Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow: 30 Years of Nurturing Future Watchmakers

Cartier Launches 28th Edition of Watchmaking Talents Prize

For three decades, the Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow (Prix des Talents Horlogers de Demain) has been a unique opportunity for aspiring young watchmakers, offering them both recognition and a platform to shape the future of the craft. Launched in 1995, the Prize embodies Cartier's commitment to preserving centuries-old savoir-faire while fostering creativity and innovation among the next generation.

How the Prize Works

The Prize is open to apprentice watchmakers in their third and fourth years of vocational training, as well as students in higher vocational watchmaking courses in Switzerland, France, Belgium and Germany. Each year, a theme guides the competition. For 2025, the theme is "Shifting the Balance: Reading and Perceiving Time Differently."

Candidates submit a dossier including a video presentation, project description, and sketches. A jury of five watch industry experts selects 12 finalists who then develop their projects with the guidance of external mentors.

The Cartier Watchmaking Institute

Beyond the Prize, Cartier operates the Cartier Watchmaking Institute (IHC), launched in 1993 to support apprentices and artisans. Today, around ten specialized trainers teach about thirty apprentices across eight professions including watchmaking operator, production watchmaker, micro-mechanic, and technical designer in micro-construction.

"We aim to triple the number of apprentices in the next three years," revealed Karim Drici, Senior VP and COO of Cartier. "To date, 180 apprentices have graduated, and more than 50 of them currently work within the group."

Why Apprenticeship Training Matters

Recruitment and the transmission of know-how are among the greatest challenges facing watchmaking today. As Drici explains: "The Prize is about enriching their professional training... At a time when specialized crafts are increasingly fragile, the Prize plays a crucial role in encouraging young talents, sharing our passion with them, and creating vocations."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can non-European students apply?
A: Currently the Prize is limited to Switzerland, France, Belgium and Germany.

Q: What do winners receive?
A: The top two laureates are offered internship opportunities at Cartier, while all six finalists join a dynamic community of laureates with access to Cartier's international network.

Q: How is the 2025 theme connected to Cartier's own watchmaking?
A: The theme echoes Cartier's Tank à Guichets from Watches & Wonders 2025, which features no hands and no dial—perfectly embodying the idea of "reading time differently."

Sources: Monochrome Watches, Cartier. Learn more at watchmaking careers or visit about us.