Piaget Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art: A Triumvirate of Craftsmanship
Piaget has unveiled the limited Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art. This watch showcases the brand’s expertise in ultra-thin mechanics, gem-setting, and cloisonné enamelling. Cloisonné enameling, a centuries-old technique, involves crafting detailed designs by outlining patterns with thin metal wires or strips (cloisons, meaning “compartments” in French). These compartments are filled with colored enamel paste and fired to fuse the enamel to the surface, resulting in a vibrant, multi-colored finish with a smooth or subtly raised texture. The collaboration with renowned enamel artist Anita Porchet adds an artistic dimension to this creation, making it a true testament to horological artistry.
Case
The case of the Piaget Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art measures 40 mm in diameter and is made of white gold. It features straight diamond-set lugs and a crown adorned with a blue sapphire. Despite the intricate design elements, the case maintains an ultra-thin profile of just 7 mm, slightly thicker than the classic skeleton version. The bezel is set with a gradient of baguette-cut sapphires, transitioning from dark to light, alongside brilliant-cut diamonds on the caseback. These carefully selected stones enhance the watch’s sophistication. The caseback also reveals the intricate mechanics of the watch, offering a glimpse of the skeletonised movement and the reverse side of the enamel dial.
Dial
The dial of the Piaget Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art is a striking combination of Grand Feu cloisonné enamel and a skeletonised movement. The closed area between 1 and 9 o’clock, crafted by enamel artist Anita Porchet, features a palette of blue, green, and purple hues that flow to the edge of the bezel. This area is created using flat gold strips and multiple firings in a kiln, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship involved. The remaining space reveals the diamond-set bridges of the skeletonised movement, adding to the watch’s visual appeal. The hour and minute hands are a dark shade of blue, complementing the predominantly blue colour theme of the dial. Together, these elements create a harmonious balance between the art of enamelling and the precision of watchmaking.
Movement
At the heart of the Piaget Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art lies the ultra-thin automatic calibre 1201D1. This movement, an optimised version of the 1200D, has a thickness of just 3 mm. It features sweeping bridges of the mainplate set with diamonds and blue sapphires, carefully selected to match the gradient stones on the bezel. Despite the delicate appearance, the movement is robust , offering a power reserve of 44 hours and a frequency of 21,600 vph (3 Hz). To reduce thickness, a micro-rotor made of platinum is employed for automatic winding. The transparent caseback allows for an unobstructed view of the intricate mechanics.
Strap
The Piaget Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art comes with a dark blue alligator leather strap. The strap is equipped with a white gold folding clasp, ensuring secure wear.
Price & Availability
The Piaget Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art is a limited edition of 8 pieces. Each watch is priced at 298,000 euros. These timepieces are available through authorised Piaget retailers worldwide.
Tudor expands the Black Bay Chrono collection with a new model featuring a "Flamingo Blue" dial. This Chrono combines the brand's dive watch heritage with motorsport elements, showcasing a 41mm stainless steel case, a reliable chronograph movement, and the iconic "Snowflake" hands. The watch comes with a five-link bracelet and a tachymetric bezel, emphasizing its…
Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a new interpretation of the Master Hybris Mechanica Calibre 362. The watch comes in a five-piece limited edition with a deep midnight-blue sunray dial. The watch was first introduced in 2014 and is now being released in a new version to mark the tenth anniversary. The watch is still the thinnest minute repeater…
The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Openface combines the classic case of the Dress Watch collection with a bold openworked dial. The watch appears in white gold or red gold and offers a full calendar with moon phases. The movement can be seen through the exposed dial, which emphasises the technical feel of the watch.…
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Conquest collection, Longines is presenting the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve. The watch is based on a historic model from 1959, the ref. 9028, which integrated a power reserve indicator in the centre of the dial by means of two rotating discs. The reincarnation that just launched offers…
IWC Schaffhausen is extending its Portugieser collection by introducing the IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Automatic 40. The model bases itself on the well-known design of the Ref. 325 from the 1930s. Therefore, the small seconds are placed at 6 o'clock. Furthermore, the case is only available in 40 mm. Additionally, IWC is introducing two new 42…
The Flieger Verus is Stowa's modern interpretation of the classic pilot's watch. Now, with the Stowa Flieger Verus 40 Baumuster B, a variant with an alternative dial featuring a central hour circle is coming to the market. The design harks back to the year 1942 when the Baumuster B-style dials were put into production. Case…
Bell & Ross has always been passionate about military history; hence it is not surprising that functional instruments are mostly source of their watchmaking inspiration. This year, Bell & Ross introduces three new watches that are related to sea, air and land with different functions, colours and materials. However, they are all characterized by a…
At the watch fair SIHH in the beginning of this year, the Italian brand Panerai presented one of its most innovative new models. The Submersible BMG-TECH (Ref. PAM00799) is mainly characterized by its combination of the materials BMG-TECH and Carbotech. The case of the professional diving watch has a diameter of 47 mm. The new model’s case is entirely…
If you can't decide between white gold, yellow gold or rose gold when putting on your watch, Audemars Piguet now has an alternative for you: polychrome gold, a kind of camouflage motif made from all three precious metals. The new material will initially be presented in the form of a prototype of the Royal Oak…
The Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 is a robust sports watch that radiates a sense of adventure thanks to its GMT hand. The watch comes in five variants, differing in the dials. The choice is between black, blue, green, white and anthracite grey. The Chronomat's 40 mm steel case appears on the collection's typical rouleaux…
It is the unique design that Panerai chooses for its watches that makes this brand so special. Subtle and discreet, they do not resemble any other watch brand and are also very careful with their marketing. With its clean design, the Panerai Luminor Bitempo oozes lightness, and leans on its Italian heritage with its GMT…
The Hublot Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Cathedral Minute Repeater Ceramic combines a ceramic case with a minute repeater for the first time. Until now, it has not been possible to accommodate the complication in a case made of the extremely hard material. This was because water resistance could not be guaranteed due to the movable…
At the Maison Vacheron Constantin, the Les Cabinotiers represent a department dedicated to the personalization of pieces and unique creations. This tradition dates back to the 18th century, a time when master watchmakers were called ‘cabinotiers’ and worked in ateliers bathed in natural light, known as cabinets and located on the top floor of Geneva’s…