Andy Warhol's Piaget "Black Tie"

Piaget's Black Tie watch was released in 1972 and continued to be produced in small quantities using precious metals until 1977. The model's striking form and rare stones captivated the eyes of pop art master Andy Warhol. This model was reissued in 2014 and continues to be a favorite among watch enthusiasts.

Piaget's Black Tie was reissued in 2014 and continues to be produced in small quantities.

　Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is one of the most representative American painters of the 20th century.

　This eccentric socialite, known for his silkscreens depicting Mao Zedong, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, as well as electric chairs, Campbell's Soup cans, and Coca-Cola bottles, left his mark on modern art at the end of the 20th century.

　A pioneer of pop art (advertising art), he took the art world by storm, earning millions of dollars and drawing inspiration from his critique of "consumer society."

　Andy Warhol wore a Cartier Tank, a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, a Corum coin watch, and a Piaget Black Tie.

　The Black Tie was introduced by Yves Piaget in 1972. It was a time of great creativity for watches, resulting in a number of timepieces that were essential for both sports and formal wear. The Black Tie is undoubtedly one of those times.

　The urban black tie watch was versatile, suitable for both casual and formal occasions, back when people still dressed up to go out. It was in New York in 1973 that the fashion-conscious Andy Warhol fell in love with the watch.

　The Black Tie watch chosen by Andy Warhol featured a yellow gold case with a galvanic-treated anthracite dial and the famous Beta 21 quartz movement, boasting an accuracy of just 5 seconds per month. The Beta 21 is a movement also used in watches by Patek Philippe, IWC, and others, including the Rolex Beta Quartz (Ref. 5100), of which only 6000 were produced.

　The Black Tie joins six other Piaget watches owned by Andy Warhol, four of which are now in Piaget's private collection, but the Black Tie is probably the model best known to watch enthusiasts.

　The Black Tie was produced in small quantities with a white or yellow gold case until 1977. This relatively short lifespan has made it an especially sought-after model among collectors.

　Andy Warhol purchased Black Tie in 1973, but it wasn't until 1979 that Yves Piaget and Warhol became acquainted through Jerry Greenberg, Piaget's exclusive distributor in the US. This friendship led to Andy Warhol in 1983 inviting Yves Piaget to appear in Interview Magazine, the successful publication he founded in 1969.

　The Black Tie then disappeared from the Piaget catalogue for many years, only to be reinstated in 2014 and featured in the Extreme Piaget Haute Joiserie collection.

　The Black Tie marked Piaget's return to the watchmaking scene, one that it's never leaving again. A dazzling return, to be sure, but one that has remained very discreet. The Black Tie is a watch for connoisseurs, for what French novelist Stendhal called "the happy few."

　The Black Tie Vintage Inspiration, reissued in 2023 with a majestic 43mm x 45mm case, is equipped with Piaget's in-house automatic movement, the Caliber 534P. It was available with a malachite dial and a white gold case, and a black dial and a pink gold case. A malachite dial and pink gold case model was later added.

　Black Tie is currently the ideal venue for collectors seeking rare models with Piaget's signature stones. A collection of 10 unique pieces inspired by Andy Warhol's favorite models was secretly exhibited at Piaget's booth at Watches & Wonders 2023.

　The dial is adorned with an array of natural treasures unearthed by the brand's gemologists, including vibrant turquoise, sleep-inducing jasper, gorgeous carnelian and electric blue lapis lazuli.