This timepiece, Piaget Altiplano 43mm Anniversary Edition, stems from a wish to celebrate a landmark anniversary by setting a new record for slimness and combining it with exceptional reliability. With this in mind, the expertise acquired by the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget in development ultra-thin movements has enabled it to implement technical solutions consistently pushing micromechanical limits. By way of example, whereas the gear trains of a classic movement usually measure around 0.2 mm, those of the 1200P are just 0.12 mm thick, which is scarcely more than a hair’s breadth (0.08 mm). Generally speaking, the thickness of the various movement parts has been reduced to bare essentials, while nonetheless guaranteeing impeccable reliability. Among them, the automatic winding mechanism represented one of the trickiest problems to overcome. This set of parts calls for a certain volume and tends to make a movement significantly thicker. Like the 12P, the solution thus consisted in integrating it within the 1200P using the principle of an off-centred oscillating weight, also known as a micro-rotor. This oscillating weight engraved with the Piaget coat-of-arms is crafted in platinum. The use of this material gives it a weight and inertia ratio guaranteeing excellent winding force. The result is a movement that is not only the thinnest in its category currently on the market (2.35 mm), but also has a balance with low inertia (2.90 mg.cm2), a frequency of 21,600 vph and an approximately 40-hour power reserve. Loyal to its tradition of extreme quality, the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget has made a point of honour of treating its new ultra-thin calibre to exceptional finishing: in addition to the bevelled bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève, the circular-grained mainplate, the satin-brushed steel parts and the blued screws, the 1200P also features circular sunray-brushed wheels as well as a dedicated index-assembly bearing the “P” for Piaget like a secret signature.
This large movement –13 ¼ lignes, meaning 29.9 mm in diameter – driving the hour and minute functions was of course intended to equip a large-size ultra-thin watch. Altiplano, an iconic model among ultra-thin watches in general and particularly within the range produced by the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget, was thus a natural choice. Engraved with the inscription “1200P”, the case was designed well upstream in the development process so as to provide the perfect receptacle for the movement, each being specifically made for the other. The glass is deliberately flat rather than convex in order to accentuate the slimness of the case. The result is an extremely refined watch creation with tapering lugs and a hand-guilloché dial beautifully highlighted by an extremely slender bezel. The various dial levels – a clever means of further reducing the thickness of the watch while limiting hand-setting heights – and the alternation of simple and double hour-markers, along with the word “automatic” reminiscent of Piaget’s historical pieces and the discreet inscription signalling that this is an anniversary model, all contribute to the pure style and perfect balance of the overall effect. Despite its extreme slenderness, the case in 18-carat pink gold matched with a midnight blue dial, or in 18-carat white gold framing a black dial, is equipped with a transparent case-back enabling one to admire the movement and the crown bearing the “P” for Piaget. A pin buckle reflecting the aesthetic of the bezel has been specially created for this watch. Each of these references is available in a limited series of just 235, and the individual number is engraved on the oscillating weight of each movement.
Piaget Altiplano Anniversary Edition
Large model 43 mm
18-carat white gold case
Black hand-guilloché dial, silver-coloured baton hour-markers, baton hands
Manufacture Piaget 1200P ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement
Functions: Hour, minute
Movement thickness: 2.35 mm
Casing dimensions: 13 1/4 ’’’ (29.9 mm diameter)
Number of jewels: 25
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Approximately 40-hour power reserve
Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained plate, bevelled bridges , blued screws, sunray-brushed wheels, platinum oscillating weight engraved with the number of the limited edition and Piaget coat of arms
18-carat white gold pin buckle
Black alligator leather strap
Limited and numbered edition of 235
Ref. G0A35133
Piaget Altiplano Anniversary Edition
Large model 43 mm
18-carat pink gold case
Blue hand-guilloché dial, copper- coloured baton hour-markers, baton hands
Manufacture Piaget 1200P ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement
Functions: Hour, minute
Movement thickness: 2.35 mm
Casing dimensions: 13 1/4 ’’’ (29.9 mm diameter)
Number of jewels: 25
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Approximately 40-hour power reserve
Finishing circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained plate, bevelled bridges, blued screws, sunray-brushed wheels, platinum oscillating weight engraved with the number of the limited edition and Piaget coat of arms.
18-carat pink gold pin buckle
Brown alligator leather strap
Limited and numbered edition of 235
Article resource: http://www.fashionkindom.com/ SIHH 2010: Piaget Altiplano 43mm Anniversary Edition
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