One sample for each of the 12 categories: Solotempo, Chronograph, Diving Watch, Tourbillon, Complicated Watch, Design, Savoir-Faire, Innovation, Calendars, Revelation, Ladies' Watch, Value for Money. In addition, there is the special prize awarded by L'Orologio Club members to one of the watches competing for the title of Watch of the Year. The award, sponsored again this year by Vicenzaoro, was established in 1994 by our magazine to honour the models most loved and appreciated by the enthusiast public. The awards were presented today, 28 November, to the brand managers.
Solotempo
IWC - Ingenieur Automatic 40
Long awaited by enthusiasts, it wins the prize because it brings the watch with integrated bracelet in Gérald Genta's emblematic 1976 design for IWC back into the limelight. Which improves its ergonomics and proportions in full respect of its great past.
Chronograph
Rolex - Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona
Winner is the chronograph par excellence from Rolex. Technically successful, stylistically concrete, the Daytona is always perfectly recognisable and acknowledged. It wins the prize with its 60th anniversary restyling.
Underwater
Blancpain - Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 2 - Tech Gombessa
The victory goes to one of the most famous dive watches in history, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Awarded in its most technical version, which allows for the first time to measure dive time up to 3 hours.
Tourbillon
Jaeger-LeCoultre - Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon
A tribute to the first Reverso Tourbillon from 1993, it takes the podium in this category. Subtle, elegant, technical and with its iconic reversible case, it conquers both for its complication and its timeless charm.
Complicated Clock
Vacheron Constantin - Traditionnelle Tourbillon Retrograde Date Openface
The mastery of complications is one of Vacheron Constantin's strengths, and when combined with a refined yet modern aesthetic, in which the skeletonisation manages to emphasise its complexity, the combination becomes a winning one.
Design
Mido - Multifort TV Big Date
A current vision of a 1970s design: a watch that revamps a television-shaped case, typical of that period, wins a place in the historic collection around which Mido has built its brand image and modern production.
Innovation
Omega - Speedmaster Super Racing
With the revolutionary balance spring based on the new Spirate technology, Omega has scored a true masterstroke in its quest for maximum precision. And it is introducing this technical achievement on the Speedmaster, a well-established model with a long and fine watchmaking history.
Savoir-Faire
Grand Seiko - Elegance SBGW295
The award goes to the craftsmanship and savoir-faire of Japanese tradition, here expressed by the dial in precious Urushi lacquer, with its unchanging colour, of a timepiece celebrating 110 years of the first Japanese wristwatch.
Revelation
Tudor - Black Bay 54
The watch that has caught the attention of enthusiasts is a faithful contemporary version of the first Tudor diver. The arrival of a Black Bay in a smaller version (37 mm) hits the mark, offering a size that has fewer options in diver's watches with the same type of features.
Calendars
Breguet - Classique Perpetual Calendar 7327
The perpetual calendar, one of Breguet's specialities, has been brought up to date with a dial whose indications have been simplified and made more contemporary. It is the details that act as a watershed between the past and the present, while remaining a classic of this type.
Women's Watch
Chanel - Première Original Edition
The winner is the re-edition of what was the first Chanel watch in 1987, created and designed exclusively for women. And it still is today: a timeless, classic and forever elegant style statement.
Value for money
Venezianico - Redentore Ultrablack
Our readers choose a watch with a striking absolute black dial, made by a very young but growing Italian brand. In an affordable price range, offering for 500 euros an automatic that is water-resistant to 10 atmospheres.
L'Orologio Club Special Award
Patek Philippe - Grande Complication Ref. 5316/50P-001
The vote of L'Orologio Club members goes to a Grande Complication from Patek Philippe, an expression of mechanical and constructive savoir-faire of excellence. With a striking smoked sapphire crystal dial displaying the complicated calibre, with tourbillon, minute repeater and retrograde perpetual calendar.
