Watches And Wonders 2024: Piaget Strikes The Perfect Balance Between The Old And New With The Polo

It is very rare to see an icon undergo a transformation. After all, it has been named an icon for its enduring qualities, hasn’t it? In the pivotal year of 1979, Piaget created history when it turned the entire watchmaking world on its head. When the sport-chic era was in full swing, at a time when integrated steel bracelets reigned supreme, Yes Piaget took a gamble by launching a versatile watch that was both sophisticated and timeless which embodied the Maison’s core values. Thus was born the Piaget Polo. This was the beginning of a new era in watchmaking where casual chic seamlessly blended with historic finery. And today, after almost 45 years, Piaget reimagines this legendary timepiece and showcases its offering at Watches and Wonders 2024. 

Not Just A Wristwatch, But A Watch Bracelet 
To fully understand the stature and significance of this icon, we must travel back to the 70s. Prior to the 1970s, a wristwatch was strictly utility based. However, in the early 70’s sporty timepieces began entering the marketplace. Several Maisons began releasing famed timepieces that went on to become cultural icons in their own right. However, it was Piaget that broke all boundaries when it came to the marriage between form and function. Stamping an ultimate evolution of the integrated bracelet genre is the Piaget Polo of 1979. Even in a pool of icons, the Polo, constructed entirely out of 18-carat gold, stood out as boldly flamboyant. Staying true to the advertising campaigns of the time that celebrated “Piaget time... measured only in gold”, this watch came to be defined by its sculpted lines, crafted from the noblest of materials, simply decorated with gadroons shining on the bracelet and the dial.

Earlier this year, in order to mark the Maison’s 150th anniversary, Piaget re-introduced the emblematic Piaget Polo. The round 38 mm version of the watch was revisited and renamed Piaget Polo 79. And now at Watches and Wonders 2024, the brand launches a charming duo of limited edition timepieces in 42mm as well as 36 mm variants. This nude-coloured set is a His and Hers offering, so beloved by Yves Piaget himself, thus making it inclusive, stylish and sporty chic. Both variants feature a rubber strap and will be produced in rare quantities of 300 pieces each. 

Thinking Outside The Box
The 42 mm timepiece is complete with a brown strap, while the 36 mm version with a beige strap, set with 91 brilliant-cut diamonds. These two watches serve to bridge the gap between the very first model in the Piaget Polo collection and the recent success of the Piaget Polo Date with a rubber strap. In fact, this is the first time the 36 mm version has appeared with a rubber strap, having previously only been available with a metal bracelet or a leather strap. Despite having resolute aesthetic design codes, the Polo is surprisingly versatile. Calling upon the brand’s inherent sense of daring creativity, Piaget has reworked the timepieces to appeal to both men and women. 
 

When it comes to the inner workings of the timepiece, the 42 mm is powered by the Manufacture self-winding mechanical movement 1110P and the 36 mm by the 500P1 movement. Both watches elegantly display the same stunning play of materials as their ancestor giving it a robust sense of reliability and precision. These two versions of the Piaget Polo, a watch resolutely of its time, differ in the colour of their straps, their sizes and their gem settings, yet feature the same hands. On both models, rose gold-coloured hands brighten the steel case, with the second hand bearing the inscription “150”. This detail adds unique charm to this watch, truly a collector’s edition.