Passion

 

In a festive journey to the heart of the night, the new Limelight watch and jewellery collection explores the aesthetic worlds of two of the planet’s most fascinating cities: Paris and New York.

Paris / New York: two cities, two states of mind… a collection. The monuments of these two cities, representing authentic architectural icons, feature clearly identifiable and highly stylised motifs. These two fashion capitals also display immediately recognizable styles that are both irresistibly urban and unmistakably feminine. The cities of Paris and New York have fired the imagination of Piaget’s creative talents and craftsmen, eloquently illustrating the brand’s watchmaking and jewellery expertise.

Paris, city of lights

Piaget has drawn inspiration from two key landmarks of lovers’ favourite city: the Eiffel Tower and the Grande Roue (Ferris wheel) on the Place de la Concorde.

The slender, luminous structure of the historical monument, the city’s universal emblem since 1889, has given rise to diamond-studded watch and jewellery creations. Against the elegant cleavage of a radiantly beautiful woman, a necklace reflects the arches of the world’s most beautiful tower, a magnificent architectural feat also evoked by diamond-set cuff watches.

Meanwhile, the playful and enchanting Ferris wheel provides a pretext for amusing variations. Secret watches and jewellery in motion, featuring tiny baskets of diamonds suspended from a rotating deck, are clearly reminiscent of its famous gondolas.

Paris, so couture

Inspired by a sensual and exquisitely feminine couture style, Piaget dares to go for a “sexy “look with creations echoing the lacing on corsets that are tied and untied with voluptuous delight. In an ultra-chic interpretation of wild Parisian nights, a ruby and pink sapphire necklace imitates untied ribbons hanging nonchalantly along a plunging neckline. In the same glamorous spirit, Piaget introduces a fabulous cuff watch, a recurrent and emblematic object in the brand’s history. Entirely paved with diamonds, this watch literally wraps the wrist in light, evoking a luxurious corset delicately laced by a ribbon of square-cut diamonds, and also comes in a version with a colourful satin ribbon. Architectural New York

Piaget has chosen to focus on two icons of the American dream: the Chrysler Building and the Statue of Liberty in New York.

A spectacular jewellery set features a necklace and earrings based on a design brilliantly reflecting the illuminated roof of the Art Deco style building with its pure, irresistibly graphic lines. The chandelier-style variation of this jewellery set featuring diamonds and blue sapphires boldly accentuates the roofline of the legendary skyscraper and sparkles like colourful lights against the night sky.

Whether serving as a motif for a pendant, earrings or a watch dial, the graphic design of the seven rays of the diadem of the Statue of Liberty symbolise the seven oceans. Inaugurated in 1886 as a gift from France to mark the anniversary of the independence of the United States, the famous monument was created by Bartholdi in cooperation with Gustave Eiffel for its metal frame. The entirely diamond-pavé watch case sets the precious stones dancing to the frenzied cadence of the city that never sleeps.

New York, so fashion

Piaget has chosen to let its imagination roam freely among bows and ribbons in order to give them a distinctively “haute couture” feel, with black tourmalines and diamonds in the spotlight. Thus interpreted, these creations evoke the black and white colours of a classic New York evening, while exquisite bows adorn the watches and jewellery with discreet elegance. Unmistakable couture-like touches include a black satin and diamond bow that actually hides a “secret” watch featuring a diamond-pavé cover that opens discreetly to reveal the passing of time.

Black tourmaline is again featured, as too are black spinels cut to form superbly facetted beads that glitter like sparks along a matinee length necklace, with an upper part dancing freely along the neck and secured by a large diamond bow-tie motif shining with fiery brilliance on a femme fatale.

Among the dazzling and daring watch creations dedicated to Paris and New York, two Piaget Polo Tourbillon Relatif models are issued in limited editions of three. They combine the complexity of a Piaget 608P flying tourbillon movement with the extreme sophistication of a stunningly beautiful enamelled and chased décor. For Paris, the twelve avenues radiating from the aptly named Place de l’Etoile are engraved on the dial, while the sides feature the city’s major landmarks. For New York, the outlines of its twelve highest skyscrapers are engraved on the dial and the sides depict two views of the city.

