Altiplano 38 mm

Piaget Altiplano, the quest for essentials

The place is simply breathtaking. Up there, at an altitude of 3,500 metres above sea-level, everything is precious and rare. The majestic Altiplano straddling four countries – Argentina, Chile, Peru and Bolivia – is one of the world’s highest inhabited regions. Its striking beauty has also made this high plateau one of the most impressive natural areas on the planet. It is a land of legends where nature and man unite in a fragile harmony based on essentials. Indian tribes venerate the earth, the “Pachamama”. Five centuries ago, it was there that the last Incas took refuge, having carried their treasures with them to the far ends of their lost empire.

Snow-capped peaks, mountain lakes, a harsh climate, silence… this spectacular setting is not so very far removed from the daily life of the inhabitants of the high Jura valleys around a century ago. And it was indeed at the heart of one of these valleys, in the company workshops in La Côte-aux-Fées, that a line of legendary ultra-thin watches was born: the Altiplano models. The purity of the backdrop of the high plains of the Andes cordillera naturally inspired the creators of the world’s slimmest mechanical automatic watch.

Ultra-thin watchmaking is an adventure that began over 50 years ago for the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget. In early 1957 and after several years of fruitful research and development, the watchmakers in La Côte-aux-Fées presented a mechanical movement measuring just 2 mm thick. It was named 9P, because it was a 9-ligne movement in watchmaking jargon. It was slender, light and refined. The first watches equipped with the 9P calibre were launched on the market at what was then called the Basel Watch Fair. They in fact heralded a revolution. This new launch caused such a stir that the Piaget brothers soon realised what a treasure they had in the 9P. It was upon this movement and its successive versions, including the 12P automatic movement presented at the Basel Fair in 1960 as the world’s thinnest automatic movement, that the Maison Piaget built its reputation.

Above and beyond the technical feats involved, the development of ultra-thin movements was to lead to a complete aesthetic upheaval. Freed from all constraints, Piaget watches were thus ready to offer a watchmaking interpretation of the fanciful, rebellious spirit of the 1960s. Alongside the extravagant watches that were much in vogue, the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget also pursued its line of extremely pure ultra-thin models: an inimitably slender case, an understated dial, and subtly stylised hands. On these exceptional creations, luxury is hinted at, while pared down to essentials: a supremely technical movement, precious metal, and a clear-cut design. For half a century, Piaget’s consummate art of using these three components has enabled it to write some of the finest pages in the field of ultra-thin watchmaking.

One can indeed rightly speak of historical legitimacy, since the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget has consistently broken new ground in the highly technical sphere of ultra-thin watchmaking. Out of a total of 29 movements developed by Piaget, 17 are ultra-thin. Of this long and prestigious lineage, two of the most outstanding recent calibres are the 430P (2.1 mm thick) created in 1998 and the 830P (2.5 mm) created in 2007. This expertise in ultra-thin movements has also given rise to complicated calibres, including the world’s thinnest shaped tourbillon, 600P, as well as the 880P chronograph, 885P perpetual calendar and 1270P automatic tourbillon movements. In 2010, Piaget celebrated the 50th anniversary of the launch of its legendary 12P calibre by presenting the 1200P (hours and minutes) and 1208P (hours, minutes and small seconds), the world’s thinnest mechanical automatic movements at just 2.35 mm thick. Integrated within the new 43 mm Piaget Altiplano case, these movements thus represented a second record, this time for the thinnest watch in its category (5.25 mm).

First presented in 1998 under the name directly linked to the evocative and directly product-related name Altiplano, the ultra-thin Piaget models meet highly specific design codes. In addition to the extremely pure lines of the ultra-thin round or square cases, Piaget Altiplano watches are distinguished by pure dials, slender elongated hands and fine baton-shaped hour-markers or Roman numerals.

Thanks to a broad range of models, the Altiplano collection encompasses both masculine and feminine models, housing almost exclusively mechanical movements within cases crafted from precious metal and in some cases gem-set. In keeping with the Piaget tradition of ultra-thin watches, which are either classically inspired or introduced as concept watches – such as the Piaget Altiplano Double-Jeu and Piaget Altiplano fingerprint models – Altiplano watches also represent an opportunity to explore a number of skills such as the art of enamelling, skeleton-working, and gem-setting on skeletonised movements.

Acknowledged both for the competencies required to make it, and for its unique aesthetics, the Piaget Altiplano watch has won numerous prizes awarded by the public and professionals, including the Design Prize in the 2003 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.

In 2011, the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget is further enriching its Altiplano collection, which has become a brand icon, by presenting new releases that consolidate the line’s leadership position in the field of ultra-thin watches.

Piaget Altiplano 34 and 38 mm with pavé dial

Purity and elegance are two qualities that have become inseparably bound up with the Piaget Altiplano collection. As a sparkling celebration of the two areas of expertise that have earned Piaget its reputation – watchmaking and jewellery – the Maison presents a completely original pair of Piaget Altiplano watches.

These two models measuring 34 and 38 mm in diameter vividly express the two-fold mastery characteristic of the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget: the art of jewellery-making, as well as recognised competence in the area of ultra-thin mechanical movements. These two Piaget Altiplano watches are distinguished first and foremost by their impressive full-set dials, respectively adorned with 735 and 574 diamonds. Entirely crafted and gem-set within the Manufacture itself, they feature a harmonious circular gem-set motif, a technique calling for patient, meticulous care and which can only be achieved by the finest gem-setters. Twelve slender applied gold hour-markers are swept over by dauphine hands guaranteeing excellent readability while preserving a remarkably expressive aesthetic. As part of this same determination not to disturb the strong impact of the circular gem-setting, the Piaget logo is placed beneath the crystal and not on the dial. Set with rows of 78 and 72 diamonds respectively, the bezels further reinforce the precious and elegant character of this exceptional twosome. A further touch of refinement is added by the black alligator strap fitted with a new pin buckle exclusive to the Piaget Altiplano collection, which picks up the bezel design and is set with a row of 23 diamonds.

Paying vibrant testimony to the gem-setting mastery cultivated by the Maison Piaget, these two dazzling Piaget Altiplano models are respectively set with 836 and 669 diamonds, totalling approximately 2.9 and 2.2 carats.

The absolute elegance of these two models is due not only to the quality of the gem-setting, but also to the finesse and purity of the lines of the white gold Piaget Altiplano case housing Calibre 430P. Designed, developed and produced by the Manufacture de Haute Horologerie Piaget, this mechanical handwound movement is one of the slimmest in its category, at just 2.1 mm thick, and drives the hour and minute functions. Like all movements emerging from the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget, Calibre 430P is exquisitely finished, including with bridges that are bevelled and adorned with circular Côtes de Genève, a circular-grained mainplate and traditional blued screws. The white gold 34 and 38 mm cases are both water-resistant to 30 metres.

In presenting these two exclusive and refined timepieces, Piaget is introducing a “couples” offer – comprising a man’s model and a ladies’ model – stylishly synthesising the two recognised skills of the Manufacture within two Piaget Altiplano models epitomising absolute elegance.