First presented at the Basel Fair in 1957, the 9P calibre measuring just 2mm thick opened up whole new vistas of visual expression. Its slenderness left more room for the dial, enabling Piaget to reverse its creative approach by no longer working around the watch face, but instead taking the latter as its starting point. Its purpose being to catch and hold the gaze and the use of coloured stones was a natural choice. Hard stones provide an exceptional palette of colours that designers explored making light of any technical constraints. The Maison called upon the finest specialists and cooperated with them in developing unique expertise, and as of 1963, more than 30 different stones were to find their place in Piaget’s collection. Time could now be read in lapis lazuli, turquoise, coral, jade, tiger’s eye, malachite, opal… with or without diamonds, since Piaget overturned the existing hierarchy of materials and thereby heralded one of the greatest trends of contemporary jewellery. What could be more legitimate than for the Maison to present a new interpretation of stone marquetry in the setting of the Altiplano, its eminent ambassador of Art & Excellence timepieces?
© Piaget
The Master of Arts
Officially named Maître d’Art in 2015, Hervé Obligi is a multi-talented artist. While wood was his first passion, he was soon drawn to minerals, and hard stone marquetry in turn led him into the world of the Decorative Arts. “I love all stones; their hardness, their fragility, their resistance; their extraordinary relationship with the colour and the idea of lasting continuity that wood cannot satisfy. Stone tolerates no mistakes and is more likely to make others bend than break itself. The high demands it imposes naturally inspire humility.”
Working with these stones, sometimes referred to as “fine stones”, Hervé Obligi has adopted this art calling for extreme skills that have all but vanished. For 30 years, he has been taming lapis lazuli, jade, jasper, cornelian and agate. Both artisan and artist, he nurtures a passion combining all expressions of his art, from restoring antique furniture to design. It was the mastery of this art that earned his atelier the French title of “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (living Heritage Company). In 2015, Piaget Watches Price List Replica began a collaboration with this marquetry specialist, who devoted his expertise and virtuosity to the Altiplano, the elegant ultra-thin icon, in order to exalt the beauty of the Yves Piaget Rose on the dial. For the second time, the Maison has invited the Maître d’Art to apply his creative and contemporary vision to the Altiplano dial.
© Piaget
A tourbillon for the Altiplano
In 2017, for the first time in the history of the Altiplano collection, one of these models welcomes a tourbillon, one of the finest horological complications and which naturally also complies with the Piaget Womens Gold Watches Replica codes of infinite thinness. Elegance and aesthetics have always guided the technical choices made by the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget.
Developed to ensure a perfect fit with the Altiplano 41mm case, the ultra-thin mechanical hand-wound tourbillon Calibre 670P, measuring just 4.6mm thick, features a patented arbor winding system with setting wheel. It is also equipped with a new barrel ensuring a larger power reserve that now spans a comfortable 48 hours. The decision to opt for a flying tourbillon and an off-centred hour indication, both classic Piaget Watches Price In Dubai Replica style signatures, contributes to the beauty of the model. This distinctive tourbillon construction provides an opportunity to admire the ethereal delicacy of the titanium carriage, which, despite its 42 components, weighs just 0.2g. The volute stone marquetry dial motif is off-centred so as to create a “Sunny Side of Life” effect that also epitomises the Piaget style.
Altiplano malachite marquetry tourbillon
Framed by a pink gold case, the malachite swirls in shades of green: emerald, pine, dark and light, criss-crossed by an accurate and meticulous set of dark layers, arranged in such a way as to give the dial a very “Sunny Side of Life” look. On the movement side, the Fine Watchmaking finishing features circular Côtes de Genève, manual circular graining on the mainplate and bridges, as well as hand-drawn and bevelled bridges and carriage. The Altiplano malachite marquetry tourbillon (reference G0A43030) bears the historical Piaget logo in the hour counter.
The brand new Altiplano is incredibly thin – that the world’s thinnest automatic in reality. The watch itself is 5.25mm thick, although the unbelievable 1208P caliber is only 2.35mm thick. Sized at 43mm, the Altiplano is the largest ultra-thin watch in the world, and one that overlooks a new street. The idea of broad but thin is something we’re beginning to see more of in the business and one that until recently, wasn’t something seen as marketable. If a watch was to be sparse, it should be small. If it had been to be broad in diameter, then it needs to be thick. Piaget Watch Repair Replica has always been ultra-thin watches of a medium size, but the 43mm Altiplano pushes matters further.When I met with Audemars Piguet chief artistic officer Octavio Garcia at the Summer of 2010, six months after Piaget had announced this quite watch, he mentioned this notion as something that we’d be visiting a lot of in the long term from AP, and others. While he did not mention the Altiplano specifically, it’s obvious that this watch caught the interest of designers the world over because by SIHH 2011, we watched may more watches in this vein, although none executed to this level.The concept of the modern ultra-thin watch is constructed supporting the premise that they’re worn to elegant affairs, with, at minimum, a nice suit and tie, and at max, a tuxedo. The ultra-thin watch is discrete and regal, and quite simply not appropriate for everyday wear. In most cases, I’d say that statement is accurate. With this Piaget, nevertheless, I’d argue they’ve built one of the most flexible ultra-thins ever made, and one which works just as well with jeans and a sweater walking around NYC as it does with a suit and tie on the road to the office.
Altiplano malachite marquetry tourbillon © Piaget
Altiplano High Jewellery lapis lazuli marquetry tourbillon
With its shades of blue ranging from ultramarine to azure speckled with white and gold, lapis lazuli deploys its intensity on a dial graced with a whirling pattern highlighted by the work of the master-gem setters. While ultra-thinness is a hallmark of the Piaget identity, the equally demanding art of gem setting is equally emblematic. White gold lights up with the sparkle of diamonds. Baguette- and brilliant-cut gems totalling 5.07 carats thus adorn the bezel, case band, lugs, crown, clasp and case back, through which one can see the Fine Watchmaking finishes featuring circular Côtes de Genève, manual circular-grained main plate and bridges, as well as the hand-drawn and bevelled bridges and carriage. The historical Piaget logo adorns the hour counter of this Altiplano High Jewellery tourbillon (G0A43031).
Altiplano High Jewellery lapis lazuli marquetry tourbillon © Piaget
