by Brent Robillard
The first-ever Timepiece World Awards has reached its final stage. From an initial 185 entries spanning 19 countries, the 36-member committee has narrowed the field to six finalists in each of the 11 categories—with the exception of the prestigious Pinnacle Award, which features four contenders. Now the responsibility shifts to the seven-member jury, who will gather in Toronto on September 19th for hands-on sessions with the watches before casting their final votes. Winners will be revealed at the gala ceremony on September 20th, 2025, at the Meridian Arts Centre.
Click Here to See the Finalists in all Categories
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Reactions to the Announcement
For founder and organizer Jason Hutton, seeing the finalists announced marks the realization of a long-held vision. “When I first stood inside the Meridian Arts Centre well over a year ago, looking up at its soaring ceilings, it hit me—the Timepiece World Awards were no longer just an idea scribbled in a notebook. They were about to become real, alive, and eventually unfold in front of an audience filled with some of the most passionate watchmakers, collectors, and enthusiasts from around the world,” he reflected.
Hutton designed the awards not as another industry gala, but as a new meeting point outside the traditional hubs of Switzerland and Geneva. “I wanted to build a space right here in Toronto, where creativity, innovation, and community could take center stage. Beyond celebrating design and technical achievement, this is about giving the industry a reason to connect with one another in a fresh setting.”
The inaugural response exceeded all expectations. “Over 185 entries from 19 different countries poured in—each one a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship driving modern horology,” Hutton said. After an intense review process, the finalists stand as a diverse cross-section of the global watch landscape, from heritage houses to new independents.
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That recognition has carried deep meaning for the brands involved. For AWAKE’s CEO Lilian Thibault, whose Sơn Mài – Frosted Leaf is shortlisted in the Jewellery and Artistic Craft category, the selection validates years of work. “This recognition is meaningful because it shows the judges saw the effort behind reviving forgotten techniques and traditions, and bringing them back into the spotlight.”
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In the Time Only category, Atelier Wen’s Perception Millésime Purple “Mù” has also been named a finalist. “We’re honoured that the Perception Millésime Purple ‘Mù’ has been nominated as a finalist,” said brand co-founder Robin Tallendier. “For us, this piece is not just about a striking violet dial, but about demonstrating that world-class craftsmanship and cultural storytelling can originate from China and resonate with collectors worldwide.”
Nicolas Ducoudert, founder of Beaubleu said, “We all experience time differently; it varies according to the person, the place and sometimes even the mood.” His watch, the Ecce Figura Alba, is among the finalists for the Foundation category. “Taking this into account gives rise to new ways of designing a watch,” he continued. “I like to maintain a balance between design pieces and pure watchmaking. They’re not aspects to be set against each other, but rather to be brought together.” And, indeed, the Timepiece World Awards will bring people and watchmakers together next month.
In the Tool Watch category, Micromilspec’s Milgraph made the cut. CMO Theodore de Turckheim called it “an honour” and noted the extraordinary enthusiasm from Canada. “Winning would be the pinnacle of our short history and a testament to the hard work of everyone on our journey.”
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Isotope Watches, an independent, finds itself nominated in three categories. Co-founder José Miranda said the recognition “means a great deal. North America has become our most important market, and for us, every watch should do more than tell the time—it should tell a story. Being a finalist is already a memorable part of ours.”
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For Christopher Ward, the finalist nod came in the Innovative Complication category for its C12 Loco, powered by the brand’s second in-house caliber. Mike Pearson, North American Brand Director, described the watch as embodying “the very best of CW—from finishing and architecture to its six-day power reserve. Canada has always been an important part of our journey, and the support we’ve received here has been nothing short of fantastic.”
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And in the Chronograph category, Hanhart’s 417 ES joins the lineup. CEO Felix Wallner called the recognition a moment of pride: “With this chronograph, we invested great care in refining every detail. Seeing this dedication resonate with others fills us with genuine joy.”
The jury’s deliberations on September 19th will be carried out under strict secrecy, overseen by legal counsel. Only during the gala will the winners be revealed. Alongside the jury’s verdicts, the public will also have their say through the People’s Choice Award, voted on by attendees at the Toronto Timepiece Show.
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For Hutton, the upcoming weekend is about more than trophies. “Every award represents years of dedication distilled into a single moment of recognition. But what excites me most are the conversations—Swiss and German watchmakers sitting down with Japanese independents, Canadian collectors swapping stories with Italian founders. Those exchanges are the real heartbeat of this event.”
On September 20th, when the lights dim in the Meridian Arts Centre and the first award is announced, Toronto will step into a new role: not just host to a gala, but a temporary capital of the global watch community. As Hutton summed it up: “The Timepiece World Awards aren’t just about trophies or accolades. They’re about bringing people together, honouring the artistry of time, and reminding us why we fell in love with watches in the first place.”
