Cosmic Elegance
The Altiplano collection has always expressed the core values of Piaget. This year’s line-up, revealed at the recent Salon International de Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, is no exception: supremely refined, pure in its simplicity, and very Piaget.
“This year’s collection is really paying tribute to the DNA of brand,” said Quentin Herbert, Head of Watch Marketing at Piaget. The new timepieces are dress watches of a classical nature: round-cased in 18k pink gold, with not even numerals or a second hand to complicate things—though there is the indulgence of a date window at 3 o’clock. They measure 40mm across and are, of course, ultra-thin with the self-winding calibre 1203P measuring just 3mm thick. “We were born in ultra-thin,” says Herbert. “Ultra-thin enables us to have more room for creativity.”
This time, the creativity is found with the choice of dial material, which is meteorite. This makes for a dial that is at once understated and yet fascinating under closer inspection, with a distinctive pattern of lines that are unique to each piece. “It’s a really complex aesthetic,” Herbert describes. “From far away, you see the usual codes of the Altiplano: the thinness, the slim bezel, the essential lines, and when you come closer you can see the details of the movement and of the meteorite. Meteorite perfectly matches the understated look of the watch.” The material is also strong enough that the dial can be worked without the need for a supporting baseplate, which reduces the thickness that little bit extra, but Herbert points out that this was unintended benefit. “The starting point is always the artistic intention,” he says. “Our craftsmen are at the service of the aesthetic first.” Ultra-thin for Piaget is in the pursuit of the desired look, and not a technical achievement for the sake of it.
A galvanic colouring treatment allows three dial choices for the Altiplano: grey (RM118,000, limited to 300 pieces), gold (RM122,000, limited to 50 pieces) and blue (RM156,000 with a diamond-set bezel, limited to 300 pieces) – all the epitome of timeless, stylish elegance.
