Non-Swiss brands win big at watch Oscars

A NON-Swiss brand, Grand Seiko of Japan, wrestled away the Men's Watch Prize last week in the 2021 Grand Prix d' Horlogerie de Genève.

The "Aiguille d'Or" grand prize of the GPHG, the watch world's equivalent of Hollywood's Academy Awards, was bestowed on Italian jeweller and watch-maker Bulgari in a competition dominated by Swiss brands. Swiss-based Piaget saved the day for Switzerland by bagging the Ladies' Watch Prize.

While non-Swiss brands captured two of the top three awards, a sign that the Swiss-initiated event is making headway in going international, it's still largely a Swiss affair with the lion's share of the 18 awards going to Swiss brands.