Showing posts with label Piaget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Piaget. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Piaget's Millionth Watch: Piaget Emperador Full-Set Coussin Perpetual Calendar

Its certainly an awe inspiring feat to deliver the one millionth watch baring the mark of the manufacturer - Piaget. More so since Piaget is not known for prolific mass market watch production, but rather painstakingly meticulous craftsmanship creating mechanical masterpieces of exceptional quality and extreme precision, not to mention the combination of intriguing complications and dazzling diamond displays.

The Piaget Emperador Full-Set Coussin Perpetual Calendar does great tribute to the Piaget legacy which began in simple settings. In 1874 Georges- Edouard Piaget set up his workshop on his families farm in La Côte-aux-Fées, a small town nestled in Jura mountains of Switzerland. He devoted himself to making fine mechanical clock movements for renowned watch manufacturers. It was not long before it became apparent that his craftsmanship surpassed that of other watchmakers of that time, and orders came pouring in. In 1911, his son, Timothee Piaget took over the family business with the same fortitude and success. In 1943, the Piaget brand was created. The brand was an instant hit and people from all over wanted a Piaget timepiece. Piaget strove for perfection, and when perfection was reached, strove for perfection in areas where perfection was almost ,but not quite, impossible. For example, in the late 1950's and 1960's Piaget created exceptional ultra-thin mechanical movements , such as the Caliber 12p movement. Just 2.3mm thick, this watch achieved the feat of being the slimmest self-winding movement in the world, since the rotor itself usually increases thickness.

In 1957, Piaget's iconic watch collection was unveiled - the Emperador. Piaget's one millionth watch stems from this collection. Only 20 such watches shall be released in 2010, heightening the collectibility. Incorporated in the mechanical movement is a perpetual calender - a watch complication accounting for leap years until the year 2100. A 5.66 mm thick, in-house automatic, mechanical, Calibre 856P movement beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour. Other iconic Piaget features include circular-grained and bevelled mainplate and bridges; hand-draw flanks, accented with blued screws and circular Côtes de Genève.

Yet it is the dazzling exterior of the watch that will catch the eye of watch collector and novice alike. 60 baguette-cut diamonds set on the bezel exquisitely frames the dial. The dial is a vision unto itself baring no less than 263 diamonds, 12 elegant dial markers and five sub dials. An hour and minute hand sweep across the dial while a sub dial placed at the 4 'o'clock position marks the seconds. The sub dial at the 12 'o'clock position reflects the intricate inner workings of the perpetual calender with the display of months and leap year as well as a unique date display at the 3'o'clock position overlapping the second sub dial. A retrograde day of the week display occupies the area between the 9 and 10 'o'clock. A final sub dial boasts a dual time zone two hands display: one hand for the second time and one hand to indicate the day and night. The final sub dial is quite a distinct feature on a perpetual calender timepiece. Turn the watch over and an exquisite surprise meets the eye. The jeweler not wanting to be limited to the dial and bezel has added 25 diamonds on the oscillating weight completely discernible via the clear case back.

Piaget's Millionth watch incorporates the exceptional craftsmanship of the company and honors its legacy.
Alas, as I mentioned only 20 pieces will be released; however, you can still wear a high-end genuine Piaget timepiece on your wrist. THE WATCHERY has a large selection of Piaget luxury timepieces for reduced prices, some slashed as much as 50% off the list price.
Wear a Piaget timepiece on your wrist and let it be known that your Piaget watch is one in a million.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Piaget and Vacheron Constantin Opts for Ultra Slim.


Vacheron Constantin, a prestigious watch company, brings back its thinnest watches, and they are not alone, Piaget will be also be unveiling its ultra thin timepiece at the SIHH 2010.
Does this mean thin is back in?
Thin was all the rage back in the 1950's and 1960's where thin meant exceptionally refined craftsmanship where precise mechanical craftsmanship was able to operate to perfection in an extremely confined space. In 1955 Vacheron Constantin unveiled its ultra thin timepiece - 120 parts within a watch case as thin as a coin making this watch the thinnest watch in the world. The hand wound mechanical watch requiring expertise beyond the norm. In 1968 Vacheron Constantin unveiled another ultra- fine model.
Today Vacheron Constantin has revived its quest for slimness. The result is two remarkable creations inspired by its earlier collections.
The Historique Ultra-fine 1955 timepiece is the worlds thinnest hand wound watch to date. Measuring in at just 4.10mm thick, this watch is powered by a slim 1.64 mm mechanical hand wound 1003 movement. The watch will be unveiled for its 55th anniversary and will be available in 18 carat gold emblazoned with the Hallmark of Geneva.
The Historique Ultra- fine 1968 will return with an ultra-thin mechanical self-winding 1120 with decorated oscillating weight and baring the Hallmark of Geneva.At SIHH Piaget will unveil its ultra-thin Piaget Altiplano celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 1960 Calibre 12P, the thinnest automatic mechanical movement of its time. Piaget will present the self-winding Calibre 1208P, an historic milestone in itself. At a mere 2.35mm, the Calibre 1208P is the thinnest self-winding movement available today.
The Piaget Atiplano will encase the Calibre 1208P in its new 43mm case size, and measuring in at 5.25mm thick, the Atilplano will break a record as being the thinnest watch in its category.

