# The Oscars of watchmaking: Who decides which watches deserve to win?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-oscars-of-watchmaking-who-decides-which-watches-deserve-to-win/
- Published: 2026-11-03T21:33:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T00:53:35+00:00
- Original publisher: CNA
- Original article: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/obsessions/gphg-2026-watch-awards-nominees-6511916
- Topics: Motorsport, Sport, World

## Key points

- The GPHG awards recognise design, craft and innovation in watches.
- Independent makers can gain visibility and higher resale prices.
- The 2026 awards remove gendered categories for the first time.

## Summary

The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is an annual awards event recognising watchmaking design, craftsmanship and technical innovation, with its 2026 ceremony scheduled for 7 November. The prizes can raise a watchmaker’s profile and, especially for independent makers, affect demand and resale prices, but the GPHG is not the sole authority on which watches are best.

Brands must pay to enter, and some major names, including Patek Philippe and Rolex, usually do not participate. The 2026 jury has 24 members, including Singaporeans Wei Koh, who chairs it, and Michael Tay; more than 1,000 Academy members can also propose candidates. Eligible watches were released between May 2025 and October 2026, with entries across 14 categories and no gendered categories for the first time in the event’s 26-year history.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.