24.10.14

Piaget’s Altiplano 38 mm 900P is the Watch of the Year 2014

At their final session on 17 September 2014, the independent panel of watchmaking professionals appointed by Montres Passion magazine, chose the winners of the Watch of the Year Prize from a shortlist of around forty watches.

The prizewinners are:

1st Jury Prize :
Piaget – Altiplano 38 mm 900P

2nd Jury Prize:
H. Moser & Cie – Venturer Small Seconds

3rd Jury Prize: Bulgari – Octo Finissimo
Ladies’ Watch of the Year: F.P. Journe – Elégante

Special Jury Prize: Not awarded

As with every year since the prize was created twenty-one years ago, the public were also given an opportunity to select their favourite watch by an online vote held on a dedicated website over a period of three weeks. Based on a count of several thousand votes, the People’s Prize was awarded to the Breitling Navitimer GMT.

The prizes and trophies were presented to the representatives of the winning brands and manufacturers at a ceremony held on 24 October 2014 in Geneva, in front of an audience of over 500 prominent figures from the watchmaking world.

At 3.65 mm thin – a world record for a manualwind mechanical watch – Piaget’s Altiplano 38 mm 900P won over the judges by its good looks and design. The judges particularly liked the reverse movement, the caseback fashioned as a base plate and the off-centre dial set into the bridges. «The design is all about the technology» and «It’s by far my favourite watch!» were some of the comments heard. Piaget was previously awarded the Watch of the Year Prize in 2013 for the Altiplano Date. Far from hesitating to give the ultimate prize to the same brand twice, the judges were unanimous: «Piaget is one of the most innovative brands of the moment. With this timepiece, it has gone even further artistically than last year.»

It was the shape and restrained design of H. Moser & Cie’s Venturer Small Seconds that caught the judges’ eye. Its curved crystal, ultra-wide bezel, domed dial and the swooping lines of the watch case demonstrate the amount of work put into the looks of this watch. Viewed with the eyes as much as it is felt with the hands, it was described as having «sex-appeal» and «masculine elegance». «This timepiece is so timeless you feel like it’s been around forever and yet you feel like you’ve got hold of something completely new», one judge said.

«A future icon» is how the judges described the Bulgari Octo Finissimo! Its bold faceted design aroused a great deal of reaction: compliments were paid about «the beautifully harmonious design», «simple dial» and the «courage» of the brand which has set new standards with this watch. «We wouldn’t be surprised if this watch becomes a new classic» sums up one member of the panel.

Since 1994, the aim of the Watch of the Year Prize has been to promote the year’s best watchmaking creations, from a technical and aesthetic point of view. The awards were created by Montres Passion magazine, published in French and German by Ringier Romandie. An ambassador for Swiss quality watches, this opinion-leading magazine aims to contribute to the development of watchmaking culture.

Contact:
Fabrice Eschmann
Editor-in-Chief of Montres Passion
Telephone: +41 21 331 77 80
E-mail: [email protected]

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Prizes for CHANEL, TAG HEUER and BAUME & MERCIER at the Prix de la Campagne Horlogère de l’Année / Watch Advertising Campaign Awards 2014

The Prix de la Campagne Horlogère de l’Année awards recognise creativity, innovation, artistry and quality in advertising campaigns created by the watchmaking industry. This year, a record number of campaigns and visuals were entered for the judges to consider, thus demonstrating the continual development, quality and rich creativity of the brands’ advertising.

The campaigns were voted on by a panel of judges and the winners chosen at a session held in Lausanne on 8 October. There was also a People’s Prize, with several thousand members of the public making their choice on the www.montrespassion.ch website.

The prizes were presented at the Watch of the Year ceremony held on Friday 24 October 2014, in front of an audience of about 500 prominent figures from the world of watchmaking and advertising.

In the Print/Poster category, the Prix de la Campagne Horlogère de l’Année was awarded to CHANEL for its “L’instant CHANEL” campaign. In making its choice, the panel singled out the harmony between creative idea, production and execution, the artistic appeal and the clarity of the images. A contemporary campaign of ultimate simplicity which perfectly captures, portrays and represents the iconic elements of the brand for its watch division.

For the Film & Cyber category, the judges chose TAG HEUER’s film “Don’t crack under pressure”, for its powerful message, the world it captures and its loyalty to present and past icons and the brand’s heritage.

In its deliberations, the panel decided to award two Special Mention Prizes; in the Print/Poster category, to the “2014” campaign by BELL & ROSS; and in the Film & Cyber category, to RJ ROMAIN JEROME’s “Movie Scenes” campaign.

The People’s Prize was awarded by online voters to BAUME & MERCIER for its “Life is about moments” campaign.

Members of the panel

Mrs Victoria Marchand
Editor-in-Chief, Cominmag

Mr Claude Miffon
Vice-Chairman, Publicité Suisse

Mr Olivier Bailly
Chairman of GREM and Director of ECS Conseil SA

Mr David Sadigh
Unit Manager, Digital Luxury Group, DLG SA

Mr Régis Colombo
Chairman of USPP, Union suisse des photographes professionnels

Mr Cédric Gachet
Freelance artist

Mr Yannick Chevailler
Director Suisse Romande, SAWI

Information:

Sandrine Boehm
Watch Advertising Manager
E-mail: [email protected],
téléphone: + 41 79 229 31 56