

 

Chopard L.U.C. Full Strike

Although 2017 has been dominated by a slew of striking watches, only two made the GPHG list of finalists. It was Chopard L.U.C.'s Full Strike (above) versus Audemars Piguet’s Jules Audemars Minute Repeater, and the former walked away with the evening’s top prize – the prestigious ‘Aiguille d’Or’ Grand Prix or the ‘Golden Hand’ – a best-of-the-best award from all the various categories.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600

The CROWN team had our favourites for the top prize, like the Vacheron Consantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 (above), which boasts 23 celestial complications, and Zenith’s Defy Lab (below), with its one-of-a-kind silicon oscillating system. Although neither won the ‘Golden Hand’, Vacheron Constantin snared the ‘Mechanical Exception Prize’, while Zenith was awarded the ‘Innovation Prize’.

Zenith Defy Lab

Meantime, the evening’s dark horse turned out to be Bulgari.

 

The Italian marque delivered a one-two knock-out, winning both the dress and technical awards – ‘Tourbillon And Escapement Prize’ for the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Skeleton; and ‘Men’s Watch Prize’ for the Octo Finissimo Skeleton (above), currently the world's thinnest automatic watch – proving that it has plenty more to offer besides flamboyant jewellery for ladies.

Far from an elitist selection, however, the awards made room for mid-luxury timepieces that are relatively easier on bank balances. Longines’ Avigation Big Eye (top) won the ‘Revival Watch Prize’ for its heartful homage to 1930s pilot’s watches, while Tudor’s Black Bay Chrono (below) was awarded the ‘Petite Aiguille’ (read our review here) – both value-for-money timepieces that you can actually head out to the stores for right now.

Click here for the full list of GPHG 2017 winners.

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