And, the nominees for the best men's watch are...

The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is the most prestigious award ceremony in watchmaking — and it has offered an early first look at this year's nominees.

Makers big and small submit their latest creations to a jury of experts (including celebrity guest judges who also happen to be watch nerds, like Kiss drummer Eric Singer) to be considered across 12 categories.

At this stage there are 193 watches from 84 different brands that meet the criteria worth judging.

Before the Oct. 29 ceremony, a short list of finalists will be announced, clarifying things a little. Then the jury will huddle for two days in a Geneva hotel to debate each and every detail before voting on winners and crowning the watches of the year.

For now, the almost 200-strong list presents a macro look at the state of the industry in all its quirky glory. Here are some of the highlights in this year's 'Men's Watch' category: