Watches on a roadshow in Switzerland. GPHG on tour!
The nominated watches for the GPHG usually tour the world in popular, watch-pretty exhibitions ahead of the final jury judging in Geneva, but not this year. It is an awkward situation and there are many of us who were looking forward to a 20th anniversary with a party, gala clothes, pomp and ceremony. A shame, thinks Eqotime's Britta Rossander.
Text: Britta Rossander
The nominated watches for the GPHG usually tour around the world in appreciated watch-charming exhibitions ahead of the concluding jury assessment in Geneva – but not this year. It is an awkward situation and there are many of us who have looked forward to a 20 year anniversary with a party, gala clothes, pomp and circumstance. NOW WE will probably have to follow it all via the net, terribly boring!
In accordance with the corona circumstances we are forced to live with the fact that this year the GPHG presents the 84 watches, from the 50 brands that have been nominated, in four cities: Zürich Switzerland's only big city, Bern the country's picturesque capital and Geneva with its international aproach. But everything did however start in La Chaux-de Fonds at the Musée International d’Horlogerie as the first stop on this boiled down roadshow inside Switzerland's borders.
The showing started this week and goes on up to and including Sunday. So if you are in the area you can take the chance to go on one of the guided tours that run daily at 11.00 and 14.00.
It is of course not like before. Now it is face masks of varying thickness on, no crowding in front of the tables and a bit messy since it is in the museum which is already full of watches and movement parts.
The next stop is in the Bucherer shop on Bahnofstrasse in Zürichs, 20 to 22 October, which is followed by a showing in the Bellevue palace in Bern 23 to 25 October.
Finally, from 31 October to 15 November the watches will be shown in Geneva where the GPHG will offer visitors the possibility of taking part in workshops. Places can be booked at inscription@gphg.org.
Who takes home the trophies in the various categories will be announced on Thursday 12 November at the 20th GPHG prize ceremony. From the organisation's side they announces that the event will as usual take place in the Théâtre du Léman in – as they say – ”in accordance with prevailing health regulations”.
Everything will of course be possible to follow over the net – but it would be terribly boring if it cannot be carried out with an audience.