Paris and New York: two extremely powerful urban identities, two extraordinary worlds of aesthetic and architectural intensity. Famed the world over for their rich past, present and future, their inimitably glamorous style and their legendary monuments, these two international capitals of glittering nocturnal festivities are now brilliantly interpreted by Piaget through a dream collection of gorgeous jewellery and watches. (Press release)

Specifications

Piaget Polo Tourbillon Relatif in tribute to the City of Paris

18-carat white gold case and dial with grand feu enamelling according to the champlevé technique
The dial represents an aerial view of the 12 avenues radiating from the Arc de Triomphe along with their names
Manufacture Piaget 608P mechanical hand-wound tourbillon movement
Movement thickness: 3.28 mm
Movement thickness including hand fitting: 9.14 mm
Casing diameter: 11 1/2’’’ (ø 25.60 mm)
Number of jewels: 27
Cadence: 21,600 vph
Oscillating organ - diameter of balance: 7.75 mm
Power reserve: approximately 70 hours
Flying tourbillon: the minute hand, which has its centre of rotation at the centre of the watch, performs one complete rotation per hour. The tourbillon carriage, suspended from the minute hand, spins once per minute on its own axis.
Tourbillon carriage: 3 titanium bridges
Weight of the tourbillon carriage: 0.2 g
Finishing: circular-grained mainplate, bridges and carriage bevelled and drawn out by hand with a file, circular Côtes de Genève, blued screws
18-carat white gold and black enamelled case-back with “Paris” engraving
18-carat white gold folding clasp
Black alligator leather strap
Numbered and limited edition of 3 pieces

The profile at 3 o’clock represents the view of several historical monuments: the Louvre and its Pyramid, the Ferris wheel located on Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel tower, and the banks of the River Seine. The winding crown, at the centre of the Ferris wheel, is set with a diamond (0.04 ct) highlighting the beauty of the capital.

The profile at 9 o’clock shows the Jardin des Tuileries, the monument of the National Assembly, the Grand Palais, the Arc de Triomphe and the Arche de la Défense. Ref. G0A33044

Paris Architecture theme

18-carat white gold case, bracelet and integrated clasp set with 620 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 11.8 cts) and 8 pear-cut diamonds (approx 0.9 ct)
18-carat white gold dial set with 64 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 0.3 ct)
Piaget 56P quartz movement
Ref. G0A33190

New York Architecture theme

18-carat white gold case set with 273 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 5.4 cts), black dial set with 99 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 0.7 ct)
Manufacture Piaget 530P automatic movement
18-carat white gold folding clasp set with 24 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 0.6 ct)
Black satin strap
Ref. G0A33178

New York Couture theme

“Secret” cuff watch. 18-carat white gold case, cover paved with 119 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 2.4 cts). Black dial, hour-markers set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 0.01 ct)
Piaget 56P quartz movement
Pin buckle set with 30 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 0.1 ct), black satin strap forming a bow
Ref. G0A33171

Following on from models such as the tourbillon, the tourbillon relatif and the chronograph, Piaget is pursuing its quest for horological complications by presenting the new Manufacture Calibre 855P with perpetual calendar. Mechanically programmed to cope with the irregularities of our Gregorian calendar up until the year 2100, the perpetual calendar is one of the major complications of the watchmaking art, as well as one of the most widely used. Measuring 5.6 mm thick, the Manufacture Piaget Calibre 855P self-winding movement was designed, developed and produced entirely in-house. It displays the hours, minutes, small seconds at 4 o’clock, month and leap years at 12 o’clock, along with retrograde day of the week and date displays at 9 and 3 o’clock respectively. In addition to the latter retrograde indications, this Calibre 855P stands out from most ordinary perpetual calendars by the addition of a double-hand dual time-zone display appearing in a subdial at 8 o’clock. The self-winding Piaget Calibre 855P beats at a cadence of 21,600 vibrations per hour and is endowed with an approximately 72-hour power reserve.

