Piaget closes the 60th anniversary of its Altiplano collection with a record-breaking watch in the form of the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic: the world’s thinnest self-winding mechanical watch. At just 4.30mm total thickness for the watch, the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic builds on the Calibre 900P manually-wound movement, which achieved its ultra-thin profile by removing, for the first time in the industry, the physical separation between movement and case. In the ultra-thin Altiplano models, the watch’s case back is also the mainplate of the movement and therefore allows a significant reduction in the overall height of the watch.
This is not the only way that Piaget Polo Watch 1985 Replica saves height, however. Some of the wheels used in the movement are just 0.12mm thick – nearly half that of standard wheels. More impressive still, and what gives the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic its unmistakable aesthetic, is that the entire going train is fitted within the thickness of the balance wheel and arranged around the circumference of the case. The self-winding is ensured by an almost invisible peripheral winding rotor in black PVD-coated 22-carat gold. Because the winding rotor is arranged around the edge of the movement, it can be also incorporated within its overall thickness.
Altiplano Ultimate Automatic, pink gold and white gold © Piaget
Piaget has even managed to incorporate the hands within the thickness of the movement, which brings two advantages: on the one hand, it helps to keep the ultra-slim dimensions, on the other, it prevents any problems if the crystal is distorted. Although not an issue in a regular wristwatch, in an ultra-thin watch any slight deformation in, or pressure on, the crystal could bring it into contact with the hands and cause the movement to stop. Housing the hands below the level of the bridges prevents this problem and Piaget has filed a patent for this idea.
While the Ultimate Automatic once again underscores Piaget’s strengths in the world of ultra-thin watches, the new Piaget Extremely Lady does the same for the brand’s expertise in working gold. Inspired by a watch worn by Jackie Kennedy Onassis in the 1960s (which Piaget acquired in the 1990s), the Extremely Lady showcases a rare form of gold engraving. Each bracelet is engraved by hand to create a textured look that resembles fur and thus fits perfectly with the warmer clothes required at this time of year.
The “men’s” 40mm manual-wound variations, in blue, gray or green, can easily be worn by a woman — in fact I prefer that dimension, even over the 38mm automatic, because the ultra-thin instance makes it highly wearable. As a fantastic classic, everyday watch, it might have been fantastic to see a minumum of one of those anniversary versions in steel, though — perhaps next year with no anniversary engraving on the case back? Note that some versions have a display case back while others have a closed case back.The 34mm model contains the ultra-thin manual-wound Caliber 430P, which is 2.1mm thick. The circumstance is 6.30mm thick, in white gold or red gold. There is also a diamond variant of the 34mm piece, at a 360-piece limited series. The next size up is the manual-wound 38mm version (also with all the 430P, at a 6mm-thick instance) but using a blue dial that’s marked with a subtle cross-hair at a lighter blue color.The Caliber 430P is a evolution of the 9P, the ultra-thin (2mm thick) manual-wound motion introduced by Piaget Watches And Wonders Replica in 1957. Located in the 34mm and 38mm no date Piaget Altiplano watches, the manual end 430P motion is 2.1mm thick and operates in 21,600 vph using a 43 hour power reserve.
Jessica Chastain, Piaget Ambassador, presenting the new Extremely Lady watch © Piaget
