Piaget Celebrates 150 Years with New Concepts and Reinterpretations of Classics
With the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, Polo Date and range of High Jewelry watches highlighted at this year’s Watches & Wonders.
In celebration of its 150-year anniversary, Piaget has introduced a substantial lineup of timepieces from new concepts, updated classics and a range of high jewelry watches — all showcased at this year’s Watches and Wonders Geneva Edition.
Notable highlights include the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, a blend of artistry and innovation, featuring an ultra-thin 2mm case that tests the boundaries of watchmaking. This new concept is joined by elevated examples of the watchmaker’s classic Polo Date, with special 150-anniversary details and a significant range of high jewelry watches.
Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon
In a blend of artistry and innovation, Piaget has introduced the ultra-thin Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon. This timepiece is a testament to Piaget’s enduring legacy of pushing the boundaries of watchmaking, 67 years after creating its first ultra-thin caliber and six years following the launch of the world’s thinnest watch. Maintaining the astonishing thinness of just 2 mm, identical to its predecessor, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept now houses a tourbillon, blending elegance with technical prowess. This feat highlights Piaget’s relentless pursuit of perfection as well as marking a significant technical milestone in the brand’s history. With its sleek 41.5 mm diameter, 20 meters water resistance and striking blue PVD-treated cobalt alloy case, the watch redefines the possibilities of luxury timekeeping, marrying everyday functionality with the extraordinary.
The journey to crafting the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon was no small feat and involved over three years of rigorous development, doubt and innovation within Piaget’s Manufacture in La Côte-aux-Fées. The tourbillon, a revered complication in the realm of fine watchmaking, has been integrated into this ultra-thin marvel, requiring a complete reimagining of 90 percent of its components and the development of new machinery. The skeletonized barrel, unique to this model and the use of ball bearings significantly enhances its power reserve and reliability. The Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon stands as a statement to Piaget’s philosophy of “Always do better than necessary,” representing a bold step forward in the art of watchmaking.
Piaget Polo Date 150th Anniversary Edition
While the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon looks towards the future with its conceptual design, Piaget has also introduced a pair of Polo Date 150th Anniversary Edition watches. At the time of writing, the watchmaker hasn’t shared much detail on the watches besides the photos in the gallery above, however, we can observe some similarities to the midnight blue edition it released last year. Both of the new watches maintain the signature date window but see changes to the seconds hand detailing, with the “P” logo replaced by “150,” further indicating the watches’ special edition status.
The face of the watches also see a more tranquil design, with less density in the number of stripes featured, however, the sporty nature of the timepiece is still maintained by the integrated rubberized strap — which appears to be available in light beige or dark brown tones. Looking at the smaller of the two examples, presumably a 29mm, we can observe a diamond laid bazel as well as diamond decorated hour markers, providing a feeling of sophistication. While exact specifications aren’t known in terms of technical prowess, we assume that the watches house the self-winding caliber 500P1 like other models before it, however, with the removal of the “automatic” indication on the face, we can’t be certain. Nonetheless, the Polo Date 150th Anniversary Edition watches make stunning standalone pieces and an even better pair.
High Jewellery Watches
In addition to the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon and Polo Date, Piaget is revisiting and revitalizing its iconic High Jewellery Watches. These include the mesmerizing cuff watches and Swinging Sautoir debuted in 1969, alongside the distinguished Aura watch introduced in 1989, each a hallmark of Piaget’s legacy of excellence. Embodying a seamless blend of past and present, these creations are reimagined with a blend of artistic innovation and mastery over materials, bringing them into the modern era with elegance. The artisans at Piaget, transcending the dual crafts of watchmaking and jewelry making, infuse each timepiece with the Maison’s core values of originality, audacity and the use of exquisite materials. This year’s unveiling includes three new Swinging Sautoir designs, with two offering transformability for wristwear, showcasing Piaget’s playful yet refined approach to luxury.
The Swinging Sautoir pieces, with their origins tracing back to the ultra-thin 9P movement of 1957, exemplify Piaget’s revolutionary spirit and mastery over both watchmaking and jewelry crafting. The 2024 collection introduces new designs featuring handcrafted gold chains and trapeze cases, paying homage to the 1969 originals while infusing modern aesthetics and versatility. Similarly, the cuff watch, an emblem of bold and extravagant style since 1969, continues to evolve, with the latest iteration presenting a stunning black opal dial set within an organically designed gold cuff. Meanwhile, the Aura collection celebrates its 35th anniversary with two new pieces that epitomize the pinnacle of High Jewellery and watchmaking, showcasing Piaget’s expertise in gem-setting and color-grading — presented as wearable works of art.
