Piaget have collaborated with watch platform Wristcheck, creating a new version of their ultra-thin Altiplano Ultimate Automatic.
A prestigious player within the horological and jewellery industries, Piaget has built a reputation for its distinctive take on contemporary watch design. Its most famous claim to fame, however, lies in its mastery of ultra-thin watchmaking. Since 1957, Piaget has been known for creating some of the thinnest movements in the world.
When I started my career in the watch world, Piaget was one of the first luxury watch brands to catch my attention. I knew very little about them at the time, but as I learned more, they became too compelling to ignore.
It seems I wasn’t alone in this fascination, as Austen Chu and Sean Wong from Hong Kong watch marketplace Wristcheck have also caught the bug. In a bid to continue pushing boundaries, Piaget has chosen to collaborate with Wristcheck to unveil a limited-edition version of its famous Altiplano Ultimate Automatic.
Wrist: Check
Housed in a 41mm 18k white gold case, the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Automatic’s claim to fame is its astonishing 4.3mm thickness. Conceived in 2017 and awarded the Mechanical Exception Prize at the 2021 GPHG Awards, it remains one of the most technically impressive automatic timepieces currently in production. To achieve such remarkable thinness, the case construction has been completely re-engineered.
Unlike standard watches that house the movement and dial within a traditional case structure, Piaget has merged all three into a single integrated entity. While this does reduce water resistance to a delicate 20 metres, Piaget has ingeniously removed many of the structural layers typically found in a watch while still maintaining full functionality. Selected by Wristcheck, the watch is completed with a rich blue pebbled calfskin strap.
Not only does it add a touch of elegance and comfort, but the contrasting blue tones further reinforce the Wristcheck colour scheme. Sitting low and elegantly on the wrist, as you would expect from an ultra-thin watch, the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic expresses its technical prowess without being overshadowed by the collaboration.
Blue & Sentimental
For those familiar with the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic, Piaget hasn’t changed much on the dial side. The Wristcheck blue returns atop the off-centre dial, set against the wild architecture of the movement. Toned in light blue, the offset dial contrasts with the openworked nature of the rest of the watch. Blue accents appear throughout, including the blued hands, screws, and peripheral rotor.
These details create visual contrast against the monochromatic white gold and grey tones of the movement while guiding the eye across its layered construction. The motion of the peripheral rotor, along with the exposed escapement, adds a sense of dynamism with every movement of the wrist. I particularly appreciate how restrained this collaboration is; rather than drawing attention to itself, Piaget and Wristcheck allow the movement to take centre stage, with their signature touches applied more subtly.
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
But the credit for the watch’s thinness must go where it is due. For the Altiplano Ultimate Automatic, that is the Calibre 910P, a remarkable automatic movement beating at 3Hz (21,600 vph) with a 50-hour power reserve.
It is a comfortable specification for something so thin, but what makes the movement so fascinating are the innovations required to achieve its ultra-thin profile. The merging of dial, movement, and case into a single layer ensures the Cal. 910P remains as reliable as ever, while the use of a peripheral rotor is nothing short of inspired.
A rarity in watchmaking, the peripheral rotor winds the mainspring by rotating around the movement on a set of ceramic ball bearings. Hidden within are the outer teeth of the ring, which engage with Piaget’s gear train to wind the watch.
Not only does this contribute to an even thinner profile, but it also allows for an unobstructed view of the movement from the front. You won’t see it from the caseback, however, as the caseback, which also serves as the mainplate, has instead been engraved with the joint logos of Piaget and Wristcheck.
Initial Thoughts
Pre-owned and grey market dealers have historically been a major turn-off for most luxury brands. For years, watchmakers have attempted to distance themselves from companies like Wristcheck and others in order to preserve their image.
However, Piaget does not appear to see it this way, instead viewing it as an opportunity to further integrate itself within the collector community. Rather than turning away from Wristcheck, it has moved towards them in a collaboration that feels more progressive than most.
You can tell that luxury brands have been shifting their stance for some time; certified pre-owned programmes are becoming the norm as the watch industry attempts to capture that revenue stream for itself.
Yet Piaget has gone directly to a successful platform in Wristcheck, making a statement that innovation can come from anywhere, especially from the communities some brands have long struggled to fully embrace.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | G0A51127 |
| Dimensions | 41mm case diameter x 4.2mm thickness |
| Case | 18k white gold |
| Dial | Openworked with blue accents |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Closed, Engraved |
| Movement | Ultra-thin peripheral rotor automatic Cal. 910P |
| Power Reserve | 50h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 20m / 2bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Blue calfskin strap with white gold pin buckle |