Neither a precious nor semi-precious stone, malachite is a “hard” stone known for its vibrant green color and mesmerizing patterns. It offers a stunning canvas for watchmakers seeking original and unique dials—something Piaget understood as early as the late 1960s. At that time, the brand elevated malachite among about thirty ornamental stones it worked with, such as lapis lazuli, onyx, carnelian, turquoise, tiger’s eye, and agate.
Like its counterparts, malachite can be sliced into thin sheets or slabs, ground, sanded, and polished—all while being solid enough to be drilled at the center to accommodate watch hands.
Thank You, Piaget
This dense fragment of ancient rock captivated Piaget at the end of the 1960s, right at the dawn of the wild creative wave of the 1970s—a wave that swept across architecture, interior design, jewelry, and, of course, watchmaking. Freed from convention, watchmaking began chasing colorful and extravagant dials… and malachite fit the bill perfectly. With its irregular, layered green patterns, it turns a watch face into a piece of art. Piaget’s in-house design studio hit the jackpot with malachite. No need to spend days and nights inventing new shades or trendy patterns—Mother Nature had already done the job. If Piaget started the trend, it remains to this day the leading name behind the malachite phenomenon.
A Vintage Craze
Over time, malachite has carved out a prestigious place within the collections of many other houses that followed the royal path Piaget laid. Yet it remains a key element of Piaget’s stylistic DNA. A bold, historic signature that has held strong in the spotlight for over 50 years. Unapologetically vintage and utterly irresistible, malachite whisks us back to the Swinging London of the pop era, the liberal spirit of the time, the rise of chic hippies, and the first inklings of Indian influence on European tastes…
Still Relevant Today
Though Piaget was the first watchmaker to use malachite, it hasn’t turned away from a winning formula. On the contrary, in 2025 malachite is still a cornerstone of Piaget’s creative watchmaking for both men and women—seen notably in the Limelight Gala and Possession collections for women, and in the Andy Warhol line for men. A treasure for fans of bold creativity with a charming vintage flair—carried off with extraordinary uniqueness.
