Prix Gaïa

by Joël Grandjean – Since 1993, this high distinction, baptized by some as the Nobel Prize for Watchmaking and organized by the MIH's " l'Homme et le Temps" Institute, the International Watchmaking Museum, has celebrated human excellence, rewarding the best of the best.

The Gaïa Prize jury highlights Paul Clementi's extensive skills in craftsmanship and use of historical knowledge to produce inventive creations, with the highest standards of professional conduct…

The candidates were discussed, carefully documented and the winners unanimously selected by a jury of professionals, including yours truly, in a sitting chaired by Régis Huguenin-Dumittan, Curator at the MIH, International Watchmaking Museum. The winners, three key personalities from the watchmaking field, then received their awards, one for each of the three categories: Jean-Marc Wiederrecht for "Craftsmanship and Creation", Laurence Marti for "History and Research" and Richard Mille for "Entrepreneurship".

Richard Mille, founder and director of the eponymous company Richard Mille, embodies a new vision of modern watchmaking. Bursting with creativity, he designs luxurious and the most innovative watches. Born in Draguignan, southern France, in 1951, Richard Mille is a passionate of mechanics who rapidly made an imprint in the Swiss watch universe. After his marketing studies in Besançon, he worked at Finhor, a local watchmaking company, as head of exports then rose to the position of manager of the watchmaking brands the Matra group acquired when it bought Finhor. In 1990, he became President of the watch division and Director of the jewelry shop Mauboussin and became, from then, on well-known in luxury watchmaking. Nevertheless, after a disagreement about the company's business strategy, Richard Mille left Mauboussin to set up his own brand. And so, in 2001, he embarked upon a new adventure and settled in Les Breuleux to produce his first watch, the RM 001.

The Prix Gaïa was created in 1993 by the Musée international d’horlogerie with an aim to honour prominent figures who have contributed and who contribute to the reputation of watchmaking – through its history, its technology and its industry. The only one of its kind, this Prize has the particularity of honouring the best of the best (F.P. Journe, P. Dufour, G. Daniels, N. Hayek, J.-C. Biver, K. Voutilainen, A. Porchet). By awarding this Prize, the Musée international d’horlogerie, a worldwide recognised institution of La Chaux-de-Fonds, a town whose economic and social history is closely linked to watchmaking, wished to express its appreciation to the spiritual heirs of the watchmaking culture which impregnates the collections of the museum, as well as the town.

Giovanni Busca, an independent consultant, was Professor and Director of the Neuchâtel Observatory from 1988-2001; Pascal Rochat is founder and CEO of the Neuchâtel-based company, SpectraTime. The jury of the Gaïa Prize wanted to highlight the fundamental role played by Giovanni Busca and Pascal Rochat in enhancing the position of the Neuchâtel Observatory and in developing the industrial applications of their atomic clockmaking research.

From WOSTEP to Parmigiani, and now in Môtiers (Neuchâtel) where he works, the Finnish watch artist has always been widely appreciated. Three words sum up his watchmaking: independence, true calling and modesty, like all great watchmakers have.

You will find a piece of him and Neuchâtel, where he teaches, on the end of your mobile phone. Pierre Thomann works on the measurement of time and is furthermore a gifted popularizer.