Audemars Piguet wins the Aiguille d’Or 2023 prize! And François-Henry wins the emotion prize.

This year’s Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) had a moving ceremony ending with François-Henry Bennahmias’ speech for the presentation of the “Aiguille d’Or”, won by Audemars Piguet for the Code 11.59 Universelle watch…

By Frank Declerck

We already know it, François-Henry Bennahmias is a very sensitive person, with a heart of gold in an iron sweater. Anyone who works – or has worked – with him will tell you. It is thus unsurprising that when he received the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” from Maximilian Büsser for the Code 11.59 Universelle by Audemars Piguet, the soon-to-be ex-CEO had a trembling voice and some emotional words. A few weeks before leaving his CEO chair, the spirited François-Henry shed a tear while paying a vibrant tribute to his teams and the manufacturer’s partner suppliers. His praise toward the one who will replace him – Ilaria Resta – was visibly sincere. Elegance and benevolence are rare enough in the watchmaking world to be mentioned.

We will miss this chap, though no one knows what he intends on doing for the next 6 months, “except nothing”. He still officially announced that he “would not be there for the next GPHG”. He may be one step from non-watchmaking projects. At least this is what the crowd quickly deduced.

It is still suspicious! This man is not short of surprises or twists.

And if he is not here… Who will give the 2024 “Aiguille d’Or” to the next winner? The custom is to have the previous winner present the prestigious prize.

The winners of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

The winners of the GPHG: François-Henry Bennahmias (CEO of Audemars Piguet); Juan Ciola (Head of Communications of Tudor); Elie Bernheim (CEO of Raymond Weil); Mike France (CEO and co-founder of Christopher Ward); Patrick Pruniaux (CEO of Ulysse Nardin); Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat (Founders of Petermann Bédat); Benjamin Comar (CEO of Piaget); Stéphanie Sivrière (Creative Director of Piaget); Lan Cittadini (Jewellery & Timepieces Global Director of Dior); Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (President of Ferdinand Berthoud); Jean-Christophe Babin (CEO of Bulgari); Antoine Pin (Watchmaking Managing Director of Bulgari); Kari Voutilainen (Owner and watchmaker); Pascal Raffy (President of Bovet 1822); Laurent Ferrier (Founder of Laurent Ferrier); Arnaud Nicolas (CEO of L’Epée 1839); Simon Brette (Independent watchmaker); Samuel Hoffmann (CEO of Hautlence); Alcée and Benoit Montfort (Founders of Maison Alcée); Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese (Founders of the AHCI).

As for the GPHG 2023, it was a beautiful celebration with winners, happy and unhappy people, and the usual criticism of a few bitter people, which were not enough to spoil the party.

Congratulations to all the winners, with a friendly thought for Alcée, who did us the honour of starring in a video on the Frank Sans C channel before she arrived at the top of the watchmaking Olympus.

The humour prize was of course discerned to Edouard Baer, who was as always able to energize the ceremony, finishing with a big smooch on the lips given by a very inspired and mischievous François-Henry.