GPHG 2025: Zenith, Chopard, and Franck Muller, Trilogy of Watchmaking Excellence
Three exceptional houses, three visions of fine watchmaking: analysis of the nominations that embody the art of time at its peak.
Among the 90 timepieces selected for this 25th edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, three manufacturers stand out for the richness and diversity of their nominations: Zenith, Chopard, and Franck Muller. Each brings its own unique vision of watchmaking excellence, an eloquent testament to the creativity that drives the greatest contemporary houses.
Zenith: When the Legend is Reborn for its 160th Anniversary
The Le Locle-based manufacturer has made a big splash with its G.F.J., nominated in the Men's category. Behind this mysterious name lies a vibrant tribute to Georges Favre-Jacot, the visionary founder who dreamed in 1865 of creating “the perfect watch.” 160 years later, Zenith is reviving its most legendary movement: the mythical Calibre 135.
This piece tells a fascinating story, that of a movement that literally wrote the history of chronometry. With 235 distinctions in prestigious observatory competitions, the Calibre 135 was the undisputed king of precision. Now reinterpreted with 21st-century excellence, it retains its original soul while gaining a 72-hour power reserve and a precision of +/-2 seconds per day.
The G.F.J. captivates with its timeless elegance: a 39 mm platinum case, a lapis lazuli dial reflecting a starry sky, and a subtle “brick” guilloché pattern evoking the iconic façade of the manufacture. Limited to 160 pieces, this anniversary creation perfectly embodies the art of transforming heritage into contemporary emotion. A watch that does more than just tell the time, it tells the story of horological precision.
Chopard: The Poetry of Watchmaking in All Its Splendor
The Geneva-based company has unveiled a remarkable range of creations, confirming its position as a benchmark in contemporary luxury watchmaking. No fewer than six nominations testify to the creative richness of this family-owned manufacturer, which has continually pushed the boundaries of excellence.
The Ladies' Complication category welcomes Imperiale Four Seasons, a true ode to nature and the passing of time. This exceptional piece translates the seasons into the language of watchmaking, offering a poetic vision of time that transcends its simple measurement to become pure aesthetic emotion.
The Swan Lake (Jewellery category) and L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Straw Marquetry Edition (Artistic Crafts category) watches celebrate the artistic crafts dear to the Chopard tradition, where every detail becomes an excuse for creative virtuosity.
The L.U.C Quattro Mark IV (Men's category) and L.U.C Lunar One (Men's Complication category) testify to the excellence of the L.U.C manufacture, Chopard's technical flagship. These timepieces embody the perpetual quest for mechanical perfection that characterizes the finest creations of the Geneva-based company, combining refined complications and exceptional finishes.
Finally, the Alpine Eagle 41 SL Cadence 8HF (Sports category) reveals a more contemporary side of Chopard, where watchmaking heritage meets the codes of the modern sports watch. This piece demonstrates the manufacture's ability to excel in all areas of contemporary watchmaking. We are proud to present this exceptional watch in our boutique in Neuchâtel.
Franck Muller: Pure Creative Audacity
The “Master of Complications” transforms telling the time into a true artistic performance with its Round Triple Mystery (Ladies' Complication category). This creation perfectly illustrates this revolutionary approach: three rotating discs dance beneath the dial, revealing the hours, minutes, and seconds via triangular indicators that appear to float in space.
This hypnotic piece plays with our perceptions, transforming every glance at the wrist into a moment of contemplation. The spiral of diamonds in the center of the dial amplifies this visual magic, while baguette-cut stones of varying sizes add a mysterious dimension to each unit of time. A delicately skeletonized seconds disc intensifies the depth, creating a mechanical ballet of striking poetry.
A Trilogy of Excellence
These three manufacturers paint a striking portrait of contemporary watchmaking in all its diversity. Zenith embodies the perpetual quest for chronometric perfection, a direct legacy of the pioneers of the chronograph. Chopard displays an exceptionally rich creative universe, from fine jewelry to artistic crafts and high mechanical complications. Franck Muller cultivates a bold creativity that challenges conventions to offer a resolutely contemporary vision of luxury watchmaking.
Each of these houses contributes to the success of this 25th edition of the GPHG, demonstrating the creative vitality that drives the world of luxury watchmaking. Their nominations perfectly reflect the unique ability of the great manufacturers to draw on their heritage to create the classics of tomorrow, in a constant dialogue between tradition and innovation.
See you in November to discover the big winners of this anniversary edition, which promises to mark the history of the GPHG!