Every now and then, the need for an ambitious quest through time arises, where classics are revisited and triumphs recollected. Piaget’s all-new Piaget Polo 79 echoes this sentiment, serving as a faultless reissue of the original Piaget Polo which pushed the very boundaries of watchmaking. The gold-veiled timepiece became a monumental success for the Maison, making its recent recreation a task of true rigour and workmanship.
The year was 1979 when Piaget Polo entered the realm of luxury watches with a dazzling debut – while its grand appearance seemed a stark contrast to its intended purpose as the world’s “ultimate sports watch”, the same factor uplifted its significance. Though the 1970s bore witness to multiple releases of elegant sports watches, it was the Piaget Polo – worn by almost everyone from Miles Davis to Andy Warhol – that entirely refashioned this genre of watches. By blending decadence and athleticism, the Maison dreamt up a wonder piece – a sports watch as much as it was a jewellery watch, the timekeeper and bracelet was conceived as a singular whole in full gold.
The year is 2024 and the Maison of Extraleganza just commemorated its 150th year, with the near-to-exact reiteration of the legendary Polo being unveiled. The Piaget Polo 79 represents an earnest tribute to the original – retaining its hallmark design, the timepiece has now been instilled with subtle modifications to match modern fancies. The quartz calibre of the primary design has been forgone, and in its place sits the ultra-thin 1200P1 in-house self-winding calibre that merits awe when viewed through the crystal back of the upsized 38mm case.
As for the bracelet, the 18 karat gold recreation guarantees maximal flexibility with a smooth second skin-like wrap around the wrist. The Maison’s classic motif – alternating polished gadroon and brushed block links that extend from the bracelet to the case and dial – persists in the Piaget Polo 79, asserting its exquisiteness.
As expressed by Alain Borgeaud, Piaget’s director of patrimony, the Piaget Polo 79 is “a jewel which gives time.” In perfect alignment with the renaissance of vintage timepieces, Piaget’s relaunch of its iconic masterpiece proves an effortless feat. A manifestation of the Maison’s alchemy and exceptional watchmaking, the Piaget Polo 79 embodies an extravagance laced with elegance.
With a confirmed production limited to 79 pieces, the Piaget Polo 79 is now open for enquiry online.
Images by Piaget.