Swiss Watchmaking and High Jewellery Maison PIAGET has partnered with the famed Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, the world’s premier leader in the field of watch auction, for the first time to create the Altiplano Origin China Special Edition, limited to 21 pieces. As the first collector watch in the brand history, it celebrates the magnificent landscapes of the world’s highest plateau China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is also known as the “roof of the world”, with a vibrant green hue. It is the first time for PIAGET Altiplano collection to interpret the legendary Chinese plateau since its birth in 1957, making Altiplano Origin China Special Limited Edition an unprecedented classic. The design concept of this watch set off a wave as soon as it was released, and the watch numbered 00 will be auctioned by Phillips in Hong Kong on November 28th. The remaining 20 pieces will only be available exclusively for mainland Chinese collectors. PIAGET and Phillips incorporate watchmaking excellence and originality into this masterpiece, adding to the classic collection of exceptional design and value.
Celebrating Nature with Creativity
Altiplano means Plateau in Spanish, it is a region of south-eastern Peru and western Bolivia which is renowned for being very flat. PIAGET chose this name to encompass the thinness of its watches. Inspired by the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Altiplano Origin China Special Limited Edition is a microcosm of the nature with towering mountains, vast green fields, and golden-brown earth, interpreting the beauty of nature with superb watchmaking craftsmanship.
With retro green representing the verdant earth as the main hue of the watch, the dial is lacquered in three layers of green, and every single layer has a subtle gradient green tint around the edges, which replicates the beauty of different shades of colours on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, also echoing the colour of the alligator strap and celebrating the vibrant nature. Pink gold hands and indexes are matched with green dial for the first time, reminding of green mountains on the ground. This creative colour scheme makes the hands and indexes bold and eye-catching, the minimalist design outlines the brilliance of the earth, while the white gold case evokes the serenity of year-round snow-covered mountain ridges. The secret Altiplano signature at 8 o’clock on the dial tells the heritage and breakthroughs of the Altiplano collection since its launch more than half a century ago. An exquisite star in the second counter at 12 o’clock mirrors the brightest North Star in the starry night sky of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, guiding the way forward and affording a warm and reassuring feel.
Through the sapphire case-back, the sophisticated construction of the calibre is revealed. The off-centred oscillating weight in pink gold works in tandem with intricate components to play a music of time. The case-back is engraved with “PIAGET”, “PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO” and a limited-edition number, making it a collector’s item. The case of this watch is 40mm in diameter and it is powered by the 1205P calibre with 44-hour power reserve, combining outstanding performance with a gorgeous design.
Ultra-Thin and Elegance
For almost 150 years, PIAGET has left indelible prints in the history of watchmaking. The legend of Altiplano represents PIAGET’s pursuit of ultra-thin and aesthetics. In 1957, the Maison created the collection and introduced the 9P calibre, which at the time was among the thinnest hand-wound movements in existence. It was followed three years later by the 12P calibre, which instantly captured a record for being the thinnest self-winding movement ever made and rewrote the history of fine watchmaking.
During the 65 years since the Altiplano collection’s birth, the brand has never stopped pursuing quality and elegance, constantly breaking the tradition and seeking new breakthroughs with the spirit of craftsmanship. The Altiplano Origin China Special Limited Edition, created by the Maison in collaboration with Phillips, embodies the breakthrough spirit, ultra-thin savoir-faire and classic aesthetics that have always characterised the collection and given it new inspirations, continuing the lasting legend with amazing creativity. As one of the luxury brands that pioneered the Chinese market in earlier times, PIAGET once again demonstrates the deep relationship between the brand and China’s luxury market.
PIAGET CEO Benjamin Comar said, “As a watchmaker with a long and profound history, PIAGET has created many celebrated timepieces that are favoured by watch lovers and collectors around the world. Together with Phillips, we tap into the heritage of our respective fields and create this iconic watch. We believe it will become a classic with enduring charm.”
Thomas Perazzi, Head of Watches, Asia, Phillips, said: “We are very excited to announce that we are partnering with PIAGET to launch this co-signed 21-piece limited edition. This collaboration shows our mutual expertise to convey the spirit of unique creativity and continuous breakthroughs in watchmaking. As the remaining 20 pieces are only available to the mainland Chinese market, our Hong Kong auction on November 28th offers collectors around the world their only chance to acquire a watch with such special elements.”
Starting October, the Altiplano Origin China Special Limited Edition will be showcased in major cities across Asia including Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, where watch lovers from all over the world can get up close and personal with this creation. On November 28th, the auction of the model numbered 00 conducted by Phillips will take place at the JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong.
Piaget Altiplano Origin China Special Limited Edition Technical Specifications
Ref. G0A47550
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 6.36mm
- 18K white gold case
- Dial in green lacquer with pink gold-colored indexes, hands
- Piaget Manufacture ultra-thin self-winding mechanical, Small seconds at 5’, Date at 9’, Pink gold oscillating weight (1205P)
- Secret Altiplano signature at 8’, Star at 12’ in the second counter
- Sapphire case back with special engravings:
- “PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO”
- “Limited edition n°00/22”
- Power reserve: 44 hours
- Frequency: 21’600 vph / 3 Hz
- Waterproof: 3 ATM
- Green alligator strap with 18K white gold ardillon buckle
- Numbered Limited Edition of 21 pieces
ABOUT PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is the watch department at Phillips auction house, dedicated exclusively to the world’s finest collectors’ watches. Launched in November 2014 by Aurel Bacs and his partner, Livia Russo, the department was established in response to the ever-increasing need for today’s collectors to easily access scholarship, guidance and quality across the board. The team of specialists at Phillips Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service. Phillips Watches achieved a global auction sale total of $209.3 million in 2021, the most successful year for any auction house in watch auction history. Visit https://www.phillips.com/watches for further information.
ABOUT PIAGET
Piaget epitomizes daring creativity – a quality that has continued to permeate through the Maison since its beginnings in 1874. From his first workshop in La Côte-aux-Fées, Georges-Edouard Piaget devoted himself to crafting high-precision movements in a feat that formed the very foundations of our pioneering name. In the late 1950s, Piaget unveiled the ultra-thin movements that would later become Maison’s trademark and the cornerstone of the Altiplano collection. As a true innovator of the watch and jewellery world, Piaget strongly believed in creativity and artistic values. It is within the walls of our “Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire” where master artisans continue to harness rare skills that have been preserved and perfected from generation to generation, transforming gold, stones and precious gems into dazzling works of art. Through its pursuit of masterful craftsmanship, the Maison has created emblems of daring excellence channelled into its collections including Altiplano, Piaget Polo, Limelight Gala, Possession, Piaget Sunlight, Piaget Rose and Extremely Piaget.