Piaget has released the first images of a new timepiece that it says sets records for the world’s thinnest chronograph movement and world’s thinnest chronograph timepiece.
The Altiplano Chronograph will be shown publicly for the first time at the 25th Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, January 19 – 23 in Geneva. The luxury brand, known for its record-breaking achievements in its ultra-slim timepieces, says this is the first ultra-thin, hand-wound chronograph for Piaget in its ultra-thin Altiplano collection and the first one with a major complication.
The in-house 883P handwound chronograph caliber set a double slimness record for its 4.65 mm hand-wound flyback chronograph movement, and for its 8.24 mm case, the company said. This achievement was the result of two years of development at Piaget’s La Côte-aux-Fées, Switzerland, manufacturing facility.
The collection of ultra-thin parts to create the timepiece includes the cannon-pinion (0.12 mm), the barrel staff (0.115 mm) and the chronograph gear finger (0.06mm). The watch has a 50-hour power reserve. It displays hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock, along with a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a 24-hour dual-time indication at 9 o’clock. Its flyback function serves to reset the chronograph hands to zero simply by pressing them and then automatically restarting a new timing cycle. In addition, the chronograph is controlled by a column-wheel responsible for coordinating its phases, and by a vertical coupling-clutch system ensuring precision. This movement, visible through the transparent case-back, has a circular Côtes de Genève stripe decoration, a circular-grained mainplate, beveled bridges, sunburst wheels and blue screws.
The dial features a sunburst satin-brushed finish, slender baton-type hands, and slim alternating single and double hour-markers. The chronograph counters are not hollowed as is usually the case, but appear on the same level as the rest of the dial. The elongated chronograph pushers blend into the curves of a streamlined ultra-thin 41 mm diameter case. It is complemented with an alligator leather strap fitted with a pin buckle. The watch is available in pink gold or white gold set with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 1.8 carats).
This timepiece is the latest representation of Piaget’s expertise in ultra-thin watches that dates back to 1957. The company has created 25 ultra-thin movements that hold 14 world records for their thinness.
Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.