Halfway through the 2018 SIHH, Elizabeth and Ian met with Marc André Deschoux of the Watches TV to discuss what we had seen so far. Find out more about trends, independents, the Urwerk AMC technology, some standout ladies’ watches, and the mood at the fair in this fast-moving and friendly discussion.
In this age of digital information, watch companies try to get ahead of the competition by releasing news on new timepieces ahead of the big watch fairs. This year is no different, and in honor of the upcoming 28th edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), which opens its doors on January 15, 2018, we present you with an overview of some of the new models that have already been revealed – at least electronically.
Dandies and Piaget have always enjoyed a natural alliance. There are several reasons for this: first and foremost, there is the brand’s decision to make only watches using precious metals; secondly, there is the decision to fit them with manufacture movements that are as small and thin as possible – something that allows nearly unprecedented freedom for the brand’s designers. Let’s have a look at some dandy Piaget models!
From a technical point of view, skeletonizing makes no sense: watchmakers go to great length to create a stable and robust movement, only to have others saw away pieces of its components. Skeletonizing is one of those instances when form takes over from function, bringing it even closer to being art.
Artistic Crafts is a Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève category for beauty; it’s as simple as that. Mastery of techniques is the only requirement, and the results are always stunning. It is also a great place to see some unique applications of skills rarely seen, allowing us to view just what artists can imagine when given such a small canvas.
Piaget’s Altiplano collection is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful contributions to horological design of the last century. Timeless refinement and unique understatement distinguish both the inside and the outside of this ultra-slim style icon. And now, as it celebrates 60 years of existence, Piaget introduces some gorgeous limited editions of its flagship.
One of the 49 brands donating watches in 2017 is Piaget, who created a very special version of its Black Tie Vintage with a brown Pietersite dial for the occasion. It is one of those watches that begs the question: is a Piaget that isn’t ultra-slim still a Piaget?
I had never really paid much attention to opals before, but upon closer inspection I realized this gemstone is extraordinary – shrouded in mystery and well worth learning more about. Looking at an opal is like looking at fireworks or even looking into a galaxy. And two Swiss watch brands specialize in using the fiery gemstone in watches: Jaquet Droz and Piaget.
The Piaget Polo S shares none of the characteristics that usuallly make the Polo a Polo. It’s almost like when Daniel Craig was introduced as James Bond: he was definitely not the usual gentleman in a suit with a sense of humor, but rather more Jason Bourne’s better dressed cousin.
Piaget celebrates the sunny days of summer with a new high jewelry and bedazzling haute horlogerie watch collection of one-of-a-kind pieces and very limited editions introduced during Paris’s Couture Week 2016.