Both a heavyweight in the fields of high jewellery watches (and high jewellery in general) as well as haute horlogerie, Piaget brings us in 2020 something for each of their specialties: the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, showcasing their innovation in watchmaking, and the new Limelight Gala pieces, illustrating their high jewellery watches in captivating style.
From Conception to Reality
While the Altiplano Ultimate Concept made considerable noise when it was introduced in 2018, the asterisk that came with the announcement was that while this watch was theoretically physically possible, it meant something else entirely to make it conceivable—could this watch be commercially viable and possible to manufacture for the Piaget clientele? It didn’t take much time for Piaget to answer that question. Proudly announcing their new line of watches during the Watches & Wonders digital platform launch, the maison focused on how you can now own the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, the thinnest mechanical watch on the market and even make it your own.
As a reminder for those who may need it since the watch’s reveal at SIHH 2018, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept is as thick as a 1 Euro coin, the case measuring 2mm in thickness. To achieve this, Piaget’s watchmakers had to completely rethink basic case construction—the winding crown became integrated into the case and the mainplate of the case serves double-duty as the movement’s mainplate as well (usually, the case and movement mainplate are two different components) by being carved from a single block of gold. Movement components were redesigned, reduced in size and thickness, and the case made of a cobalt-based alloy to make it extra resistant in order to compensate for its thin design. The Piaget 900P-UC calibre is partially visible on the dial with the off-centre hour and minute dial placed on the top half of the dial.
Available in 41mm case with different types of finishing, Piaget also announced that that Altiplano Ultimate Concept is customisable to any client’s taste—using their “Style Selector” concept rolled out in boutiques worldwide, clients can choose the colour of the bridge, dial, finish of the hands and mainplate and choose between an array of different strap options. Making the rare even more unique.
Into the Limelight
One of Piaget’s most iconic watches, the Limelight collection is the bridge that unites the maison’s watchmaking and high jewellery convictions. “I think the Limelight’s popularity is due to its personality,” says Chabi Nouri, CEO of Piaget. “Limelight has an incredible and strong character; it’s a signature, you either love it or hate it. The collection has worked well for the past 60 years—it’s iconic. It’s a watch that is also easy to wear, day or night. The fact that it’s adaptable to any situation makes it an iconic watch. And the new Limelight Gala watches express just that.”
We therefore can’t have a Piaget launch for 2020 without something new for the collection—enter the Limelight Gala watches. Comprised of four unique high jewellery watches and six new references available in limited editions, the new Limelight Gala watches remain very 70’s inspired, with bold colours and gemstones reminiscent of the era.
What has always been the Limelight’s strongest aesthetic aspect is it’s curvaceous design and how the bezel follows into the bracelet—instead of appearing linked to the bracelet through lugs (and is typical in a watch design), the stones (or diamonds, depending on the version) follow straight onto the lines of the bracelet—an integrated jewellery watch, if you will. The Limelight Gala Precious Sapphire Gradient features a bold Palace Décor gold dial covered in blue enamel surrounded by 20 diamonds and 22 blue sapphires, arranged from white to light blue to a dark sapphire blue in a gradient effect. The piece comes with a hand-engraved gold bracelet, and is also available with a white mother-of-pearl dial and a dark-blue alligator strap in a limited edition of 88 pieces.
Aventurine glass also adorns the dials of diamond-set Limelight Gala watches of different sizes, and an additional model comes in a rose gold version with white mother-of-pearl dial and burgundy alligator strap. The high jewellery pieces, stunning one after the next, feature both brilliant and marquise-cut diamonds and precious stones for a bolder look, with one version featuring Australian black opal on the dial (all the high jewellery watches are unique pieces, of course). Primed and gussied up for a glamorous evening, the Limelight Gala is the epitome of what most women would dream of wearing to a fanciful evening full of tuxedoes and ball gowns.
