WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH&BASEL
March 25, 2015
PIAGET | SIHH 2013 New Watch Collection
PIAGET
An Elegant New Collection for Women
A New Record in Thinness with the First Minute Repeater
From Piaget, a pioneer in ultra-thin movements, come astonishing timepieces once again to impress connoisseurs. The new "Piaget Emperador Coussin Automatic Minute Repeater" is a minute repeater model completed by six dedicated technicians over three years, and it is, of course, the world's thinnest.
Text & Event Photographs by SHIBUYA Yasuhito
Piaget is a rare Swiss presence with two great facets: a dazzling high jeweler beloved by celebrities, and one of Switzerland's foremost manufactures capable of developing and producing superior ultra-thin movements and their cases from scratch, whether mechanical or quartz. In 2013, groundbreaking new timepieces embodying these two faces have emerged.
The biggest topic is a new feat for the manufacture, the brand's first-ever minute repeater model. A minute repeater with an automatic winding mechanism would naturally be thick due to its structure, but the newly developed 1290P movement employs a micro-rotor system, achieving a movement thickness of just 4.8mm and a case thickness of 9.4mm when fitted into the cushion-shaped case. Furthermore, its focus on sound quality and durability, passing the same tests as regular models, is also groundbreaking. A new page has been added to the history of Piaget and the history of complicated watches.
Meanwhile, the new ladies' watch collection "Limelight Gala" is a chic and gorgeous masterpiece that showcases the sense and skill of a high jeweler that has captivated the world since the 1960s.
Also not to be missed by watch enthusiasts and those seeking elegant, exquisite timepieces are the "Piaget Altiplano," which achieves the world's thinnest automatic watch with a date display by adopting the new 1205P movement—an evolution of the world's thinnest automatic movement 1208P announced in 2010—and the luxurious skeleton model "Piaget Altiplano Automatic Gem-Set Skeleton," which is equipped with the 1200D caliber, based on the world's thinnest automatic skeleton movement 1200S announced in 2012, and is adorned with an astonishing 259 brilliant-cut diamonds.

Piaget Emperador Coussin Ultra-Thin Minute Repeater
Piaget Emperador Coussin Automatic Minute Repeater
An Exquisite Piece That Chimes the Time with Exceptional Sound, in an Ultra-Thin Design
This is the world's thinnest minute repeater model, completed by six dedicated technicians over three years. To achieve its ultra-thin profile, it is composed of 407 parts, including components as thin as 0.07mm—thinner than a human hair (0.08mm)—and gears approaching 0.12mm thickness. Yet, there is no compromise on timekeeping accuracy or durability, ensuring performance that clears official accuracy tests. Furthermore, to achieve the finest tone for a minute repeater, 1400 hours of development time and special innovations were dedicated to the case. Extensive open-worked detailing is employed, and four pillars between the movement and the case ensure that the vibrations of the gongs are properly transmitted to the case. This results in an exceptionally loud volume of 64 decibels, unusual for a minute repeater in a wristwatch, and a superb sound that resonates with a damping factor of 2600, comparable to that of top-tier audio equipment. Another significant appeal is its 3 ATM water resistance, breaking the convention that minute repeaters are not waterproof. The finishing of the movement also employs ultimate craftsmanship befitting a top-tier complicated watch, while offering a special, modern, sharp impression. In every sense, it is one of the most innovative complicated watches available today.
Automatic winding, rose gold case, alligator strap, case diameter 48mm, case thickness 9.4mm, sapphire crystal dial allowing viewing of the movement from the dial side, minute repeater function striking the hours with two gongs at G# and the minutes at A#, powered by the newly developed 1290P caliber, the world's thinnest at 4.8mm. Sapphire case back, 3 ATM water resistance, 32.55 million yen (estimated price). Release date undecided.
