The eternal question: yellow gold or white gold? Well, why not both? Piaget’s latest take on the Polo 79 hits hard with a striking new case construction!
Out of all the brands within the Richemont Group’s wingspan, perhaps the most underrated is Piaget. It’s not through any fault of its quality, thankfully, but when you’re sharing space between powerhouses like A. Lange & Söhne, Cartier and Vacheron Constantin, it can be challenging to stand out.
Amid the star-studded humdrum, though, Piaget has been carving out its own niche. Through the resurrection of its classic designs, the brand has begun turning a new leaf, making its horological aesthetic both fun and recognisable. The two collections championing this chapter, the Andy Warhol and the Polo, have already attained a large amount of global acclaim.
For the latter, the buzz came from Piaget’s decision to re-master the 1979 Polo line, aptly named the Polo 79. Available in 18k yellow or white gold cases, it combines modern Piaget’s mechanical chops with the retro cool factor of the original model. This year, it seems only fitting that Piaget doubles down on the distinctive looks of the collection.
How, you ask? By releasing a two-tone version of the watch, of course. As pretty as it is polarising, the two-tone configuration is as hot as it is hotly contested. Forever an icon of the neo-vintage era of watchmaking, it exudes an old-world vibe without constraint or apology. Thus, it’s a perfect fit for the delightfully anachronistic Polo 79.
You must have known, though, that Piaget was going to do it its own way. Measuring the same 38mm wide, 51mm lug-to-lug and 7.45mm thick case, the Piaget Polo 79 Two-Tone preserves the sleek profile of its peers while maximising its highly unconventional looks. Crafted predominantly from 18k brushed white gold, the case is punctuated by polished yellow gold gadroons. Starkly contrasting one another, the finish and lustre of the case are unlike anything else in the industry, including the rest of the Polo 79 model line.
The gadrooned pattern not only persists throughout the case, but continues along the integrated bracelet and the dial. Alternating finishes between the yellow and white gold create a hypnotic layout that still manages to stay legible thanks to the yellow gold dauphine hands. Though yellow gold exists dial-side, the white gold stripes ensure the hands do not get lost amid the ostentatious yet elegant frame.
As with the rest of the collection, the Piaget Polo 79 is powered by the in-house Calibre 1200P1. Beating at 3Hz (21,600vph) with a 44-hour power reserve, it’s a highly capable and visually striking movement, though it is perhaps dwarfed by the extravagant design. Ultra-thin thanks to the use of a micro-rotor, it underscores Piaget’s historic speciality in movement thinness. The brand has held the record for the world’s thinnest watch before, and the Calibre 1200P1 stands as its own nod to that remarkable feat.
Final Thoughts
As much as I believe there is a certain vintage fatigue in the watchmaking world, there are some designs I will always be a sucker for. To stand out among the throng of vintage revivals, the design has to be unique enough to justify its resurrection. No more faux-tina pilot’s watches or heritage skin-divers are needed in the modern world. Fun, funky designs from days gone by, though, are certainly welcome.
That’s exactly what the Polo 79 is: a fun, funky design that puts the capital E in extravagance and elegance. It’s what Piaget calls Extraleganza, and it shows. The new Polo 79 Two-Tone doesn’t just take the old formula and run with it. Instead, it doubles down and hands it to the person who knows its design is worth its weight in gold.
Reference: G0A51150
Specifications
- Dimensions: 38mm case diameter x 51mm length x 7.45m thickness
- Case Material: 18k alternating white gold & yellow gold gadroons
- Dial: 18k alternating white gold & yellow gold gadroons
- Movement: Automatic Cal. 1200P1 with micro-rotor
- Power Reserve: 44h
- Beat Rate: 3Hz (21,600VpH)
- Water Resistance: 50m (5bar)
- Strap: 18k alternating white gold & yellow gold gadroon bracelet with butterfly clasp