Another key feature of this watch is the extremely precise Double Moon™ phase display, which will only deviate from the moon’s orbit by one day after a world-record-breaking 45,361,055 years. Established in 2001, the GPHG recognises exceptional watch creations of the year and aims to promote the outstanding quality of Swiss watchmaking.
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, also nicknamed the “Oscars®” of the Swiss watch industry, is one of the industry’s most coveted awards with 15 different categories. The 24th edition of the award ceremony took place tonight at the Théâtre du Léman in Geneva in front of representatives from the nominated brands and press. In the month leading up to the ceremony, all nominated watches were presented to the public during a travelling exhibition in Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, New York and Geneva. The award-winning watches will be exhibited in Bucharest towards the end of November.
IWC Schaffhausen’s Portugieser Eternal Calendar (Ref. IW505701) has been awarded the “Aiguille d’Or”. Since Kurt Klaus created his ingenious perpetual calendar in the 1980s, IWC has acquired unique expertise in the field of mechanical calendars. With its first secular perpetual calendar, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer now once again pushes the boundaries of engineering with a mechanical programme that covers extreme dimensions of time, touching the limits of eternity.
The Portugieser Calendar is based on the same modular and synchronised design as the perpetual calendar, meaning that all its displays can be advanced simply by using the crown. However, while the perpetual calendar is programmed for a four-year cycle with three regular years followed by a leap year, the Portugieser Eternal Calendar accounts for the Gregorian calendar’s leap year exceptions by skipping three leap years over a period of 400 years. This means it will calculate the leap year correctly until at least the year 3999. No official decision has been taken yet as to whether the year 4000 will be a leap year or not. The Portugieser Eternal Calendar also features a moon phase display with unprecedented precision. Thanks to the newly developed reduction gear train with three intermediate wheels, the Double Moon™ phase display will theoretically only deviate from the moon’s orbit by one day after a world-record-breaking 45,361,055 years. The Portugieser Eternal Calendar features an elaborately finished platinum case. Box-glass sapphire crystals on the front and the back beautifully showcase the transparent glass dial and the IWC-manufactured 52640 calibre inside.
“We are thrilled to win this award for the Portugieser Eternal Calendar. Building on the emblematic crowncontrolled perpetual calendar that Kurt Klaus developed in the 1980s, we have pushed the limits for mechanical calendar complications once again. We have engineered more than just a concept. Despite its tremendous complexity, the Portugieser Eternal Calendar is a watch we are actually producing, and our customers are wearing every day. My thanks go to our teams in research and innovation, design and development, simulation and testing, and, of course, manufacturing. This watch would not have been possible without your passion and determination,” says Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
IWC was also nominated by the GPHG in three categories. The Portugieser Eternal Calendar (Ref. IW505701) was nominated in the “Calendar & Astronomy” category, the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes- AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team (Ref. IW388306) in the “Sports” category and the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Markus Bühler (Ref. IW329901) in the “Iconic” category.
THE GRAND PRIX D’HORLOGERIE DE GENÈVE
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève was initiated by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH in 2001. Since 2011, the competition has been organised by a foundation that was specially created for this purpose. Among the members of the foundation are the canton and the city of Geneva as well as the international watchmaking museum in La-Chauxde- Fonds. Based on the GPHG’s founding values of neutrality, independence, and universality, the Academy of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) was established in 2020. The Academy invites experienced industry members to take part in the various stages of the watch selection process. It comprises several hundred members, all experienced and significant stakeholders in the key watchmaking-related sectors and forming a vast network of ambassadors worldwide. Members of the Academy have the fundamental mission of proposing the eligible watch models – in parallel with the traditional brand entries – and taking part in the various votes to determine the winners. The coveted trophy was designed by Bernese graphic artist Roger Pfund, whose previous projects include such highprofile designs as that of the Swiss passport and several series of banknotes.
