Piaget Created World's Thinnest Mechanical Watch

Piaget, known for its ultra-slim watches, has introduced its latest Altiplano model. Although its only a concept, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept is the thinnest mechanical watch the world has ever seen.

The watch, debuted at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, measures up to a minuscule 2mm, or just under 0.08 inches. To bring this incredible concept to fruition, Piaget had to concoct a new construction method. By utilizing the case as the watch movement’s main plate, the designers were able to build watch components on top of it, instead of building a movement inside the case. Certain things had to be jettisoned — the power reserve barrel no longer has a cover, and instead occupies an indented area of the case, and bridges are removed wholesale. Similarly, instead of using a normal winding mechanism, a key is used to power the watch up after its 44-hour reserve is drained.

Anyone looking to get their hands on the tiny timepiece will have to keep looking, as the Altiplano Ultimate Concept isn’t hitting the production line. Still, Piaget promises that design elements from the Ultimate Concept will translate over to future designs.

In other innovative watch news, check out BEAMS and Engineered Garments’ backwards Timex.