Every year, the watch industry celebrates itself with pomp and circumstance in an awards ceremony called the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (or GPHG). It's more or less akin to the Oscars of watchmaking. For 2020, there are 84 nominees across 14 categories — many of which are somewhat esoteric. So, let's drill down and check out some of the more fun categories: specifically, dive watches, chronographs and best mens overall watches.
Diver's Watch Nominees
Breitling Superocean Automatic 48 Boutique Edition
In black DLC-coated titanium, this boutique version of Breitling's dive watch has a deep green dial and matching strap.
Diameter: 48mm
Price: ~$5,895
Doxa SUB 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US Divers
Doxa's famous SUB 300 takes on quite a unique character with a lightweight, strong and striking-looking carbon case.
Diameter: 42.5mm
Price: ~$5,275
Grand Seiko 9RA5 Spring Drive Diver’s 600m
Featuring Seiko's innovative Spring Drive technology, this luxury dive is water-resistant to 600m.
Diameter: 46.9mm
Price: ~$13,650
Ming 18.01 H41
Design-focused independent brand Ming released its first dive watch this year with some unique features.
Diameter: 40mm
Price: $3,250
Reservoir Hydrosphere Bronze Maldive Edition
Produced in collaboration with watch magazine Revolution, this bronze Reservoir watch features the brand's signature retrograde display and jumping hour indicators.
Diameter: 45mm
Price: ~$4,790
Ulysse Nardin Diver X Cape Horn
Made for the Vendée Globe sailing race, Ulysse Nardin's dive watch is light and tough in titanium and carbon.
Diameter: 44mm
Price: ~$10,900
Chronograph Watch Nominees
Atelier de Chronométrie #8 Split-Seconds Chronograph
Housed in an 18k "gray gold" case, this split-second chronograph is based on a vintage Venus movement recreated and decorated by hand.
Diameter: 39.8mm
Price: ~$121,630
Breitling Top Time Limited Edition
Brietling created this retro-styled limited edition in homage to its Top Time watch, which was originally produced in the 1960s.
Diameter: 41mm
Price: ~$5,450
H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Flyback Chronograph Automatic
When H. Moser & Cie. introduced its new Streamliner collection this year, it took the form of an unexpectedly sporty offering.
Diameter: 42.3mm
Price: $39,900
Kurono Chronograph 1
Aside from Seiko, Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka's affordable brand Kurono is one of the few non-European brands at the GPHG.
Diameter: 38mm
Price: ~$4,050
Louis Moinet Memoris Superlight
Louis Moinet traces its history to the invention of the chronograph, and the brand's technical and colorful entrant is one of the most visually striking of the show.
Diameter: 46mm
Price: ~$28,600
Parmigiani Tondagraph GT
One of the independent Swiss brand's sportiest watches, Parmigiani's Tondagraph is made entirely in-house.
Diameter: 42mm
Price: $19,500
Learn More: Here
Men's Watch Nominees
Bulgari Octo Finissimo S
The complicated but impressively thin (6.4mm) case of the Octo Finissimo is complemented by a steel bracelet and blue dial.
Diameter: 40mm
Price: ~$12,650
De Bethune DB28XP Starry Sky
De Bethune's typically sci-fi inspired and artistic angle is here expressed with a signature blue hue, skeletonized lugs and a tourbillon at 6 o'clock on the dial.
Diameter: 43mm
Price: ~$85,300
Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Green
Independent watchmaker Laurent Ferrier's take on classical watchmaking is subtle and understated, with a green dial but high refinement and haute horlogerie all around.
Diameter: 40mm
Price: ~$33,800
Petermann Bédat Dead Beat Second
Though classical in design and proportions, Petermann Bédat's Dead Beat Second represents a tough horological feat — it's a mechanical watch with a seconds hand that ticks every second rather than sweeping.
Diameter: 39mm
Price: ~$70,850
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Squelette Manufacture-Only Carbonium
Romain Gauthier's boldly styled and skeletonized micro-rotor watch has a case in a carbon composite and striking blue highlights.
Diameter: 42m
Price: ~$182,700
Voutilainen 28SC
Celebrated watchmaker Kari Voutilainen presents a classical look in restrained sizing with horological details to die for.
Diameter: 38.5mm
Price: ~$81,475
