An exceptional timepiece: presentation of the Altiplano 60th anniversary pocket watch
The legendary extra-slim timepiece celebrates its anniversary with a touch of originality
When the Altiplano was conceived and launched in 1957, the world-record-breaking feat of
finesse revolutionized the world of watchmaking. More than a demonstration of technical virtuosity,
the Altiplano defined new rules of aesthetics and founded a style of elegant classicism
still alive sixty years later. In 2017, to mark the anniversary of this
icon of watchmaking, Piaget has added an unexpected touch to the timelessly classic line: this
extra-flat timepiece frees itself from its owner’s wrist to become a gusset watch.
Supported by a blue calf leather lace matching the dial, the limited edition
Altiplano 60th Anniversary gousset watch becomes the ideal companion for
watch collectors and contemporary dandies. Placed on a marquetry stand specially designed
for it, the legendary Altiplano is no longer a simple watch, it becomes a work of art, a
timeless expression of elegance.
Resolutely discreet but never ostentatious, the Altiplano always manages to highlight its
style. Linked to a blue calf leather lace, the gusset watch achieves a delicate balance between classic
sophistication and a touch of contemporary audacity. Returning to the codes that governed
the design of the legendary watch that made history in 1957, the Altiplano 60th Anniversary
gousset draws its inspiration from the very first Piaget extra-flat watches of the late
50s. The bewitching shade of blue of the sunray dial ranges from cobalt to midnight blue,
accompanied by simple thin hour markers and slender white gold baton hands
typical of the Altiplano collection.
To reinforce the watch’s perfect proportions, a fine
blue cross, once present in early versions of the Altiplano, gives the dial a discreet, balanced elegance.
The historic Piaget logo adorning the dial recalls the first Altiplano and the tradition of
extra-flat watchmaking developed by the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie, where each of the
pieces is designed, crafted and decorated in-house. Inside the slim case is the equally slim
caliber 1200P; the self-winding mechanical movement is just
2.35 mm thick. The sapphire case back reveals the Altiplano’s duality: pure expression
of simplicity on the outside, complex refinement on the inside. The watch’s superb finishes,
expressed by the circular Côtes de Genève, chamfered bridges, circular-grained plate and blued
screws, can be admired on the case back.
As a tribute to the Altiplano’s creativity, the pocket watch can be transformed into a
clock when placed in the center of an elegant blue marquetry display, highlighted by
thin markers. On the circular frame, the meticulously crafted straw marquetry is
the result of artistic workmanship akin to that of wood marquetry. With great artistry,
the craftsman selects the pieces of straw according to their hue, in order to respect the
contrasts, nuances and texture of the design. The purity of the dial is matched by high
precision, as each piece must be precisely adjusted to within a hundredth of a millimetre.
The Altiplano
, which holds world records for finesse with breathtaking movements, changes its appearance by adopting new materials and innovative colors, but remains
an exceptional timepiece. Limited to just 26 pieces, the new
gousset Altiplano 60th anniversary watch proves the ability of this icon to reinvent itself without ever
departing from the codes that have governed its design and taken it to the firmament of elegance over the last
sixty years.
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