The Piaget Society Rendez-Vous: The Art of Color

When I think of Piaget today, four things spring to mind: Its mastery of fine mechanics, its expertise in crafting gold, its gem-setting prowess, and its impressive command of working ornamental stone.

The origins of this four-pronged virtuosity can be traced back to Valentin Piaget – grandson of company founder Georges-Edouard Piaget – who, together with his brother Gérald, implemented a daring vision over seven decades ago.
 

Valentin Piaget was heavily involved in developing the brand’s ultra-thin movements at its La Cote-aux-Fées workshop, starting with the 2mm-thick 9P caliber unveiled in 1957. At the same time, he pushed for a bold and novel creative style, at the heart of which was eye-catching decorative stone, precious stone, and gold. Then, Piaget opened its first jewelry atelier in Geneva in 1959.

During the 1960s and beyond, Valentin Piaget’s vision came into full maturity as the maison launched collections of wristwatches, necklace watches, bracelet watches, and cuff watches that turned watchmaking tradition on its head.

Gold was sculpted, hollowed, and hammered to make bracelets and necklaces flow like fabric. Dials, cabochons, and beads – crafted from jade, coral, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, malachite, and turquoise – stood out for their vivid colors, eye-catching veins, and unique inclusions.
 

And not only did resplendent arrangements of diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies showcase Piaget’s expertise in selecting and setting precious stones, but they also highlighted the brand’s ability to choose and execute the perfect cut.

To this day, Valentin Piaget’s vision continues to inspire the maison’s creations, none more so than in its Limelight Gala, Jewelry Watch, and High Jewelry Watch collections, where choice gem-setting and prodigious stonework still play a leading role. As does color.
 

And it is at a Piaget Society Rendez-Vous event at its Geneva boutique the brand has been celebrating its long and storied association with color. The Watchonista team was lucky enough to attend the opening VIP soirée of the event – entitled “The Art of Color” – and capture its highlights in an exclusive video.
 

On opening-night, guests were able to admire a host of historical and contemporary Piaget creations on display – each boasting vibrant colors and superlative craftsmanship – before enjoying an insightful panel discussion on “The Art of Color.”
 

PIAGET GENEVA BOUTIQUE

40 Rue du Rhône
1204 Geneva
Switzerland

boutique-piaget.geneve@piaget.com
+41 22 817 02 00
 

For more information about the brand’s timepieces, visit the Piaget website.

(Photography by Pierre Vogel. Video by Johan Corminboeuf)