A Memorable Victory at GPHG 2016
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is the watch industry’s most rigorous judged competition, awarding the Aiguille d’Or to exceptional timepieces. In 2016, Ferdinand Berthoud claimed the prize—recognition that validated the brand’s return to haute horologie after its revival in 2015.
Emotional Reflections from Karl-Friedrich Scheufele
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the Chopard co-president who steered Ferdinand Berthoud’s reconstruction, spoke with visible emotion immediately after the announcement. For Scheufele and his team, the award crowned years of research into 18th-century marine chronometer design and the engineering required to translate historical principles into modern manufacturing. The Aiguille d’Or validated the entire project.
The Significance of the Aiguille d’Or
The Aiguille d’Or recognizes a single timepiece that demonstrates superior technical execution and design coherence. For Ferdinand Berthoud, this was not merely brand validation—it positioned the house alongside independent watchmakers and established manufactures as a serious contender in contemporary haute horologie.
Craftsmanship and Innovation
Ferdinand Berthoud’s collections feature hand-finished movements with Geneva stripes, hand-engraved balance cocks, and components finished to standards associated with Marine Chronometer construction. The winning timepiece combined escapement design derived from John Harrison’s work with contemporary case finishing and dial decoration. This approach—archaeological research applied to current manufacturing—distinguished the brand from both historical revivals and purely contemporary design houses.
Explore More About Ferdinand Berthoud
To examine Ferdinand Berthoud’s collections in detail, click here. Each piece incorporates historically documented watchmaking procedures alongside modern quality control, a balance that explains the brand’s rapid acquisition of dedicated collectors since 2015.
The GPHG 2016 victory marked Ferdinand Berthoud’s arrival as a credible force in contemporary horological manufacturing, a status earned through precise adherence to documented chronometric principles.
