Whereas Piaget is rightfully heralded because the precursor of ultra-thin calibres, it was additionally a pioneer of decorative stone dials within the early Sixties. A decade or so later, underneath the course of Yves Piaget, one other milestone was reached with the discharge of the well-known gold Polo sports activities watch in 1979. Its glossy gold built-in design, marked by gadroons operating from the dial down the bracelet, grew to become a jet-set favorite. In 2016, Piaget launched the Polo S, a metal sports activities watch assortment that departed radically from the unique Polo and which is now residence to a number of issues. Consolidating the model’s fortes, the Polo Perpetual Calendar returns in a limiteless white gold reference with a blue obsidian dial and a extra luxurious restricted version with a inexperienced obsidian dial and emerald-set bezel, each powered by an in-house ultra-thin automated motion.
The development for semi-precious stone dials has returned with a vengeance as manufacturers deck out their dials with fragments of meteorite or semi-precious stones, usually accompanied by their extra treasured siblings. Main the pack, Piaget’s first stone assortment, launched in 1963, featured vibrant colored hardstone dials, which, paired with fabulous gold cuff bracelets, tapped into the non-conformist, psychedelic groove of the Sixties. Celebrities and Piaget’s stone dials go hand in hand, just like the current Andy Warhol assortment with its lineup of fascinating stone dials.
The Perpetual Calendar was launched to the Polo assortment in 2023, increasing the repertoire of time-and-date, chronograph and ultra-thin skeleton fashions with a extra subtle QP with a moon section show. Powered by a specifically developed calibre, the 1255P ultra-thin motion perpetuates Piaget’s experience in ultra-thin actions and has a peak of simply 4mm. In truth, the motion powering the QP relies on the ultra-thin 1200P calibre of 2010, the worthy successor of Piaget’s well-known 12P automated motion of 1960, the thinnest in its day.
First launched in metal with a inexperienced dial with gadroons, it appeared shortly after with a pink gold case and inexperienced dial and a white gold mannequin with a spectacular blue obsidian dial and blue sapphires.
Using Piaget’s long-standing expertise in stone dials, the inexperienced and blue obsidian stones create a mysterious natural background shimmering with patches of iridescence. Produced when lava from a volcano cools quickly, obsidian is a type of volcanic glass. The pure iridescence discovered within the obsidian dial of this watch is shaped when drops of mineral-rich sulphide liquid are trapped within the rock because it solidifies, a phenomenon that ensures that no two stones, and subsequently no two dials, are ever alike.
Whereas each dials are crafted from skinny slivers of obsidian, the inexperienced obsidian model is extra flamboyant due to the 56 bright-green claw-set emeralds within the bezel. To comply with the contours imposed by the rounded sq. framing the dial, the emeralds are minimize in numerous sizes. Echoing Piaget’s in-house color, the blue obsidian dial is barely extra refined.
The perpetual calendar capabilities are organized in three white gold-framed sub-dials with beneficiant dimensions: the month and intercalary year indicator are at midday, the pointer date is at 3 o’clock, and the day of the week is at 9 o’clock, all with snailed interiors and clear white markings. The vertical moon section is housed in a small gold-framed aperture at 6 o’clock. Of notice are the utilized indices and openworked hour and minute palms crammed with inexperienced inserts to match the inexperienced obsidian dial and the emeralds.
The signature 42mm cushion-shaped case in 18k polished white gold has a flat, spherical bezel. Within the blue obsidian mannequin, which doesn’t have a gem-set bezel, you may respect the horizontal satin-brushed end on the bezel, visually extending its width, whereas each share vertical brushed flanks framed by brightly polished bevels. Due to the slim motion, the case maintains a svelte profile of 8.65mm.
Seen on the reverse, you may see the blue micro-rotor and different particulars of the ultra-thin calibre 1255P with its frequency of 21,600vph and energy reserve of 42 hours. If saved wound, the perpetual calendar perform gained’t want adjusting till 2100.
The watches come on matching rubber straps with embossed gadroons. The Obsidian Inexperienced mannequin is a restricted version of 18 individually numbered items; the Obsidian Blue joins the everlasting assortment. The worth of the blue model is EUR 108,000, and the gemset inexperienced model is EUR 149,000. Extra data at Piaget.com.