Click Here to See the Finalists in all Categories
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The Finalists for the Timepiece World Awards by Category
The Timepiece World Awards cover 11 distinct categories, each designed to showcase a different facet of modern watchmaking. From heritage-inspired chronographs to boundary-pushing complications and artisanal craft, the finalists reflect the breadth and diversity of today’s industry.
Each category began with up to 34 entries before being carefully narrowed down to six finalists (with the exception of the Pinnacle Award, which highlights four watches in the category of haute horlogerie). The following table outlines the complete list of finalists by category, offering a snapshot of the extraordinary watches vying for recognition at this inaugural edition. The brands are listed in alphabetical order.
| Category | Finalists |
|---|---|
| Time Only |
|
| Chronograph |
|
| Sports |
|
| GMT / Worldtime Watches |
|
| Tool Watches |
|
| Innovative Complication |
|
| Exceptional Materials |
|
| Jewellery and Artistic Craft |
|
| Foundation |
|
| Exception |
|
| Pinnacle |
|
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About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
Other Watchy Bits include op-ed pieces and articles of general interest. We’d love to hear your opinion in the comments section below.
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Wow, that Solune in enamel is Magnificient, and the Frederic Jouvenot impressive. Great models
There are a number of incredible contenders in this list. Cheers!
I love the Violet dial which looks like CNC guilloche for the Atelier Wen and the pattern. Their win was well deserved.
Hope more companies start making enamel dials
We see it more and more, even in smaller brands. Beautiful trend. Cheers
Nice to see a few Asian watch maker on the list. Hope I can own a special anniversary Laco watch too. Thank you!
Some strong contenders from all over the world. Best of luck!
That frosted leaf dial on son mai is breathtaking!!!!
The Beaubleu is so cool!
They have a very distinctive design language. Cheers!
Here for the laco frieda
Vers nice 🔥
Glad you like it!
Great insights, thank you and I will continue to read here!
Thank YOU! Welcome aboard🙏🏻
Beautiful pieces and a great article!🙌🏼
Awesome that i found Thecalibratedwrist.com so much information! Love it ! Thank you for great work!
Truly happy you found us, as well!
Really like the Atelier Wen
Glad to hear it. There is incredible value in their watches when you consider the craftsmanship involved. Cheers
The Christopher Ward is quite striking, though it is an impressive showing across all of the entries!
Hanhart hits a really niche spot, glad to see they get some visibility!
Hanhart really hits a niche spot, glad to see they get some additional recognition!
The Beaubleu is truly special
Really interesting read. Love the brand!
i’m glad i’m not on the judging panel, such difficult choices!
Cool to see so much representation of Ressence – love their watches.
Keeping my fingers crossed for Hanhart and Fortis.
Two great tool watch builders!
Gg. Nice watches
Great article!
It is annoying in a good way to find out that this competition exists as more than several of these watches have now found their way onto my wish list. The Elka Timepeace is incredibly beautiful in its simplicity and style and I am trying to justify it at this very moment.
However the Laco Frieda still remains at the top of the list.
Thema are all amazing.allthough my Favoriten is the CW. Just an amazing brand in general
They have really been pushing the envelope of late
So incredibly exciting to see some of these brands I’ve admired for so long be part of this!
I think it will be an evening to remember!
I like Atelier Wen!
So many gorgeous watches!
I couldn’t agree more
I love seeing how the watch world has grown so much and reached to more than one type of audience. Be it collectors, enthusiasts or people that keep a time piece to commemorate someone they held dear to them. I personally started my journey through my grandfathers love for watches. He gave me an old timex indiglo which I still keep till this day!
That’s a great story!
The Hanhart 417es model, which has a personally masculine and iconic image, is so attractive.
The list of finalists is impressive, all great pieces.
I’m fascinated by the Chronograph Moonshot Terra Maris.
That might be my favourite watch from Isotope
Would love to see you guys get some photos of the carbon Ultra Chron. I don’t see them often, but every time I do I’m blown away.
I would agree. As luck would have it, we have reviewed this watch. You can find the article and photos here: https://thecalibratedwrist.com/2025/02/23/longines-ultra-chron-carbon-a-bold-step-into-carbon-innovation/ In fact, we featured it in the first issue of our print magazine. Cheers!
Excited for this new addition to the Toronto Timepiece Show! Congrats to the nominees, and thanks to the Committee for these amazing selections.
Let’s add the Sinn 556 as a tool watch. Also I love the Hamilton Khaki mechanical in bronze.
The C12loco is insane
A big step up for the brand
Didn’t have Beaubleu on my (literal) watch-list, but damn – it won my heart in an instant!
They have a number of showstoppers
The Beaubleu is hitting the spot for me. Rectangular watches have been making a comeback recently and the hands are just fun. Admittedly, I just like dress watches the most.
It’s a brand to keep an eye on, for sure
The AWAKE one is quite unique