It seems over the last century Vacheron Constantin and Piaget have done a bit of competing in regard to ultra-thin movements. In 1955 Vacheron Constantin boasts the ultra-thin movement only to be broken two years later by Piaget's 2 mm thick hand-wound movement thus keeping up the constant strive for excellence.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewerly Company


This Ralph Lauren watch with the gold stirrup shaped bezel is causing quite a stir among watch enthusiasts. They are eagerly anticipating the arrival of this watch in May 2009. The watches were first unveiled at SIHH in January 2009. This watch is part of a new watch collection carrying the iconic brand name of Ralph Lauren.

This watch is the offspring of a brand new company "Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewerly Company", formed in September 2008, and based in Geneva Switzerland. This company is the partnership between two leading companies, Polo Ralph Lauren and Richemont Group. This new company will design, develop, manufacture and distribute luxury watches and fine jewelry. For both companies this venture is a first. This is Richemont's first such venture with a luxury fashion designer and its Polo Ralph Lauren first venture into the luxury watch and jewelry business.

Ralph Lauren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation said, “I have waited a long time to create and introduce timepieces that I feel exemplify the ultimate in luxury and quality. Richemont shares that understanding and has the global reputation and experience to fulfill these shared goals. I have the highest confidence that this unique partnership will be tremendously successful and an important part of our global luxury accessories strategy.”

Johann Rupert, Executive Chairman of Richemont, said, “I have long admired Ralph Lauren. His impeccable taste, style and attention to detail are unique. These factors, combined with Richemont’s expertise in jewelry and watches has led to a fascinating business venture. Jointly, we aim to create a new luxury business, which I am confident will develop into a world leader. This is an exciting partnership and I am very happy to work with Ralph Lauren on this project. I am very enthusiastic about the timepieces we will be unveiling at SIHH 2009.”

Many people people are speculative about forming a new luxury company in times of economic uncertainty, but the overwhelming enthusiasm to the new watch collection displays positive signs for the future of the "Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry Company". It is pleasing to see growth and creativity.

Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international brands. Each brand is managed independently of one another, thus maintaining the unique quality and creativity. Richemont has five distinct areas of operation:

1)High end Jewelry Companies (which also sell watches): Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.

2)High end watchmakers: Jaeger LeCoultre, Piaget, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, Panerai, A Lange & Sohne & Roger Dubois.

3)High end writing instruments: Montblanc and Montegrappa

4)High end leather and accessories: Alfred Dunhill and Lancel

5)Other businesses: Chloe and 19.5% interest in British American Tobacco.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Star studded Piaget gets sporty!

Piaget has manufactured breathtaking watches that glint with glitz and glamor, but that did not stop them from creating a unmistakable sporty watch. The sportiest watch Piaget has ever manufactured to date. The Piaget Polo 45 Flyback Chronograph Watch.



The Piaget Polo 45 Flyback Chronograph is part of Paiget iconic & timeless Polo Collection, launched in 1979. This watch shakes off the pink gold from which its more formal counterpart - the Piaget Polo Chronograph GOA 32029 -is crafted. The new adrenalin charged model is manufactured from super resilient titanium as well as steel.
The strap is rubber for a secure comfortable fit in times of strenuous activity, and if the activity happens to be near water, the Piaget Polo 45 is water resistant to 100 meters. Its movement is the Piaget 880P self winding chronograph movement, Piaget's first chronograph movement. The movement was born out of exceptional watchmaking experience. This watchmaking marvel is equipped with a 30 minute fly back chronograph. This movement is quite useful as you do not need to stop it to be reset. In addition, a clearly labeled second time zone sub dial ,beneath the 9 o' clock position, indicates the time in 24 hour time. In this sporty edition the sub dials are clearly labeled.
For long arduous journeys of endurance, this watch is crafted with two barrels providing 52 hours of power reserve.

With the introduction of this watch, Piaget has taken a giant leap into the World of Luxury Sports Watches.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Rihanna "Takes a bow" with Piaget


Rihanna's video "Take A Bow" is continuing to gain international success. I just watched her song on YOU TUBE and to date the video has been viewed an amazing 14 million times. 14 million times. The music video does not begin with Riyanna's face but Riyanna's watch - a Piaget Polo 18 carat gold watch. A couple minutes into the video Riyanna looks at her Piaget watch, and sings "Now its time to go." The crystal clear image of the Piaget's watch fills up the screen for a good three seconds - an eternity in music videos.
Piaget's gold watch makes its mark in this video in what ,I think, is a very clever and striking marketing campaign by Piaget.