Piaget announces the addition of a precious gold and diamond model to the Polo Skeleton collection

Piaget reintroduced its Polo luxury sports collection for men, reflecting the 1970s trend, in 2016 and revisited it in early 2021 with the introduction of the Piaget Polo Skeleton model in a stainless steel case. This hinted at a new direction for the Polo collection in 2021, and Piaget followed up the stainless steel case with four gold models at Watches & Wonders, three of which are diamond-set and two of which feature fully pavéd cases and movements.

Piaget's technical expertise is evident in its ultra-thin, see-through movement and gem-setting

　Like other Piaget gold watches, the Polo Skeleton's case, featuring a shape-in-shape design with a pillow-shaped dial opening within a round case, is forged in Piaget's in-house gold foundry. The see-through, ultra-thin 1200S1 caliber is also manufactured in-house, and the gem-setting of the movement and case is also entirely done by skilled artisans. Like the existing stainless steel model, the case measures a contemporary 42mm in diameter and is a slim 6.5mm thick. In the 18K rose gold model without gem setting, the movement bridges and baseplate are given a dark blue color, elegantly contrasting with the case color and matching the blue alligator leather strap with quick-change system.

　The 18K white gold model retains the same elements: case size, blue-hued openwork, and quick-change strap. It features a gem-set bezel set with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds. In an interview during Watches & Wonders, Piaget CEO Chaby Nouri explained that the eye-catching color is a creative way to highlight the see-through in-house caliber. "Over the past seven years, we've created 12 skeletonized models, all starting from scratch. Some have been decorated, some engraved, some paved, some set with diamonds. For 2021, we wanted to explore color. We started with blue or gray stainless steel, then we experimented with finishes to create a sharper, more contemporary look."

　Of course, Piaget has applied its legendary jewelry-making expertise to this new model. The Polo Skeleton High Jewelry model features a white gold case and flange set with 148 brilliant-cut diamonds and 132 baguette-cut diamonds, while the movement's core components, also crafted from gold, are adorned with 292 brilliant-cut diamonds and 11 brilliant-cut sapphires. Like the non-gemset version, this version features an off-center micro-rotor for winding the mainspring. It's powered by the Caliber 1200D1, which Piaget claims is the world's thinnest diamond-set skeleton movement. Nouri explains that this requires a high level of coordination between the creative team of designers, watchmakers, and jewelers. "The weight of the hands and indices, the complexity of the mechanism, and the weight of the stones all have an impact on the overall result. Therefore, carrying out all processes in-house allows everyone involved to work in unison."

　The high jewelry model's case is 7.99mm thick, slightly thicker than the non-gemset version, and features a rose-cut diamond set into the crown. The gray alligator strap is fitted with a white gold clasp set with six baguette-cut diamonds. A white gold bracelet is also available, paved with 184 baguette-cut and 1258 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 15.6 carats, providing an unparalleled brilliance.

　While see-through watches are often perceived as relatively modern, Nouri points out that Piaget has been perfecting the style for over 50 years, and that jazz legend (and Piaget customer) Miles Davis was a fan. "Piaget has always been ahead of its time, or out of step with its times. We have always done things that are unconventional, and we will continue to do so. See-through has always been one of the brand's style codes, along with ultra-thinness. We have blended these two codes to create watches that are both elegant and comfortable to wear." Nouri hints that even more innovative models will be released in the fall of 2021.