The Nordic watch industry has grown enormously over the past decade. That is why the Nordic Watch Awards is being held for the second year running. The awards, which have three categories, will be presented to Nordic watch brands and watchmakers at a gala dinner on 9 October. But the 2026 edition is already open to the public: The 38 nominated watches are now presented on the award website where anyone can vote for the winner of the People's Choice category.
In the Unlimited and Challenger categories, a professional jury chooses the winners by a closed ballot. The jury is chaired by Geneva-based watch journalist Anders Modig Davin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of www.worldtempus.com.
"Nordic watches compare very well internationally. Design is their strong suit, but we are also seeing more and more innovation and interesting mechanics starting to be produced in the Nordic countries," says Modig Davin.
What is the difference between the Unlimited and Challenger categories? Unlimited has only one restriction: the watch or clock must be powered by a mechanical movement, and there is no limit on price. Challenger accepts both mechanical and battery-powered watches and is reserved for watches with a retail price of maximum 2’000 CHF.
The Jury Special Prize
Each year Nordic Watch Awards also presents The Jury Special Prize to someone who has had a significant impact on the watch industry. This year the prize goes to Danish watchmaker Svend Andersen. After working on Patek Philippe's most complicated watches, he launched his own brand, Andersen Genève, in 1980. Andersen is known for his world timer and jumping hour watches, and as one of the founders of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), a leading organisation for independent watchmakers.
Svend Andersen will attend the Nordic Watch Awards gala on 9 October, where Jens Kisling, Denmark's Ambassador to Sweden, will present his award.
All the jury members have several decades of professional experience in the watch industry:
Mikael Wallhagen, watch expert at Sotheby's and on Antikrundan (the Swedish Antiques Roadshow)
Sophia Reuterdahl, Royal Court Watchmaker
Eero Koivisto, architect and watch designer at Claesson Koivisto Rune
Olof Larsson, watch retailer, Nymans Ur
Mia Litström, watch and motoring journalist
Stephane Dehner, Operating Director at Breitling Scandinavia
The Nordic Watch Awards is part of Stockholm Time, a watch fair with only Nordic exhibitors. Its fourth edition takes place on 10 October 2026 at Gamla Riksarkivet (the Old National Archives) on Riddarholmen. WorldTempus is the official media partner of Nordic Watch Awards and Stockholm Time.
