Piaget Altiplano Chinese Zodiac Timepiece for the Year of the Tiger

Piaget Altiplano Chinese Zodiac Timepiece for the Year of the Tiger

The Piaget Altiplano Year of the Tiger timepiece unites Haute Horlogerie with exquisite cloisonné grand feu enamel. Moreover, the dial of this limited-edition (just 38 pieces) draws on the talents of Anita Porchet, widely considered the world’s finest enamelist. Angus Davies provides an insight into the remarkable world of enamelling.

In the early days of my career, various watch companies invited me to meet ‘friends of the brand’. Typically, these individuals were from the sporting arena with the odd star of the silver-screen thrown in. However, while every person I met seemed pleasant, I was never starstruck.

One day whilst visiting a high-end brand in Geneva, I discussed the work of Anita Porchet, widely considered the world’s finest enamelist. Ms Porchet works on a freelance basis and is entrusted by the most prestigious Maisons to create exquisite dials. Indeed, she has worked for Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, et al.

Later that day, after leaving the Genevan Manufacture, I attended a soirée hosted by the Maison in question. A charming lady from the brand, knowing I was a huge admirer of Ms Porchet’s work, introduced me to her. Another obliging member of staff assumed the role of translator, converting my Northern vernacular vocabulary into sweet-sounding French. Quite simply, when I met Anita Porchet my face assumed a bright shade of fuchsia and I began stuttering; it was obvious I was starstruck. But, what makes Ms Porchet special?

A number of years ago, Ms Porchet replicated a Marc Chagall fresco, adorning the ceiling of the Garnier Opera House, depicting it on a watch dial using ‘miniature painting’ (grand feu). This technique involves applying minuscule amounts of enamel, one colour at a time, using a brush comprised of just two or three marten’s hairs. The scale is infinitesimal, requiring the enameller to use a microscope, allowing them to apply detail in minuscule form. Once a small quantity of enamel has been applied to the dial plate, it is fired at temperatures of between 800° – 900°C. With her vast experience, Ms Porchet knows intuitively when to remove the dial from the oven in order to achieve the desired shade of enamel while avoiding the perils of bubbling or cracking. Considering it took Ms Porchet about 3½ months to produce the aforementioned one-of-a-kind dial, her confidence in navigating the perils of enamelling is quite remarkable.

In addition to miniature painting, there are two other forms of enamelling, namely, ‘Champlevé’ and ‘Cloisonné’. Ms Porchet has mastered these as well.

‘Champlevé’ involves an engraver making incisions into the dial blank, creating the desired scene. Thereafter, the master enameller fills these recesses with enamel, one colour at a time. The dial is fired after each colour is applied.

‘Cloisonné’ is a technique involving the use of supremely fine gold wires. Having traced a pattern upon a dial, the wires are arranged to follow the desired pattern and then subsequently filled with successive layers of enamel. During this process, the dial is fired in an oven, usually, 12 – 15 times after each layer of enamel has been applied. Each colour of enamel fuses at a different temperature, necessitating much skill on the part of the artisan in order to master the variables of temperature and time.

Marking the advent of the Chinese New Year, Piaget has just unveiled an Altiplano model endued with a sublime depiction of a tiger, formed using cloisonné grand feu enamel. Moreover, this limited-edition Piaget Altiplano Year of the Tiger timepiece has been expertly crafted by Anita Porchet. Once again, Piaget shows its mastery of métiers d’art and its desire to perpetuate artisanal crafts.

The brand’s press release