With the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) rapidly approaching, we thought it would be amusing to make our own predictions, so we organized a little survey around the office to see which of the six finalists in the Ladies’ Watch category the team thought would/should win.
It soon became apparent, however, that some of our colleagues were voting on what they thought deserved to win, technically and artistically speaking, whereas others were choosing watches based on what they would wear, if by some magical chance, a horological fairy came down and gifted them a watch! This little change in perspective seemed to skew things quiet dramatically, so it was interesting to see how choices shifted. After much discussion, we decided to vote with our hearts, and our pretend wallets!
Let’s take a closer look at the six GPHG-nominated watches in the Ladies’ category.
Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide
This Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide by Arnold & Son makes its moonphase complication the focus of the dial in this nocturnal scene. A large diamond moon sits majestically in the sky, while a mosaic of ruthenium and mother-of-pearl waves dominate the lower part of the dial in different shades of blue. The whitewash of the waves, the indexes, bezel, and lugs are all adorned with diamonds, adding a maximum amount of sparkle to this ladies’ watch. The watch is fitted with a baby blue alligator leather strap and is powered by a manual-winding movement with a 90-hour power reserve. It is limited to 18 pieces.
Chopard Alpine Eagle 33
We were lucky to have been able to try on this timepiece in the WorldTempus office over the summer. Its 33 mm sand-like yellow gold case and matching bracelet, along with its turquoise dial were a huge hit. Since its release, the Chopard Alpine Eagle has been crafted in a colour palette inspired by the natural hues found in alpine landscapes – Pine Green, Aletsch Blue, Bernina Grey, Pitch Black, and Monte Rosa Pink – so it was refreshing to see Chopard leave the mountains for the sea with this Maritime Blue hue that is absolutely stunning.
Fabergé Colours of Love Rose Gold Rainbow
There is nothing like a rainbow of gemstones to pick up votes and this piece caught everyone’s eyes. Housed in a pink gold case that has been crafted in the shape of the famous Fabergé eggs adds to its appeal. There are also egg-shaped details on the hour hand and oval date window. The dial features a 24-wave guilloché pattern adorned with numerals that join in a swirling fashion. Future owners will also enjoy the interchangeable strap system and a large array of calfskin strap colours. With so many coloured gemstones, everything matches!
Hermès Cut
The Hermès Cut was launched at this year’s Watches and Wonders show, marking the arrival of a brand-new collection from the French luxury Maison. Designed to appeal to both men and women, Hermès entered it into the Ladies’ category as its small 36 mm size is perfect for female wrists. We covered its attributes in our article “Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication”. It was launched in four different iterations and the finalist for the GPHG comes in stainless steel with a matching bracelet, opaline silvered dial, and a brand-new Hermès font.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Automatic 36mm Diamonds Set
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF already reaped the award for Best Ladies’ timepiece back in 2022 with a rose gold version featuring a plum guilloché dial. This year, Parmigiani has no less than six timepieces nominated in different categories, and for the Ladies’ prize, its rose gold version with a beige grain d’orge hand-guilloché dial and diamonds on the bezel is a stunner. This timepiece comes in a 36 mm case size and is powered by an automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve.
Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Jour Nuit
The night sky is one of the most common themes in the Ladies’ watch category and Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Jour Nuit offers a beautiful night scene crafted with a range of métiers d’art. The Lady Jour Nuit comes in a 33mm white gold case with a dial that features a diamond-paved moon and stars, Murano aventurine glass, and painted blue mother-of-pearl. The watch took three years of research and development to complete and comes with a decorated case back that reveals a fairy admiring the planets.
This year’s WorldTempus predication goes to the Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Jour Nuit, but it was extremely close. Now it is time to pass the baton to the real GPHG jury and see who they think deserves this important award.
