SimplyAbuDhabi XXXIII

1 0 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I G eorges-Edouard Piaget was making high- precision watch movements during the long winters on his Swiss farm in La Côte- aux-Fées way back in 1874. The company brand name was crucially registered in 1943 and ever since it has been synonymous with the highest standards of watchmaking and jewellery. By the late 1950s, Piaget was committed to designing and manufacturing groundbreaking ultra- thin watch movements. This pioneering spirit resulted in Piaget assuming the highest echelon in watchmaking, with multiple world records for accomplishing the near impossible in ultra-thin timepieces. These include the hand-wound calibre 9P of 1957, the self-winding calibre 12P of 1960, and the 1200P of 2010—as well as the SIHH 2018 2mm-thick Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept. For 2019, Piaget launches three new Altiplano watches—one focussing on the use of hard precious stones and meteorite, one on ultra-thin watchmaking, and the third on exceptional gem- setting. The latter is another of Maison Piaget’s areas of distinction. The painstaking and incredibly meticulous technique of gem-setting is mastered by just a handful of traditional watch manufacturers. The 36mm Altiplano High Jewellery model is a fine example of how Piaget unites the savoir-faire of watchmaking with the exquisite art of gem-setting. For the first time, this refined feminine timepiece comes set with baguette diamonds on the bezel and dial, and a sunray-brushed dial in stunning Piaget Blue. The baguette diamonds beautifully frame the Altiplano High Jewellery and mark out the dial quarters. The intense blue of the dial is distinctly Piaget, a flagship colour of the brand that has elegantly characterised the Maison throughout the decades. It’s the same rich hue that distinguished the anniversary collection of Piaget Altiplano watches that launched at SIHH two years ago. The sunray finish creates a dancing play of light and shade that catches the eye and imbues the watch with a palpable sense of magnificent quality and attraction. The Altiplano High Jewellery is limited to an edition of 88 pieces.