A complicated watch need not advertise its complexity through bulk. At 9.7mm thick, the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronograph Flyback has now earned the 2026 GPHG Aiguille d’Or, bringing the awards’ highest distinction to a design organized around slender proportions.
The result gives a new context to a watch introduced earlier this year. Its hand-wound movement integrates the chronograph instead of stacking a separate mechanism above the timekeeping works. A column wheel and lateral clutch govern the flyback function, while the minute counter advances instantaneously. The 72-hour power reserve sits inside a platinum case measuring 38.8mm across.
The dial makes that mechanical priority visible. Ordinary hours and minutes occupy a subdial at noon, leaving the central timing hand to sweep across almost the entire face. Storm-blue grand feu enamel meets smoked sapphire counters, a layered treatment that gives this flyback chronograph depth without an oversized case.
Sapphire crystals cover both sides, and the screw-down caseback is indexed to align vertically with the case. The award also sits within a broader celebration of watchmaking: 20 prizes were presented, with Patek Philippe receiving the Special Jury Prize for its Watch Art Grand Exhibition.
The nominated watches remain on public display in Geneva through November 15, followed by a London presentation of the winners from November 18–23. Watch inquiries go through Rexhep Rexhepi; current delivery timing is not specified.
