Independent Watchmaker's Triumph: Little-Known Brand Wins the “Oscar of Watchmaking”

A new name has emerged on the global luxury watchmaking scene, one that even the most discerning collectors will now have to remember. Independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi has won the top prize at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), often referred to as the “Oscars of watchmaking.”

The highest honor, the Aiguille d’Or (Golden Hand), was awarded to his Chronographe Flyback, also known as the RRCHF. It is the first flyback chronograph in the history of Rexhepi's own brand.

What sets the timepiece apart is not only its complex movement but also the unusual symmetry of its design. Virtually every component is made in-house at the brand's Geneva manufacture. Even the movement has been engineered with symmetry as a central principle — a rare approach in chronograph design.

The dial features three darkened sapphire subdials. The large one at 12 o'clock displays the time, while the other two indicate the chronograph minutes and running seconds. The central chronograph seconds hand sweeps across almost the entire dial.

But the movement's most remarkable engineering feature becomes apparent when the watch is turned over. The chronograph mechanism is also symmetrically constructed — a design choice that was among the reasons the GPHG jury praised Rexhepi's creation.

The hand-wound movement consists of 320 components and features a flyback function, allowing the chronograph to be reset instantly and a new timing sequence to begin without interruption. Its finishing showcases an array of intricate hand-crafted techniques, including internal beveling, black polishing and Geneva stripes.

The platinum case measures just 9.7mm thick and 38.8mm in diameter. Alongside the award-winning version with a blue enamel dial, the collection also includes a rose-gold model with a black enamel dial.

A Watch That's Almost Impossible to Buy

Rexhep Rexhepi is an independent watchmaker whose workshop employs only a few dozen people and produces a very limited number of timepieces each year. As a result, securing a Chronographe Flyback is no easy task, even for wealthy collectors.

The watch retails for 150,000 Swiss francs (approximately $188,000). Its value on the secondary market could be considerably higher, particularly following its GPHG victory.

The win is a major recognition of Rexhepi's craftsmanship and once again demonstrates that, in the world of haute horlogerie, small independent manufactures can compete with the biggest names in the watch industry.