The MIH Prix Gaïa, or Gaïa Prize
Once decided, the awards are subsequently presented by the MIH, and by extension of this the City of La Chaux-de-Fonds, in a ceremony which takes place at the autumn equinox, with the next ceremony falling on 19th September 2024.
The award trophy itself is a rather stunning looking translucent sphere and was designed by Valérie Salvisberg to represent the primordial Greek Goddess Gaïa, who in Greek mythology is the personification of the Earth.
Past Winners of the Prix Gaïa
Amongst the past winners of the Prix Gaïa are some of the most esteemed and well recognised names in the industry, who have been rightly recognised for their outstanding contribution to the world of horology.
Rather than listing every winner here, I have highlighted some of the more well-known recipients of the Awards: former winners in the Workmanship and Design category include François-Paul Journe, Philippe Dufour, Derek Pratt, George Daniels, Kari Voutilainen, Anita Porchet, and Suzanne Rohr; and former winners in the Entrepreneurship category include Nicolas Hayek, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, Jean-Claude Biver, Philippe Stern, Max Büsser, and Richard Mille.
For a full list of past winners, check out the MIH website here.
In Summary
I feel like the MIH Prix Gaïa, or the Gaïa Prize is something which should be more widely acknowledged than it appears to be, at least based on what I have been able to learn.
These awards have been bestowed on some of the greatest contributors to the watchmaking world, and yet a huge percentage of the recipients’ names aren’t as widely recognised as they might be. For example, perhaps more widely highlighting the names, and work, of former winners in the History and Research category would stand to help more widely educate those so inclined to learn more within the watch community? Could it not help create better troves of information online by bringing some of this recognised work into, or at least talking about it in, the mainstream?
Where there is substantially more coverage of things like the GPHG Awards, the award ceremony of the Prix Gaïa is something which I feel deserves to be covered equally. I can’t help but feel that a wider awareness of the careers and work of recipients of the Prix Gaïa could only be a good – and deserved – thing.
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