Piaget Altiplano Blue Editions
The new Piaget Altiplano Blue Editions uphold the prestigious Maison’s reputation for crafting ultra-thin, elegant timepieces, rich in horological excellence. The blue dials feature slender hands and slim baton-style indexes, contributing the overall sense of svelteness.
Founded in 1874, Piaget is a leading exponent of the ultra-thin watch. Initially, the company was known as a movement specialist, however, everything changed in 1943 when the firm became a producer of fine watches. Perhaps the most significant decision in the company’s history was in 1957 when it released its inaugural ultra-thin watch, equipped with the famous Calibre 9P which measured a mere 2mm in height. While the company has continued to make other genres of watch, the ‘ultra-thin’ timepiece is very much at the heart of this brand’s DNA.
Piaget is known for making watches to exacting standards and is considered an exemplar of Haute Horlogerie. Furthermore, the brand has mastered an array of artistic crafts, perhaps most notably, gem-setting. In 1998, the Manufacture relaunched its Altiplano and it has become a popular choice for wearers seeking a slender timepiece infused with peerless craftsmanship.
Now, the Swiss marque has just released two new limited edition models for 2020, the Piaget Altiplano Blue Editions. Each watch is housed in a 38mm rose gold case and is endowed with the hand-wound Calibre 430P, measuring just 2.1mm in height.
While these latest models appear comparatively uncomplicated, with their blue sunray dials, slim hands and slender baton-style indexes, they continue to harness all of the brand’s vast expertise.
The brand’s press release
Piaget unveils two Altiplano Blue limited-edition timepieces in 38mm, showcasing its love for ultra- thinness and the magic of the colour blue.
Blue is more than just a colour for Piaget, it is a symbol of calm, infinity, and dreams. It is also a reminder that “The sky is the limit” when it comes to imagining audacious creations that make dreams come true.
The colour of the Piaget Altiplano dials is the colour of the sky on a clear, cloudless night above the village of La Côte-aux-Fées, which means “Fairy Mountain”, the home of Piaget since 1874. Those timepieces emit the most intense and deep shade of blue that is paired with slender rose gold hour markers and slim baton-shaped hands, creating dials of the utmost elegance.
There are two limited editions of 300 pieces, both of which are housed in 38mm rose gold cases, which are lovingly made in-house in Piaget’s workshop. Piaget is one of the rare Maisons to make its own gold cases, combining both tradition and innovation in a pioneering way, which can be seen with these two limited editions that come in a pure rose gold version or adorned with 78 diamonds (approx. 0.71 cts.) around the bezel and feature the Piaget coat of arms delicately engraved on the caseback.
The legend of the Piaget Altiplano iconic collection started life in the 1950s with timepieces that were of unprecedented thinness and uncompromising purity. The collection has remained timeless ever since, evolving with the times, yet never losing its elegance or record-breaking slenderness.
The ultra-thinness of the Piaget Altiplano Blue limited editions is achieved thanks to the Maison’s manual-winding 430P calibre that measures a mere 2.1mm in thickness. This movement is renowned for its thinness but also its reliability and meticulous finishing. Developed, manufactured, and decorated by the Piaget Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie, it is a legitimate heir to the legendary 9P movement that allowed Piaget to chart a new course in ultra-thin watchmaking in 1957.
When it comes to the Piaget Altiplano, one rule applies: there is no room for compromise. Every single design detail and every mechanical component has its place to achieve a seamless and streamlined style that has become an enduring trademark. Like a second skin, the Piaget Altiplano is youthful yet classic, simple yet sophisticated, original yet uncomplicated, with style and versatility in its DNA. Trends may come and go, but the Piaget Altiplano defies time with its own brand of supreme elegance.
Further reading