The Prix Gaïa is a prize awarded by the International Horological Museum (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, this year for the 20th time. The presentation is always on the last Thursday before the equinox in September, this year on September 18th. The prize is awarded for people active in 3 different domains:
1) Workmanship and Design in watchmaking,
2) History and Research in watchmaking and timekeeping and
3) Entrepreneurship.
A jury of people active in those domains called together by the MIH makes a choice out of the submissions made by third parties for candidates.
This year the prizes went to:
- Kari Voutileinen, well know here on this forum as one of the most active independent watchmakers, renouned for his capabilities in high complications such as repeaters and for the exquisite finishing of his watches.
- Pierre Thomann, professor emeritus who created the Time and Frequency Laboratory at the University of Neuchâtel and is a leading researcher on atomic clocks. This lab continued the activities of the Observatory of Neuchâtel in this domain where Mr. Thomann was previously active.
- Henri Dubois, founder of the Laboratory Dubois in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the leading lab treating chemistry and especially electrochemistry such as electroplating for the watch industry. The lab has branched out in recent years to testing in general for the watchmaking industry and owns the company Chronofiable that may be known to some here on the forum.
The ambiance of the MIH before the presentation, several hundred people attended.
The presentation was held in the MIH by the new curator of the museum, Mr. Régis Huguenin. Mr. Huguenin replaced the retiring Ludwig Oechslin this summer. Mr. Oechslin's very successful tenure at the MIH started in 2002.
Kari Voutilainen receiving the Gaïa award from Mr. Régis Huguenin curator of the MIH.
Unfortunately Mr. Thomann was unable to attend the ceremony and was represented by his successor at the Time and Frequency Laboratory, Prof. Thomas Südmeyer
Henri Dubois receiving the award.
Lauréats Prix Gaïa 2014
The list of the past winners of the Prix Gaïa is very interesting with many names that we know well (as well as many that I, at least, don't know at all).
Lauréats Prix Gaïa 1993 – 2013
1993
Jean-Claude Nicolet Artisanat-création
Henry Louis Belmont Histoire-recherches
André Margot Esprit d’entreprise
1994
François-Paul Journe Artisanat-création
François Mercier Histoire-recherches
Anton Bally Esprit d’entreprise
1995
Michel Parmigiani Artisanat-création
Ludwig Oechslin Histoire-recherches
Antoine Simonin Esprit d'entreprise
1996
Vincent Calabrese Artisanat-création
Jean-Luc Mayaud Histoire-recherches
Günter Blümlein Esprit d'entreprise
1997
Richard Daners Artisanat-création
Jean-Claude Sabrier Histoire-recherches
Jean-Pierre Musy Esprit d'entreprise
1998
Philippe Dufour Artisanat-création
Yves Droz et Joseph Flores Histoire-recherches
Luigi Macaluso Esprit d'entreprise
1999
Derek Pratt Artisanat-création
Estelle Fallet Histoire-recherches
Gabriel Feuvrier Esprit d'entreprise
2000
René Bannwart Artisanat-création
Kathleen Pritschard Histoire-recherches
Simone Bédat Esprit d'entreprise
2001
George Daniels Artisanat-création
Catherine Cardinal Histoire-recherches
Rolf Schnyder Esprit d'entreprise
2003
Anthony G. Randall Artisanat-création
2004
André Beyner Esprit d’entreprise
2006
Luigi Pippa Artisanat-création
John H. Leopold Histoire-recherches
2007
Paul Gerber Artisanat-création
2008
Nicolas G. Hayek Esprit d’entreprise
2009
Beat Haldimann Artisanat-création
Robert Greubel et Stephen Forsey Esprit d’entreprise
2010
Jacques Mueller et Elmar Mock Artisanat-création
Jean-Claude Biver Esprit d’entreprise
2011
François Junod Artisanat-création
Pierre-Yves Donzé Histoire-recherches
Philippe Stern Esprit d'entreprise
2012
Eric Coudray Artisanat-création
Francesco Garufo Histoire-recherches
Franco Cologni Esprit d'entreprise
2013
Andreas Strehler Artisanat-création
Günther Oestmann Histoire-recherches
Ernst Thomke Esprit d'entreprise