Inside the First Annual Timepiece World Awards: Honouring Horological Excellence

by Brent Robillard

For the first time ever, the watch‑collecting community is invited to celebrate excellence with the Timepiece World Awards—a brand-new, peer‑driven celebration spotlighting the best in horology. The inaugural gala takes place September 20, 2025, at the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto, during the much‑anticipated Toronto Timepiece Show. Plans are also in the works for a livestream around the world.

Timepiece World Awards Meridian Arts Centre — Meridian Arts Centre

Details at a glance	Information
Event	Timepiece World Awards & Gala
Date	September 20th, 2025
Location	Meridian Arts Centre, Toronto
Organizer	Jason Hutton
Categories	Time Only, Chronograph, Sports, GMT / Worldtime, Tool Watches, Innovative Complication, Exceptional Materials, Jewellery & Artistic Craft, Foundation, Exception, Pinnacle
Jury	Peer-vetted, industry leaders & experts
Deadline for entry	July 20th, 2025

Discover the Vancouver Timepiece Show

About the Awards

Created by Jason Hutton, organizer of both the Toronto and Vancouver Timepiece Shows, the Timepiece World Awards (“TPWAs”) aim to expand the celebration globally. These awards recognise outstanding achievements across the watch community—spanning design, innovation, storytelling, and service.

Participants include esteemed watchmakers, independent brands, retailers, content creators, and writers. The TPWAs have adopted a jury‑driven approach, that involves an initial committee of approximately forty professionals and a final board of seven adjudicators, ensuring winners are selected on merit and peer respect, rather than popularity or social media metrics.

Timepiece World Awards Pragma — @calibre321

Jurors & Judging Process

The final panel of seasoned professionals and passionate horophiles from around the globe brings diverse perspectives to the judging table:

Alexandre Beauregard – Founder, Beauregard Watches & Head Juror
A three-time GPHG nominee, Beauregard bridges Montreal creativity with Geneva savoir-faire. His haute horlogerie creations fuse fine jewellery with masterful mechanics, celebrating the aesthetic soul of timekeeping. He leads the TPWA jury as Head Juror.
Kathleen McGivney – CEO, RedBar Group
At the helm of the world’s largest watch enthusiast community, McGivney is a widely published thought leader and active voice in the global collector scene. Her writing and commentary have appeared in publications from The New York Times to HODINKEE.
Justin Mastine-Frost – Director of Digital Content, SHARP Magazine
With a background in automotive journalism and photography, Mastine-Frost brings a sharp visual and technical eye to his horological coverage. His work spans Esquire, Robb Report, and The Millennium Watch Book, and he currently curates SHARP Magazine’s digital watch content from Toronto.
Bradley Taylor – Independent Watchmaker
Based in North Vancouver, Taylor is a master craftsman producing fewer than ten watches a year. With experience at Patek Philippe and training in Switzerland, he hand-finishes movement components using traditional artisanal techniques like guilloché and anglage.
Elizabeth Doerr – Veteran Watch Journalist
With over three decades in horological journalism, Doerr has judged the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève and other prestigious awards. She’s a published author, editor, video contributor, and founding voice in horological education initiatives like Horopedia.
James Stacey – Editor-in-Chief, HODINKEE
Based in Toronto, Stacey is a driving force behind HODINKEE’s visual and editorial identity. A writer, podcaster (The Grey NATO), and photographer, his thoughtful storytelling and adventurous spirit have shaped modern watch media.
Robert-Jan Broer – Founder, Fratello Watches
Creator of Speedy Tuesday and one of the earliest online voices in watch journalism, Broer has spent decades documenting and shaping the collector landscape. His passion for Speedmasters and dedication to authentic, story-rich coverage make him an invaluable juror.

Together, this diverse panel ensures the Timepiece World Awards reflect true excellence—not just in technical execution or design, but in storytelling, community impact, and horological relevance. The judging process includes blind evaluation of entries, peer discussion, and final deliberation—bringing the best of collective expertise to the forefront.

Deadline for entries in July 20th, 2025.

Timepiece World Awards Glashuette Original — @calibre321

Timepiece World Awards Vanguart — @calibre321

Categories Up for Grabs:

The Timepiece World Awards recognize horological excellence across eleven distinct categories, each reflecting a unique aspect of watchmaking—from mechanical mastery to creative innovation and accessibility. Entries are judged within the following classifications:

Time Only: Traditional watches displaying hours, minutes, and optionally, a seconds hand or sub-seconds register.
Chronograph: Mechanical watches featuring at least one chronograph function, with room for additional complications.
Sports: Watches purpose-built for athletic performance, with designs and materials suited to active lifestyles.
GMT / Worldtime: Watches capable of displaying time in a second or multiple time zones via dedicated mechanical functionality (rotating bezels do not qualify).
Tool Watches: Purpose-driven watches created for challenging or professional environments such as diving, aviation, military, medical, and emergency services.
Innovative Complication: Timepieces showcasing mechanical ingenuity, including novel escapements, unique time displays, acoustic functions, or other exceptional horological concepts.
Exceptional Materials: Watches distinguished by their use of innovative or uncommon materials in construction or finishing.
Jewellery & Artistic Craft: Timepieces that exhibit outstanding gem-setting, engraving, enamelling, skeletonisation, or other decorative artisanal techniques.
Foundation: Accessible mechanical or quartz watches retailing at or under $2,500 USD (or equivalent).
Exception: Timepieces priced between $2,501 and $15,000 USD.
Pinnacle: High-end watches priced above $15,000 USD, representing the apex of haute horlogerie.

Each category is governed by clearly defined eligibility rules and submission guidelines to ensure a level and transparent playing field. Together, these awards celebrate the full spectrum of watchmaking excellence—from pragmatic, everyday wear timepieces to the most rarefied expressions of craftsmanship.

Timepiece World Awards Biachet — @calibre321

Timepiece World Awards A. Lange & Sohne — @calibre321

Why This Matters

Watch awards do far more than simply hand out trophies. They celebrate craftsmanship by shining a spotlight on quality, creativity, and innovation. They foster community, bringing together collectors, creators, and critics in meaningful conversation. They inspire brands to pursue thoughtful, sustainable development. And they educate audiences—helping enthusiasts understand why certain design choices or mechanical feats truly matter. By honouring both horological heavyweights and rising independents, the Timepiece World Awards help strengthen the shared culture of appreciation that fuels the modern watch community.

Timepiece World Awards Bulgari — @calibre321

Timepiece World Awards Alexandre Beauregard — @calibre321

Looking Ahead

As the horological world turns its gaze on Toronto this September, the Timepiece World Awards will set a new standard—where peer‑review meets celebration on a global scale. And what a treat it will be for local watch enthusiasts and international visitors, alike, to be present for this foundational occasion.