Piaget Emperador Coussin Automatic Minute Repeater
An Exquisite Piece That Chimes the Time with Exceptional Sound, in an Ultra-Thin Design
This is the world's thinnest minute repeater model, completed by six dedicated technicians over three years. To achieve its ultra-thin profile, it is composed of 407 parts, including components as thin as 0.07mm—thinner than a human hair (0.08mm)—and gears approaching 0.12mm thickness. Yet, there is no compromise on timekeeping accuracy or durability, ensuring performance that clears official accuracy tests. Furthermore, to achieve the finest tone for a minute repeater, 1400 hours of development time and special innovations were dedicated to the case. Extensive open-worked detailing is employed, and four pillars between the movement and the case ensure that the vibrations of the gongs are properly transmitted to the case. This results in an exceptionally loud volume of 64 decibels, unusual for a minute repeater in a wristwatch, and a superb sound that resonates with a damping factor of 2600, comparable to that of top-tier audio equipment. Another significant appeal is its 3 ATM water resistance, breaking the convention that minute repeaters are not waterproof. The finishing of the movement also employs ultimate craftsmanship befitting a top-tier complicated watch, while offering a special, modern, sharp impression. In every sense, it is one of the most innovative complicated watches available today.
Automatic winding, rose gold case, alligator strap, case diameter 48mm, case thickness 9.4mm, sapphire crystal dial allowing viewing of the movement from the dial side, minute repeater function striking the hours with two gongs at G# and the minutes at A#, powered by the newly developed 1290P caliber, the world's thinnest at 4.8mm. Sapphire case back, 3 ATM water resistance, 32.55 million yen (estimated price). Release date undecided.
Limelight Gala|
Limelight Gala
A Sensual and Gorgeous New Ladies' Watch Inheriting the Elegance of the 1960s
A new ladies' watch collection featuring a round case with two lugs extending above and below, and the brilliance of flowing brilliant-cut diamonds emphasizing its elegant silhouette. This combination creates a fresh, glamorous, sensual, and chic atmosphere. The design draws inspiration from Piaget's own glamorous high jewelry collections of the 1960s, which took the world by storm, skillfully blending tradition with contemporary sensibility for the modern, elegant woman.
Quartz, rose gold case set with brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel and lugs, satin strap with a pin buckle set with one brilliant-cut diamond (total 62 diamonds, approximately 1.8 total carats), case diameter 32mm, silver dial with black Roman numerals, 3,538,500 yen (estimated price). Scheduled for release in September. Other models include one with a diamond-paved dial and a larger 38mm case size.
Piaget Altiplano Date|Piaget Altiplano
The World's Thinnest Automatic Watch with Date Display
An evolution of the "Piaget Altiplano Automatic 43mm," which debuted in 2010 as the "world's thinnest automatic watch," this is the "world's thinnest automatic watch with a date display." The movement, caliber 1205P, was developed based on the previous model's 1208P. Despite the addition of a date mechanism, the movement thickness remains a mere 3mm. The case size has also been reduced by 3mm to 40mm compared to the previous model, with a case thickness of 6.36mm. The discreetly designed date display at 9 o'clock is another significant charm of this model.
Automatic winding, white gold case, alligator strap, silver dial, case diameter 40mm, sapphire case back, 3 ATM water resistance, 2,772,000 yen (estimated price). Scheduled for release this autumn. Rose gold case models and rose gold case models with a diamond-set bezel are also available.
Piaget Altiplano Automatic Gem-Set Skeleton Watch|
Piaget Altiplano Automatic Gem-Set Skeleton
A Dazzling Fusion of Cutting-Edge Mechanical Watchmaking and Jewelry Craftsmanship
This is the world's thinnest high jewelry automatic skeleton watch, powered by the ultra-thin 3mm thick, 31.9mm diameter automatic skeleton movement 1200D, which is set with 259 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.8 total carats) on the mainplate and bridges, and 11 cabochon-cut black sapphires (0.2 total carats). The 6.1mm ultra-thin case itself is adorned with 40 baguette-cut diamonds (3.2 total carats) on the bezel, and a total of 347 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.4 total carats) on the middle case, crown, lugs, and sapphire case back, plus an additional 24 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.06 total carats) on the folding buckle of the strap. The decoration on other parts is also of the highest caliber. This is the "ultimate skeleton watch" made possible only by Piaget, which possesses both exceptional movement development and manufacturing expertise, and the pinnacle of gem-setting skills honed through its high jewelry creations.
Automatic winding, white gold case, alligator strap, case diameter 40mm, case thickness 6.1mm, sapphire case back, 3 ATM water resistance, 22,575,000 yen (estimated price). Release date undecided.
Piaget Customer Desk
0120-73-1874
www.piaget.jp



