Rexhep Rexhepi Wins Aiguille d’Or at 2026 GPHG Awards
Independent watchmaker claims top prize at the 26th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
1Top Honor for Rexhepi
The 26th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awarded its highest honor, the Aiguille d’Or, to independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi. His winning timepiece, the Chronograph Flyback, was recognized for its harmonious proportions and technical architecture. This victory marks a significant milestone for the Geneva-based creator, who previously apprenticed at the renowned Patek Philippe.
2A Shift in Categories
Organizers implemented a major structural change for the 2026 edition by removing traditional gender-based categories. These were replaced with technical classifications, specifically the Essential Watch and Complication Watch categories. This transition reflects a broader industry trend toward prioritizing mechanical innovation and design philosophy over conventional marketing labels for luxury timepieces.
3Rigorous Jury Selection
A diverse panel of experts, including watch collectors, professional watchmakers, journalists, and auctioneers, evaluated 84 competing timepieces. The jury assessed entries across 14 distinct categories, ranging from sports and astronomy to mechanical exception. This collaborative evaluation process ensures that winners represent the pinnacle of current craftsmanship and horological engineering standards.
4Mechanical Exception Highlights
Blancpain secured the Mechanical Exception award with their most complex watch to date, developed over an eight-year period. The timepiece features a unique four-note, four-hammer striking mechanism, allowing users to select between two distinct melodies. This innovation represents a world-first achievement in the field of grande sonnerie wristwatches.
5Precision and Heritage
Ferdinand Berthoud received the Chronometry Prize for the Naissance d’une Montre 3 project. Celebrating the brand's tenth anniversary, the watch was crafted entirely by hand without digital assistance. This project underscores the industry's commitment to preserving traditional tools and manual techniques while maintaining official ISO 3159 precision certification standards.
6Artistry and Craftsmanship
Louis Vuitton won the Artistic Crafts category with the Tambour Taiko Arty Automata. The dial features 23 distinct shades of champlevé enamel, requiring over 250 hours of meticulous handwork to complete. This award highlights the integration of high-level artistic techniques within the modern luxury watchmaking sector, emphasizing aesthetic complexity and detail.
7Iconic Design Recognition
Audemars Piguet claimed the Iconic Watch Prize with the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin RD#5. This model combines a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon for the first time in the collection's history. It also introduces a rare instant jump minute counter, reinforcing the brand's legacy of continuous technical evolution over decades.
8Patek Philippe Honored
The Special Jury Prize was awarded to Patek Philippe for their Watch Art Grand Exhibition. This accolade recognizes the brand's fundamental role in promoting high-quality watchmaking and fostering public appreciation for the craft. Unlike timepiece-specific awards, this honor celebrates institutional contributions that advance the global culture of horological excellence and education.
9Industry Evolution Trends
The 2026 GPHG ceremony demonstrated a clear shift toward technical transparency and mechanical audacity. From magnetically suspended mechanisms to ultra-low frequency movements, the winners reflect a diverse landscape of innovation. These developments suggest that the future of luxury watchmaking lies in balancing historical heritage with bold, non-conformist engineering approaches.
Original article: Euronews – Culture — Rexhep Rexhepi Wins Aiguille d’Or at 2026 GPHG Awards