GPHG 2014: Blancpain wins the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève in the Ladies' category
GPHG 2014: Blancpain wins the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève in the Ladies' category
The Manufacture Blancpain is proud to see its watchmakers' work rewarded by the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.This year, the Ladies' watch category prize was awarded to the new Women Heure Décentrée Seconde Retrograde. The jury thereby chose to reward the technical and aesthetic characteristics of this new horological complications especially developed for women.
Created in 2001, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) annually honours the excellence of horological creations. This year, 72 pre-selected watches representing the major watch groups as well as independent brands were competing in 12 categories. At the prize-giving ceremony that took place this Friday in the Grand Théâtre in Geneva, the winner of the Ladies' category singled out by the GPHG jury was new Women Heure Décentrée Seconde Retrograde from the Manufacture Blancpain.
As early as 1930, Blancpain had grasped women’s interest in horological complications that were formerly reserved for men only. A pioneer in the history of feminine watches with the first self-winding wristwatch for women, the Manufacture of Le Brassus has constantly innovated ever since by developing a steady stream of elegant timepieces, as this new model eloquently confirms.
A true anthem to femininity, this new creation is lit up with the fire of 152 diamonds. Its 36.8 mm-diameter red gold case is exalted by 108 diamonds totalling one carat. This original gemsetting composed of two interwoven rows of diamonds in various sizes echoes the emblematic double-stepped case design of the brand, while the diamond adorning the crown lends the ultimate touch of refinement.
The white mother-of-pearl dial sprinkled with facetted diamonds features an off-centred hours and minutes subdial at 12 o’clock graced with 4 Arabic numerals and drop-shaped cut-out hands, while the Blancpain signature at 6 o’clock delicately highlights the retrograde 30-second indication. A wave set with subtly graded diamonds undulates on either side to ensure a perfect balance.
The interior of this timepiece is every bit as beautiful as its outside, since it houses Blancpain’s new 226-part mechanical self-winding movement Calibre 2663SR, with a heart at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The sapphire crystal case-back affords a chance to admire the Côtes de Genève finish as well as the oscillating weight shaped like a five-petal flower dreamed up by Blancpain.
Following on from the success of the travelling exhibition that made stopovers in India, China and then Switzerland and enabled the public to discover the year’s finest watchmaking creations exceptionally brought together on this occasion, the prize-winning watches will be presented at the SalonQP in London from November 6th to 8th 2014.