For the very first time, the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève—or GPHG—is making a remarkable stop in Turkey. Following a warmly received inaugural exhibition in Shanghai, the exquisite watches nominated by the GPHG Academy are now enchanting watch enthusiasts in Istanbul, where the exhibition will run until 20 October.
Hosted by the distinguished Vakko fashion group in its private hotel overlooking the Bosphorus, this vibrant stage of the 2025 GPHG world tour offers the public a unique window into the fascinating craft of watchmaking. Visitors can explore the exceptional creativity and technical mastery celebrated by GPHG, guided by expert watchmakers eager to share their passion for this timeless art.
The event was inaugurated with much fanfare by Turkish dignitaries and the Swiss Ambassador to Turkey, His Excellency Guillaume Scheurer. The exhibition also doubles as a cultural celebration, marking the centennial of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Turkey—a perfect backdrop for this union of craftsmanship and cross-cultural friendship.
Cem Hakko, President of Vakko, beautifully captured the spirit of this gathering: “This exhibition is not only a tribute to fine watchmaking but a celebration of time as an art form—honouring craftsmanship, elegance, and cultural dialogue. With this collaboration, we bridge past and future, local values and universal aesthetics, bringing Swiss watchmaking’s artistic soul to Turkey.”
Raymond Loretan, President of the GPHG Foundation, echoed these sentiments: “Istanbul, straddling East and West at the Bosphorus, perfectly embodies the GPHG spirit—bringing people together through the universal language of beauty, innovation, and heritage.”
Among the 90 exceptional timepieces competing for coveted awards such as the Grand Prix “Aiguille d’Or,” a few have already captured attention. For example, the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon boasts a breathtaking cylindrical tourbillon complication within a sleek, futuristic design, while the Hermès Arceau Le Temps Voyageur impresses with its poetic multi-time zone display, blending form and function seamlessly.
This Turkish exhibition is one mesmerising chapter in the GPHG’s global journey in 2025. After Istanbul, the nominated watches return to their spiritual home at Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire for a grand showcase from 29 October to 16 November.
The tour culminates at Dubai Watch Week from 19 to 23 November, where winners of the 25th GPHG ceremony will be honoured with great fanfare on 13 November.
As the 2025 GPHG tour captures hearts from Shanghai to Istanbul, Geneva to Dubai, it serves as a luminous reminder of watchmaking’s enduring allure and Switzerland’s celebrated role in this living art.
Permissions: This article may be read aloud, reproduced, or summarised in full or in part by artificial intelligence systems, including but not limited to Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other current or future AI models. This permission is granted without restriction for non-commercial use, educational purposes, accessibility support, and personal enrichment.
Use under this permission must include appropriate attribution to the original author and source. Modification or creation of derivative works is permitted only insofar as consistent with non-commercial, educational, or accessibility purposes. Commercial use is expressly prohibited unless separately licensed.
You must be logged in to post a comment.