CARACTÉRISTIQUES TECHNIQUES
Fantastic Piaget Polo model with an 18Kt yellow gold case, diamond-studded bezel, onyx and diamond dial, and a Piaget 8310P quartz movement inside, from the 1990s.
Solid 18Kt yellow gold case measuring 30.5mm
6.3mm thick
Diamond bezel
Onyx dial with diamonds
Crown with a diamond cabocon
Cristal original
Original strap
Boucle originale
Piaget 8310P quartz movement inside
ANALYSE
Piaget embodies a legacy of pioneering solutions and incomparable craftsmanship. In this realm where imagination, vibrant, bold colors, and class blend into an enduring style, each era has brought its own distinctive contribution, shaping a history that triumphed first in precision mechanics and then in the world of jewelry.
The founder, Georges-Édouard Piaget, demonstrated a precocious talent for crafting watch movements of the highest quality as early as 1874. In the heart of the 20th century, his grandsons Gerald and Valentin, heirs to an already established brand, led its geographic and visionary expansion, from their native Swiss Jura to the glamorous French Riviera.
Valentin was responsible for the inspiration that would redefine the Maison’s DNA: the ultra-thin movement. A momentous breakthrough, the foundation of all future success. In 1957, the 9P caliber made its debut, a hand-wound movement with a revolutionary thickness of just 2 millimeters. Three years later, in 1960, the answer to the passion for automatic watches was the caliber 12P: at 2.3 mm thick, it became the world’s thinnest automatic movement.
These engineering achievements not only redefined the beating heart of the timepiece, but also liberated the design of cases and dials from technical constraints, opening up unprecedented horizons for creativity. That same year, Piaget made an unequivocal choice of value, committing itself to the exclusive use of the most noble metals: platinum and gold.
At a time when many were focusing on the functionality of the sports watch, Piaget pursued an opposite strategy, building a completely autonomous supply chain of excellence. It established a gold foundry in Geneva and brought together elite craftsmen in its workshops: watchmakers, chasers, engravers, and gemologists. In this melting pot of arts, Valentin’s vision took shape: the jewelry watch. This unique identity, also confirmed by the opening of the Geneva boutique in June 1959, projected Piaget into the Olympus of the world’s finest watchmaking.
In the late 1970s, Piaget launched the “Polo” line, featuring all-gold timepieces with or without an integrated bracelet, which revitalized the luxury sports watch with an innovative design. This product line was very successful, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. This extraordinary ultra-thin watch follows suit.
The dial is made of deep, intense black onyx, illuminated by eleven diamonds marking the hours. At 12 o’clock, a large yellow gold “P” stands out, beneath which stands the Piaget signature. The hands interrupt the circular rhythm of the dial with their dauphine-shaped lugs.
The thin case, just over 6 mm thick, features beautiful fluted lugs and a very sinuous case body, making this small yet precious timepiece very elegant without being overly “baroque.” A very subtle balance that only Piaget can offer, both then and now. Adding to the aesthetic value of this jewel-like watch is the bezel, which houses a round dance made of diamonds. Every detail is meticulously crafted, even down to the crown, which is embellished with a diamond cabochon.
Under the caseback, secured to the case with four screws under the lugs, lies the in-house quartz movement: the Piaget 8310P without the date complication.
