Famed for its extravagant and elegant high jewellery creations (hence the nickname, “Maison of Extraleganza”), Piaget is taking a leaf out of the hi-tech playbook – with its very first foray into the world of ceramic watchmaking.
The brand has debuted its Polo Skeleton Ceramic: a fitting launch for the forward-looking Swiss Maison, who celebrate 150 years of extraordinary craftsmanship in 2024.
This ceramic vision of the Polo Skeleton offers the same technical prowess and ease-of-wear collectors can expect in any of Piaget’s signature Polos. But, just as the original Piaget Polo, first released in 1979, was the embodiment of ‘70s era glamour; this ceramic skeleton speaks to a new generation of highflyers – and all the highly active, visually discreet ways in which they seem to enjoy watches.
RELATED: With The Polo 79, Piaget’s Jetset Sports Watch Gets A Mighty Makeover
Working in a similar creative mode to the Polo Skeleton, this ceramic release combines Piaget’s core specialties – glam design and ultra-thin watchmaking – with all the advantages of ceramic. A material that has had a serious renaissance in the luxury watch industry over the past decade, we’re relieved that Piaget is now making timepieces in the stuff.
Superior in hardness to both gold and steel, watch-grade ceramic has the knock-on advantage of being lightweight – a quality that Piaget has capitalised on with this new Polo Skeleton.
In order to align the watch’s size and form factor to existing skeletonised models as closely as possible, Piaget’s designers worked for three years on this Polo’s construction. A titanium “container” that is DLC-coated, houses the watch’s two-part case – in addition to the fully ceramic crown and bezel.
This unwavering attention to detail, on the part of Piaget’s designers, means that despite the introduction of a completely new material, the form factor of these ceramic Polos is comfortably in line with what has come before. At 42mm x 7.5mm, the new case is a mere millimetre thicker than that of the stainless steel Polo Skeleton (read our review – in green – here).
As it turns out, these dimensions are in keeping with Piaget’s desire for a “sophisticated watch [made] for everyday wear – and a design of effortless distinction”.
Equally, those merits of wearability and sophistication are enhanced by the ceramic Polo’s calibre 1200S1 movement. Having made its debut alongside the first Polo Skeleton three years ago, this automatic and open-worked engine is still a relatively new addition to the Piaget stable.
Decorated here with striking gunmetal grey bridgework, the only colourful accents – very deliberately chosen, we might add – are set in the watch’s SuperLumiNova® hands and indexes. As a final flourish, the micro-rotor which powers the 1200S1 is also decorated using luminescent material, and sits on the same plane as the movement’s gearing.
With an aesthetic that’s otherwise 99% stealthy, the introduction of a glow-in-the-dark ‘Piaget’ signature feels like a bit of rollicking fun. And that’s just as well. Because elegance without extravagance would be so much more boring.
Find the Piaget Ceramic Polo Skeleton at Chadstone Shop G477 Melbourne, 6/84 King St Sydney and Westfield L4, Shop 4302 Sydney.
This article is sponsored by Piaget. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
