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Gloria Fung

If there is one takeaway from Piaget at this year’s SIHH, it is that it would not be the house as we know it today were it not for gold and diamonds.
Piaget is in a unique position to bring together know-how from the world of jewel making and haute horology; over the years, it has produced plenty of iconic timepieces, the Altiplano, Polo, Emperador, the Limelight Gala, among many more. But what Piaget proves is that it is a master of bringing a level of refinement and opulence to its watches that is usually reserved for high jewellery.
SIHH 2019: Piaget’s Altiplano watches inspired by something that’s truly out of this world
This is a year of high shine for Piaget, and as Quentin Herbert, Piaget’s head of watch marketing explains, it was no coincidence. “It would not be Piaget without diamonds,” he declares.

The house brought diamonds to the dials of the Polo, Altiplano and Limelight Gala. While it is not the first time these pieces are given a halo of glow with diamonds, some of the pieces sparkle with increased intensity. The iconic ladies’ timepiece Limelight Gala, for one, sees triple the amount of shine in the 32mm reference; the watch, which previously had 1.75 carats of diamonds around the bezel, now gets in its new version 42 brilliant cut diamonds with a combined weight of 4.74 carats.
SIHH 2018: Piaget breaks records for thin watch production 
Bulking up the bling is one way to elevate the status of a popular icon. “There’s a balance between broadening recognition while maintaining exclusivity,” says Herbert. Adding more gems to the Limelight Gala ensures that some pieces in the collection remain a holy grail dream jewellery timepiece for most fans of Piaget.

As Herbert stresses, at Piaget diamonds are never reserved for women. This year’s Polo novelties, aside from a rendition featuring a green dial and matching leather strap, features two 42mm watches dressed in stones.
How to sum up the two versions? Diamonds, and more diamonds. A rendition featuring diamonds around the bezel is only outshone by, literally, the version that sports a full-pave bezel and dial. The two rose gold watches are each paired with a blue alligator strap and an interchangeable brown alligator strap.
SIHH 2019: 6 of the best women’s timepieces unveiled in Geneva
On the front of goldsmithing, Piaget took to the bracelet of the Extremely Lady watch, to show off its artisan’s handiwork. The scales hand-engraved onto the bracelet extend to the oval dial, creating a pieces that evokes everything from a mermaid’s tail to an exotic reptile. This know-how in hand engraving, Herbert notes, has been passed down by generations of craftsman. “We’re using the same hand engraving techniques we’ve used since the 1960s. There’s no technology to improve on over the years because it’s all done by hand.”

Piaget rocked the Altiplano this year with a dial that is quite literally out of this world. Herbert said the team cut and coloured meteorites that landed in Tanzania to complement the Altiplano’s svelte silhouette. Dressing the bezels with diamonds further confirms Piaget’s ability to bring the jeweller’s touch to fine watchmaking.
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SIHH 2019: What makes Piaget tick? Diamonds, more diamonds – and lots of gold

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Brand brings level of refinement and opulence to its watches that is usually reserved for high jewellery

Brand brings level of refinement and opulence to its watches that is usually reserved for high jewellery