Piaget’s Glamorous Jewelry Watches and Obsidian Polo Perpetual Calendar at Watches & Wonders 2023

Luminous and sparkling, the Limelight Aura High Jewelry watch is always a real eye-catcher. After debuting in 1989, the model has captivated enthusiasts ever since. And with the glittering and hypnotic setting of its individually calibrated baguette-cut diamonds covering the entire watch, the Aura is a real work of art.
 

Now, Piaget’s new model is set with diamonds at the dial, then gradually shifts to blue sapphires to create an ombré effect. It is a mesmerizing gradation, thanks to the many gems selected by the Val-de-Travers-based brand’s gemmologists.
 

Finally, behind this shell of baguette-cut stones and under the dial’s sunburst motif beats the ultra-flat 430P manually wound calibre, featuring hour and minute functions. Price available upon request.

Necklace watches also became popular in the early 1970s, and Piaget’s innovative creations were the crème de la crème.

As the term “necklace watch” suggests, these jewelry watches are worn around the neck. Also called sautoir, Piaget’s necklace watches of the 1970s were fully in line with the fashion of the time. And like the women’s liberation movement and the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, the sautoirs offer an attractive mobility that reflects the changes the decade saw in both social mobility and taste.
 

Like the new trio of cuff watches, the three sautoirs unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2023 pay tribute to the brand’s goldsmithing savoir-faire and, thus, are handcrafted from twisted gold chains. To make these gold chains, Piaget’s goldsmiths start with a single thread, which they wind to create a coil. This thread then meticulously twisted and shaped into homogeneous chain links. Unsurprisingly, this kind of precision work takes a bit of time, requiring nearly 130 hours!
 

All powered by the 356P manufacture quartz movement and all unique pieces (as in there Piaget will make only one of each sautoir), the gemstones are, once again, highlighted. The first sautoir features brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 6.21 carats) and a 22.9mm x 27.9mm watch with its dial hand-engraved with Palace Décor.
 

In addition to brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 3.95 carats), the next sautoir also features turquoise in the chain and on the dial of the 27mm x 21.95mm watch.

Last but certainly not least, the third Sautoir features a cabochon-cut Zambian emerald (approx. 25.38 carats) that matches the maison’s signature malachite oval dial on the 22.9mm x 27.9mm watch.

Ornamental stones are a unique and inextricable signature of the brand. Their intense hues and mystical essence intrigue as much as they attract, and Piaget knows how to play with them. So, for its new 42mm Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Obsidian, the brand wanted to convey all the emotion that lies intrinsically at the heart of the silver obsidian used for this watch’s dial.
 

This stone offers a unique spectacle. Its inherent iridescence was created by the inclusions formed when drops of mineral-rich sulfide liquid were trapped inside the rock during its solidification. Then, to enhance this gift from mother nature, Piaget wanted to add a technically impressive complication, and the perpetual calendar was obviously the perfect choice.
 

Equipped with a self-winding 1255P calibre with a 42-hour power reserve, the Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Obsidian displays the day of the week at 9 o’clock, the month and year at 12 o’clock, the date at 3 o’clock, and the moon phase at 6 o’clock. As for the white gold bezel, that is set with deep blue sapphires that poetically enhance the nocturnal hues of the feminine and emblematic watch. Price available upon request.