Piaget Dragon & Phoenix Collection Watch Review
The Piaget Dragon & Phoenix Collection mark the arrival of a new lunar cycle in the Chinese calendar. These exquisite creations, celebrating the revered mythical creatures, showcase the Maison’s prowess for fusing Haute Horlogerie with métiers d’art. Meehna Goldsmith provides an overview of these exceptional timepieces in her own inimitable style.
Image – Piaget 41 mm Altiplano High Jewellery Dragon
The Dragon
Splendid, majestic and grand. In Chinese culture, the dragon commands high respect. It represents the masculine energy of strength, power and good fortune. Of all the twelve zodiac signs, the dragon stands out as the only mythical creature and the most popular one. People born under its sign are thought to obtain the traits of intelligence, confidence and charisma. Every twelve years the dragon rears its head and 2024 brings its emergence once again.
Piaget Dragon & Phoenix Collection – introduction
To mark the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Piaget honours this revered creature with an extraordinary capsule collection, which pays tribute not only to the Dragon but also to the Phoenix. The yin to the Dragon’s yang, the Phoenix symbolises the feminine qualities of happiness, hope and rebirth. Within the collection, breathtaking timepieces combine Haute Horlogerie with Piaget’s spectacular talent in jewellery.
Anita Porchet
In the world of Metiers d’Art, Anita Porchet is renowned as one of the high masters, creating stunning enamel portraits of piercing beauty. Piaget has collaborated with her since 2006 and she’s the one behind Piaget’s annual Lunar New Year timepieces. For this year, her unique expression is found in two 38 mm Altiplano Zodiac references limited to 38 pieces each. While the Dragon is brought to life in a rich blue hue, the Phoenix is dressed up in harmonising red, pink and orange colours, as they both fly amidst the carved white and grey mother-of-pearl clouds. The bezel lights up with a circular array of diamonds.
Image – Piaget 38 mm Altiplano Zodiac – blue dragon
The portrayal of the Dragon and Phoenix displays the virtuosity of Porchet’s cloisonné enamelling technique. The play of light and shadow provides depth and detail for the eye to explore. Engraved with gold, the Dragon’s scales and the Phoenix’s plumage jump from the dial, giving the creatures movement and dimension.
Image – Piaget 38 mm Altiplano Zodiac – phoenix in red, pink and orange hues
In addition, the dragon alights on high jewellery watches nestled in a 41 mm Altiplano case. Against the backdrop of a sunburst engraving, a gold engraved Dragon is complemented by Porchet’s exquisite paillonné enamelwork. The dragon peers out from red lacquered eyes as it clutches a black opal fireball in its claws – all 8 editions framed by diamonds twinkling on the lugs and bezel. Piaget is known for its ultra-thin Manufacture movements and these timepieces set the time moving with the historic hand-wound calibre 830P.
Piaget Dragon & Phoenix Collection – Piaget Emperador watch
The Dragon also curls its way around a Piaget Emperador model. This timepiece features a flying tourbillon situated between 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock, while the dial-side 18K gold rotor swivels from 7 o’clock to 10 o’clock. Rich with subtle detail, the tourbillon and rotor meet to form the number 8 – considered a fortuitous number in Chinese culture. The dragon motif isn’t just part of the dial but integrates into the case for a powerful and free-flowing design. Set in gradation, snow-set sapphires and diamonds give the illusion of the dragon floating through a star-studded night sky. This rendition for the Lunar New Year comes in a formidable 46.5 mm case, affording sufficient room to fully appreciate the canvas.
Image – Piaget Emperador watch with flying tourbillon and dragon
Piaget Dragon & Phoenix Collection – closing thoughts
With these mechanical watches, Piaget has created astonishing and emotional pieces of horological art. Bold, exuberant and playful, these breathtaking mythological creatures aren’t just for the coming Lunar New Year but for all time.