Why No Rolex at GPHG 2020? Tim's GPHG 2020 Favorites & Aiguille d'Or Prediction
Watches Tonight with Tim Mosso
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35m
Luxury watch collectors are ready to turn the page on Election 2020 and start handicapping the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve - the GPHG 2020! Popularly regarded as the "Oscars" of watchmaking, the GPHG is a Geneva-based academy awards event in which the best luxury watches of the year are honored in several major product classes. Why aren't Rolex and Patek Philippe at the GPHG? Which watches does Tim admire most? Watch this episode of "Watches Tonight" to find out!
Rolex and Patek Philippe **do not** want to compete at the GPHG. Nominated watches are entered either by submission from their manufacturers or by 1) the request of the Academy and 2) the consent of the watch manufacturer. Clearly, Rolex and Patek don't want to play this game, because it's certain that even if these blue-chip brands didn't submit watches in their own right, the GPHG Academy would have asked for permission to judge 2020 models from these revered watchmakers.
Among the brands that ARE participating in this year's GPHG, Tim is ready to play favorites. In the "Men's" watch category, Tim favors the Petermann Bedat 1967 Deadbeat Seconds. This 39mm classical dress watch stuns with a three-dimensional "sector" dial that displays the immaculately finished motion works and keyless works. The movement of this opus is a manual-wind masterclass in hand-finishing and traditional craft arts. At less than $60,000 U.S. the Petermann Bedat 1967 is the closest you can get to Rexhep Rexhepi without a years-long waiting list.
The "Mechanical Exception" prize may evoke thoughts of grande complications and movements with hundreds -- or even thousands -- of parts, but Tim's favorite in this class is the 2020 Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept. A 41mm watch that's only 2mm thick, this cobalt-cased wonder is the thinnest mechanical watch in the world, costs a cool CHF 400,000, and can be customized by request of the buyer. Piaget's technology flagship is protected by no fewer than five patents.
Petite Aiguille is a category for watches priced between CHF 4,000 and 10,000. Tim likes the Sarpaneva x Moomin limited edition. This watch, which is inspired by the Finnish children's favorite, Moomin, includes what might be the most inventive use of super luminova to date.
In the Challenge class, watches below CHF 4,000 compete for an honor that combines value and quality. The Kurono Tokyo by Hajime Asaoka "Kurono Anniversary Green Mori" is the hottest watch available for roughly 1,700 Swiss francs.
Among the "Divers" class, Tim sees multiple contenders. The 2020 Grand Seiko Professional Diver 600M SLGA001 is a technological masterpiece with the next-generation Spring Drive 9RA5. But its 46.9mm titanium case is a bit large for most tastes, and the $11,000 might be too ambitious for a Grand Seiko.
Instead, Tim prefers the Ming 18.01 H41 titanium dive watch. With a slime 12.9mm profile, a spectacular titanium bracelet, and a wearable 40mm grade five titanium case, the latest watch from Ming Thien deserves to take the Divers classification.
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