This year, the GPHG has chosen to meet the expectations of the Australian market by presenting its first exhibition in Sydney, featuring the 84 timepieces pre-selected by its 2019 jury. This rare and prestigious exhibition is being organised in partnership with retailer The Hour Glass, which hosted the watches in its King Street store on September 28th and 29th.
The preview, held on September 27th at the Cruise Bar, opposite the city's Opera House, brought together local watch lovers and celebrities, including five-time Australian Olympic champion Ian Thorpe, all driven by a passion for watchmaking culture.
"The Hour Glass’ mission is to advance watch culture around the world and it gives us no greater pleasure than to introduce the Grand Prix D’Horlogerie de Genève to watch enthusiasts in Sydney", states Michael Tay, Co-group managing director of The Hour Glass and member of the jury of the 2019 GPHG. "Particularly so as it is the GPHG’s inaugural appearance in Australia. It is without doubt to be ranked as the most exciting cultural event in Australia’s horological calendar for 2019."
"Starring 84 timepieces signed by nearly 50 different brands, our exhibitions offer a cosmopolitan public unique opportunities to discover the vitality of the art of contemporary watchmaking in all its diversity", expresses Carine Maillard, Director of the GPHG.
After Sydney, the pre-selected watches – competing for the famous Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix or one of the 18 prizes that will reward watchmaking excellence – will fly to Bangkok, before heading to Mexico and then Geneva, where the 19th GPHG prize-giving ceremony will be held on November 7th.