Inspired by an historical Piaget model revived two years ago and distinguished by an harmoniously balanced play on shapes, the case of the Piaget Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar is entirely in tune with the aesthetic mood of the moment. The subtle architecture of the 46 mm case enables it to adapt to all wrists and imparts a particularly elegant profile. In line with Piaget’s determination to combine horological complications with user-friendliness, the case middle actually carries a mention of the function of each of the four correctors for the month, date, day of the week and second time zone. Subtly alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces on the case middle, bezel and inner bezel ring, the case of the Piaget Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar is fitted with a sapphire crystal back providing admirable views of the movement finishes. The plate and bridges are circular-grained, bevelled and drawn out with a file. The decorative features such as circular Côtes de Genève and blued screws match the brand’s aesthetic signature codes, while the oscillating weight is adorned with the Piaget coat-of-arms. All the decoration and finishing, along with the casing up, are performed in Piaget’s La Côte-aux-Fées workshops which are entirely dedicated to horological complications. The complex nature of the movement powering the Piaget Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar explains its restricted annual production. The case of each timepiece is engraved with the year of production and the number of watches produced.

A highly exclusive Haute Horlogerie model, the Piaget Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar is available in an 18-carat pink gold version on a brown leather strap complete with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle, along with a version in 18-carat white gold.

Technical data sheet

18-carat white gold case
Silvered dial, satin-finished counters, applied 18-carat white gold hour-markers, case-back fitted with sapphire crystal revealing the movement
Manufacture Piaget 855P mechanical self-winding perpetual calendar movement
Functions: Hour, minute, small seconds (at 4 o’clock), dual time (at 8 o’clock), month/leap year (at 12 o’clock), day (retrograde indicator at 9 o’clock) and date (retrograde indicator at 3 o’clock)
Movement thickness: 5.60 mm
Casing dimensions: 28.4 mm
Number of jewels: 38
Cadence: 21,600 vph
Approximately 72-hours power reserve
Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained plate, bridges bevelled and drawn with a file, blued screws, oscillating weight engraved with Piaget coat-of-arms
18-carat white gold pin buckle
Black alligator leather strap
Ref.G0A33018

18-carat pink gold case
Blue dial, satin-finished counters, applied 18-carat pink gold hour-markers, case-back fitted with sapphire crystal revealing the movement
Manufacture Piaget 855P mechanical self-winding perpetual calendar movement
Functions: Hour, minute, small seconds (at 4 o’clock), dual time (at 8 o’clock), month/leap year (at 12 o’clock), day (retrograde indicator at 9 o’clock) and date (retrograde indicator at 3 o’clock)
Movement thickness: 5.60 mm
Casing dimensions: 28.4 mm
Number of jewels: 38
Cadence: 21,600 vph
Approximately 72-hour power reserve
Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained plate, bridges bevelled and drawn with a file, blued screws, oscillating weight engraved with Piaget coat-of-arms
18-carat pink gold pin buckle
Brown alligator leather strap

The Piaget Altiplano Petit Seconds watch is a beautiful addition to Piaget’s outstanding collection of dress timepieces.  At 40mm in diameter, this one should be a super dress watch for the modern man, attracting more interested buyers than the established 38mm size that has come to define the Altiplano Large.

What has not changed is the famous elegance that characterizes each creation of the house of Piaget.  Smoothness, grace, and impeccable craftsmanship define every minute element of the Altiplano case and dial; the sapphire crystal merges seamlessly with the bezel, making this a dress watch with few peers.  I love the “half-circle upon a circle” small seconds display, which adds just the slightest element of technical fascination, without spoiling the delightful minimalism.

Bravo Piaget, for putting a sapphire crystal back on this one.  While the hand-engraved Piaget caseback is a work of art in its own right, its great that connoisseurs can get a glimpse of the slender treasures that animate Piaget watches.  Manufactured in house (as are all Piaget movements) the Caliber 838P is just 2.5mm in height–most impressive, needless to say!