Rexhep Rexhepi, the Kosova-born watchmaker based in Geneva, has won the most prestigious prize in the watch world.

On Saturday night, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awarded him the Aiguille d’Or, the “Golden Hand”, for his Chronograph Flyback. The prize goes to the single best watch of the year, chosen from all finalists across every category.

This year, 84 watches competed in 14 categories. Rexhepi’s piece came out on top in a field that included Audemars Piguet, Chopard and Grand Seiko, all of which took home category prizes on the same night.

The win carries extra weight. The Chronograph Flyback is the first chronograph Rexhepi has ever made.

He received the trophy from last year’s winner, Breguet, a moment he said had special significance for him.

His story started early. Rexhepi began as a 15-year-old apprentice at Patek Philippe, then opened his own independent atelier in Geneva in 2012. In 2018, his first Chronomètre Contemporain won the GPHG’s Men’s Watch Prize and put his name on the map with collectors around the world.

His watches are made in very small numbers and are among the most sought-after independent pieces on the market. At auction, his earlier Chronomètre Contemporain models have carried estimates of several hundred thousand dollars.

Eight years after his first GPHG prize, he now holds the biggest one.

The GPHG, now in its 26th edition, is often called the Oscars of watchmaking. The winning watches will be on display at Watches of Switzerland in London’s Knightsbridge from 19 to 23 November.