Luxury watchmaker Piaget has unveiled a sneak peek at the timepieces it will release at SIHH 2014. The new timepieces are the Altiplano 38mm 900P, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, and the Limelight Blooming Rose, a stunning women’s creation.
With just 40 days to go, we have exclusive photos of the timepieces Piaget will unveil at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie...
In 2014 Piaget is celebrating its 140th anniversary, and the manufacture is marking the occasion by breaking records. The Altiplano 38mm 900P is the thinnest ever mechanical watch at just 3.65mm (case + movement). The timepiece required the cooperation of the two Manufactures Piaget – one based in La Côte aux Fées, where the movements are traditionally made; and the other in Plan-les-Ouates, where the cases are crafted. The manufactures worked together to integrate the Piaget Altiplano 900P directly into the case, meaning the back also serves as the mainplate. With wheels measuring a mere 0.12 mm thin (compared with 0.20 mm on a classic movement), this 145-part hand-finished watch took a full three years to complete. To save another precious few millimetres, the entire mechanism and the hand-fitting system are contained within the thickness of the balance-wheel itself, thus entailing an off-centered display of the hours and minutes.
Meanwhile, the Limelight Blooming Rose features an invisible mechanism which enables its owner to chose between different ways of wearing. Inspired by Yves Piaget’s namesake rose, this timepiece boasts an upper case with four gem-set petals, which swivels 45° to reveal four new diamond-paved petals. In total, the Limelight Blooming Rose features 269 grain-set diamonds (2.5 carats), an 18K white gold case, a black lacquered dial and a Piaget 56P movement. A black satin strap fitted with a gem-set pin buckle completes the look.
Photo credit: Haute Time.
