This year, like every other, November is a quiet month in the watch industry. The press trips are over, and the releases for the year, aside from a few exceptions (I'm looking at you, ), are already out. One can also say that the end-of-year unwinding, which will last until mid-to-late January, has begun. Before we call it quits, though, we have one last order of business. The GPHG (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genve) takes place around mid-November to honor some of the most outstanding timepieces in our industry.This year, close to 100 timepieces competed in 15 categories for first place and, eventually, the ultimate goal - the Grand Prix.The Horological Brothers, Tim and Bart Gronefeld - GPHG 2022 award recipientsGPHGLet me break it down if you need to become more familiar with the process. The GPHG Academy consists of people in and around the watch industry. As the organization puts it:The GPHG Academy members are significant stakeholders in the main sectors related to watchmaking, in addition to personalities whose activity supports the influence and dynamism of watchmaking.As luck would have it, Robert-Jan, Lex, and I are Academy members and, as such, have a say in which watches should be nominated and eventually shortlisted. Other than the Academy members, watch companies can enter their timepieces. The GPHG Academy members will select six timepieces in the first round in every category. Once all 15 categories have six timepieces, we can vote for our favorites by assigning points to them. Finally, a jury of 30 members will decide which watch atelier will take home the prize in each category. However, the Academy members can also vote. The process is a bit complex; you can read about it here.Now that you understand how the nomination and voting works, let's have a look at this year's winnersLadies’ - Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF AutomaticLadies’ Complication - Herms Arceau Le temps voyageurMen’s - Atelier AKRIVIA Chronomtre Comtemporain IIMen’s Complication - Herms Arceau Le temps voyageurIconic - TAG Heuer Monaco X GulfTourbillon - H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon SkeletonCalendar and Astronomy - Krayon AnywhereMechanical Exception - Ferdinand Berthoud F.B. 2RSM.2-1Chronograph - Gronefeld 1941 Gronograaf TantalumDiver’s - Tudor Pelagos FXDJewelry - Bvlgari Serpenti Misteriosi High JewelleryArtistic Crafts - Voutilainen Ji-KuPetite Aiguille - Trilobe Nuit Fantastique Dune EditionTimepieces in this category have a retail epic between CHF 3,500 and CHF 10,000. You can consider it the “affordable” selection of the GPHG, although it’s not the lowest price category. This year, we did not see any, however, smartwatches are also admissible as “Petite Aiguille”.Challenge - M.A.D. Editions M.A.D.1 RedThis category comprises the most affordable watches to be selected for the GPHG. In the Challenge category, timepieces must have a price of CHF 3,500 or less. This year’s winner was a favorite of customers and the press alike. We have seen so many M.A.D.1 Reds on the wrists of our fellow journalists this year.Mechanical Clock - Van Cleef & Arpels Fontaine Aux Oiseaux automatonChronometry - Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-force TourbillonHorological Revelation - Sylvain Pinaud OrigineAudacity - Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra 10th AnniversaryInnovation - Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier watchSpecial Jury - Fran?ois JunodAccording to the GPHG, the Special Jury prize “… rewards a personality, institution or initiative that has played a fundamental role in promoting high-quality watchmaking. It cannot be awarded to a timepiece, nor to a brand as such. This prize is discretionary and the Jury will decide whether there are grounds for awarding it in 2022.”Last but not least, the Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix - MB&F Legacy Machine Sequential EVOAfter winning the prize for the Challenge category, Max Busser was called to the stage once again to accept none other than the Grand Prix of the evening for MB&F’s mind-bogglingly beautiful and complex Legacy Machine Sequential EVO. This timepiece truly stood out from this year’s selection of exceptional creations from the world of horology.Congratulations to the winners and the nominees alike.