Watches of the Year 2000

The Watch of the Year Prize was awarded in Lausanne on the 15th of November 2000, organised by weekly magazine Hebdo's watch supplement Montres Passion. Eligible for it were all Swiss made models, produced in at least 200 copies, sold at a retail price not exceeding 30.000 SFr.
Five ballots were necessary to the jury chaired by watchmaker Philippe Dufour. Finally, the Piaget Emperador was crowned with the Professional Jury Prize. Second came Chopard's LUC Quattro and third the Portugaise 2000 by International Watch Co. (IWC).

Piaget's Emperador
Chopard's L.U.C. Quattro
IWC's Portugaise Automatic 2000

The Prize of the Public went to a Maurice Lacroix chronograph, the Masterpiece Flyback Annual model, which stood out way before the Piaget, Baume & Mercier's Linea and TAG Heuer's Alter Ego.

This year the jury decided to award a special prize to an exceptional watch which does not conform to the selection criteria, either because its price exceeds 30.000SFr. or because it is made in too small numbers.
The Jury's Special Prize was thus awarded to Girard-Perregaux's Opera One, costing no less than 450.000 SFr.

Finally and for the first time, a Websurfers' Prize was also awarded, won by the Linea by Baume & Mercier.


Above left. Maurice Lacroix's Masterpiece Flyback
Above right: Baume & Mercier's Linea