The Prix Gaïa 2014 presented at the MIH

Sep 20, 2014,05:32 AM
 

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







More posts: Andreas StrehlerDufourGeorge DanielsHaldimannMIHPaul GerberVincent CalabreseVoutilainen

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Thanks for the coverage, Don. (nt)

 
 By: Ronald Held : September 20th, 2014-14:13
NT

Thanks for the report [nt]

 
 By: ED209 : September 23rd, 2014-21:16

Thanks Don! (nt)

 
 By: ei8htohms : September 30th, 2014-10:48
Nt