Leveraging their extensive heritage in ultra-thin watchmaking, Piaget has unveiled two new contemporary takes on their Altiplano 38mm line.
Piaget’s legacy might not be as well-known as other brands within the watch world, but it’s one that still has its own share of illustrious achievements. Part of that legacy is the brand’s dedication to ultra-thin watchmaking, long before brands like Bvlgari or master craftsmen like Konstantin Chaykin entered the game.
Piaget was the master of creating masterfully thin timepieces. This legacy most often manifested in the Altiplano line, a collection of dress watches that championed their remarkably slim profiles. Taking inspiration from the flat, high-altitude plateau of the Altiplano in South America, the sheer thinness of the watch mimics the vast plains from which it gets its name. This year, they’ve released two new 38mm interpretations of the Altiplano Origin, further indicating their gradual shift back towards the cues that built up their brand identity.
Wafer Watch
The new Piaget Altiplano Origin 38 watches measure an unsurprising 38mm in case diameter. From an initial glance, they might seem like your average dress watch, but the incredible 6mm case thickness immediately dissuades that notion. It’s not lacking in wrist presence, however, as the available case selections of 18k white and rose gold prevent the watch from getting entirely forgotten about on the wrist.
A large polished bezel encircles the dial, while the case itself leads outwards to the lugs of the watch. The lugs might seem utterly boring from the front, however, as soon as you get a glimpse of ’em from the side, you’ll see they’re truly shapely.
What’s even more interesting to me is the straps that Piaget have elected to add here. Both Altiplano Origin 38 models use a woven leather strap that comes in either green or blue, depending on the case material. I like this choice in lieu of, say, the classic alligator leather. It mixes things up from the traditional materials, and makes it far more interesting to wear and look at on the wrist.
Furthermore, the added ventilation the watch to be worn in everyday situations, but with 30m water resistance, it’s likely to remain few and far between in a collection. Overall, it’s not much to talk about on paper, but a minimalist design like this has always been more about the experiential than the conversational.
Slim Pickings
From the dial side, the Piaget Altiplano remains as reserved as its case. Yet, there are still subtle touches and details that can be found throughout. The backdrop is an elegant sunray-brushed silver, punctuated by the warmth of rose gold baton hands and applied tick indexes. Double-stick indexes populate the two, four, six, eight, ten and 12 o’clock areas, which is an unusual yet unique choice in place of the usual quarter-hour markers.
Another point of visual intrigue is the placement of the Altiplano name, just beneath the eight o’clock mark. It’s a fun addition that I’m sure hearkens back to a major heritage achievement of Piaget’s, but even after tireless research as to why, I’m afraid any historical reference may be lost on me. However, what wasn’t lost on me was what remained at six o’clock: the Piaget coat of arms.
Initially a marker of the Piaget family’s Calvinist discipline and Swiss heritage, each of its symbols is a key that references the brand’s story. Swiss crosses, French fleurs-de-lis and pyramids evoking the mountainous Alpine border all make their appearance, crowned with the iconic ‘P’ of Piaget. The global hallmark of the brand’s luxury heritage, it’s evolved beyond its traditional heraldry into one that distinguishes Piaget’s esteemed reputation in the watch world.
Lean, Mean, Mechanical Machine
But truly, such a reputation wasn’t just made from making watches that were thin, but more so from how this achievement was executed. Turning the watch around, you’ll have the answer in the form of the Cal. 430P, an ancestor of Piaget’s seminal Cal. 9P.
Beating at 3Hz (21,600VpH) atop a 40-hour power reserve, the manually wound movement is a wonder even without the watch. But where is it, you might be asking? Well, you’re looking at it. The closed caseback of the Altiplano Origin 38 isn’t a caseback at all. Instead, Piaget have used the baseplate of the movement as the caseback for the watch.
It’s an ingenious innovation that allows the watch to save even more space, further maintaining Piaget’s reputation as a master of all things ultra-thin. While you can’t see it in the watch, rest assured that the finishing is high quality and classic, featuring circular graining on the main plate, circular Côtes de Genève (Geneva striping) on the bevelled bridges, and heat-blued screws.
Initial Thoughts
Ultra-thin watchmaking might seem like one of the most superfluous achievements to pursue, but in reality, it shows what kind of calibre you expect your watchmakers to be. That’s why brands like Bvlgari and Piaget continue to hone their skills in the arena. It’s not just about corporate bragging rights, but a demonstration of skill and technical know-how from a brand that is near-impossible to replicate.
Piaget’s Altiplano Origin 38 might not be the thinnest watches in the world anymore, but they are still indicative of the brand’s consistent nature in chasing this incredible achievement. Though the watches might be thin and delicate, the legacy they leave behind is solid, and Piaget’s watchmakers, craftsmen and heritage have been built on watches exactly like these.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | G0A51500 (Rose gold) G0A51501 (White gold) |
| Dimensions | 38mm case diameter x 6mm thickness |
| Case | 18k rose gold 18k white gold |
| Dial | Sunray-brushed white with rose gold accents |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Closed, engraved |
| Movement | Manual wind Cal. 430P |
| Power Reserve | 40h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 30m / 3bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Woven green calfskin leather strap with rose gold pin buckle Woven blue calfskin leather strap with white gold pin buckle |