For this year’s exhibition, they have struck the perfect chord between the bright gadroons of the historic Piaget Polo and the casual-chic allure of the iconic Piaget Polo Date. This will take shape as a limited edition of a 42 mm and a 36 mm, both made of steel with a stylish rubber strap – a first for the 36 mm. Each version will be produced in a series of 300 rare pieces.
To fully understand the impact of the Piaget Polo watch on the history of the Maison and the wider watchmaking world, one must go back in time to the pivotal year of 1979, when everything was turned on its head. When the sport-chic era was in full swing, at a time when integrated steel bracelets reigned supreme, Yves Piaget took a gamble by launching a versatile watch that was both sophisticated and timeless, which embodied the Maison’s core values.
Since 1957, Piaget has exclusively worked with precious materials. Staying true to the advertising campaigns of the time that celebrated “Piaget time… measured only in gold”, this watch came to be defined by its sculpted lines, crafted from the noblest of materials, simply decorated with gadroons shining on the bracelet and the dial. Before 1979, people wore a “Piaget”, referring to their watch by the name of the Maison as they did with all haute couture. From 1979 onwards, they wore a Piaget Polo. This marked the birth of a new era, a new lifestyle and a true icon of the watchmaking world that has stood the test of time.
Revisiting the Past
The first spectacular event to mark the beginning of Maison Piaget’s 150th anniversary celebrations was the return of the Piaget Polo of yesteryear on 6 February 2024. The round 38 mm version of the watch has been revisited and renamed Piaget Polo 79. Alongside this anniversary reissue, another new version is also likely to attract the attention of aficionados. Or rather, two new versions, as the Maison is unveiling a duo of Piaget Polo Date watches, limited to 300 pieces each. One is a 42 mm with a brown strap, while the other is a 36 mm version with a beige strap, set with 91 brilliant-cut diamonds. These two watches serve to bridge the gap between the very first model in the Piaget Polo collection and the recent success of the Piaget Polo Date with a rubber strap. In fact, this is the first time the 36 mm version has appeared with a rubber strap, having previously only been available with a metal bracelet or a leather strap.
A Striking Duet
Giving a nod to the signature gadroons on the original Piaget Polo, the dials of these two collector’s timepieces – the 42 mm powered by the Manufacture self-winding mechanical movement 1110P and the 36 mm by the 500P1 movement – display the same stunning play of materials as their ancestor. This Extraleganza heritage, a blend of elegance and extravagance, was also key to the decision to offer a duo of timepieces. These watches pay homage to the couples’ offers beloved by Yves Piaget, who never tired of imagining new His & Hers versions of the Piaget Polo. The most precious model can be worn by both women and men, with this versatility being standard practice in the world today.
These two versions of the Piaget Polo, a watch resolutely of its time, differ in the colour of their straps, their sizes and their gem settings, yet feature the same hands. On both models, rose gold-coloured hands brighten the steel case, with the second hand bearing the inscription “150”. This detail adds unique charm to this watch, truly a collector’s edition. Three hundred pieces of each will be made to mark the Maison’s 150th anniversary celebrations on a high note, with many more surprises to come.
