Vintage examples of Piaget creativity

Dec 08, 2010,07:27 AM
 

PuristSPro is very fortunate that our friends at Piaget have provided us photos of very rarely seen vintage pieces from their own private collection.  Many of these watches are probably unfamiliar to you.  I've selected examples here of watches that really express Piaget's creativity and prowess in design and gem-setting.  Admittedly, in my opinion, some of the watches pictured below are extreme, but you cannot deny the audacity, creativity in design, and meticulous metalwork and gem-setting present on all the pieces.  Piaget's signature ultra-thinness is also apparent in each watch.

As always, I look forward to your thoughts and feedback on these vintage items.  I don't have detailed specs for each piece, but wanted to share them with you, because I think it is important to look at watches from an artistic perspective as well as a mechanical one (Not that Piaget is lacking in legitimacy on this front -- they are a true manufacture and leading light in the design/production of ultra-thin movements.).  I have tried to note the Manufacture Piaget caliber housed within the watch, if that information is available to me.  Most of the watches are powered by either caliber 9P or 4P.

Cuff watch housing the famous 9P movement decorated with lapis lazuli beads and dial.

Cuff watch housing the famous 9P movement decorated with lapis lazuli beads and dial.


Cuff watch ref. 9060 D54.

Cuff watch ref. 9060 D54.


Cuff watch ref. 908 D48.

Cuff watch ref. 908 D48.


Cuff watch ref. 9150 D83.

Cuff watch ref. 9150 D83.


Cuff watch ref. 9468 D59.

Cuff watch ref. 9468 D59.


Cuff watch powered by caliber 9P in malachite and onyx.

Cuff watch powered by caliber 9P in malachite and onyx.


Caliber 9P cuff watch with a malachite dial.

Caliber 9P cuff watch with a malachite dial.


A coral cuff watch. This watch to me, is really over the top!

A coral cuff watch. This watch to me, is really over the top!




1970 cuff watch with caliber 9P and lapis lazuli dial.

Cuff watch with rhodonite dial from 1970 (9P movement).

Cuff watch with rhodonite dial from 1970 (9P movement).


Cuff watch with tiger's eye dial housing caliber 9P from 1969.

Cuff watch with tiger's eye dial housing caliber 9P from 1969.


1970 cuff watch with turquoise and lapis lazuli (caliber 9P).

1970 cuff watch with turquoise and lapis lazuli (caliber 9P).


High jewelery watch with caliber 9P (rubies and diamonds decorate the timepiece).

High jewelery watch with caliber 9P (rubies and diamonds decorate the timepiece).


Ref. 3259 jewelry watch.

Ref. 3259 jewelry watch.


Opal dial and bracelet jewelry watch with caliber 9P.

Opal dial and bracelet jewelry watch with caliber 9P.


Jewelry watch with coral and diamonds (caliber 4P).

Jewelry watch with coral and diamonds (caliber 4P).


Jewelery watch with coral and diamonds cased in yellow and white gold (caliber 4P).

Jewelery watch with coral and diamonds cased in yellow and white gold (caliber 4P).


Jewelery watch with rubies and diamonds housing caliber 4P.

Jewelery watch with rubies and diamonds housing caliber 4P.


Jewelery watch in yellow and white gold with rubies and diamonds (caliber 4P).

Jewelery watch in yellow and white gold with rubies and diamonds (caliber 4P).


Jewelery watch with rubies housing caliber 4P.

Jewelery watch with rubies housing caliber 4P.


A super interesting 'Lingot watch' (looks like a gold ingot) powered by caliber 9P. Here the watch is in the closed position.

A super interesting 'Lingot watch' (looks like a gold ingot) powered by caliber 9P. Here the watch is in the closed position.


The same watch in the opened position. I love this inventive timepiece!

The same watch in the opened position. I love this inventive timepiece!


Ring bracelet watch with lapis lazuli dial (caliber 9P).

Ring bracelet watch with lapis lazuli dial (caliber 9P).


One of my favorite pieces, a rock crystal and emerald pockt watch. Amazing workmanship on display!

One of my favorite pieces, a rock crystal and emerald pocket watch. Amazing workmanship on display!

I hope you enjoyed this photographic exploration of some of the beautifully jeweled vintage watches from the Piaget Private Collection.  Thanks to Piaget for the photos!

Cheers,
Daos

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Comments: view entire thread

 

I have to admit...

 
 By: playtime : December 8th, 2010-09:14
I do like the marriage between high horology and gem setting...though I 'd love to see Piaget pursue more modern renditions.... Will they/have they taken that route? Jason

Piaget has certainly...

 
 By: dxboon : December 9th, 2010-08:29

Great post displaying wearable art...

 
 By: Dino944 : December 8th, 2010-13:01
Hi Daos, I've seen photos of a few of Piaget's cuff watches in the past, such as 9468D59, but you mananged to post my all time favorite ladies cuff watch which is 908 D48 white gold with lapis and malachite. To me its just such a cool design. It looks lat... 

You and I have similar tastes, Dino!

 
 By: dxboon : December 10th, 2010-06:41
I also like the rectangular watch with malachite and lapis squares a lot. It's just a beautiful, eye-catching design! The piece feels so dynamic and alive, which I attribute to the colors of the stones and the design of alternating squares. I always love ... 

What can I say great minds think alike : )

 
 By: Dino944 : December 10th, 2010-08:05
Your post was really a great display of how creative Piaget has been in integrating stones and gems into special concept pieces for many decades. As others have mentioned its a shame that most brands do not still incorporate mechanical movements into thei... 

Maybe Piaget is reading...

 
 By: dxboon : December 11th, 2010-21:43

Needs must needs be.....

 
 By: MTF : December 9th, 2010-06:41
You see? Before the advent of quartz movements, even the gems-set pieces from Piaget had mechanical movements like the ultra=thin 9P and the small diameter 4P. It can be done and show that Piaget was a movement maker first and then watch maker and then je... 

You're welcome!

 
 By: dxboon : December 10th, 2010-06:47

I hope this year Piaget...

 
 By: dxboon : December 16th, 2010-21:47

I wonder

 
 By: PiagetLove : January 26th, 2011-15:16
how I can get my hands on one of those.

:-) Call your nearest, friendly...

 
 By: dxboon : January 26th, 2011-22:35
...Piaget boutique or Authorized Dealer! Cheers, and welcome to the Piaget forum! I look forward to reading further posts from you! Daos

Thanks..

 
 By: PiagetLove : January 27th, 2011-15:08
for welcoming me here. I've been a silent reader for a long time but decided to join the place finally. I'll try to contact them and see what they say. Always been a fan of Piaget's vintage cuff watches, MUST add them to my collection.

The cuff watches from Piaget are very inventive!

 
 By: dxboon : January 28th, 2011-06:38
I'll have to see if I can dig up any more pictures for you this weekend. Cheers, Daos This message has been edited by dxboon on 2011-01-28 07:15:26

That ..

 
 By: PiagetLove : January 29th, 2011-09:25
would be great! thanks a lot!

Just a note since the cuffs in these pictures are out of production...

 
 By: dxboon : January 28th, 2011-07:14
...they might be able to point you to outside sources of where to hunt for them, but the exact cuff watches I posted are privately owned by Piaget and not for sale (as far as I know!). Cheers, Daos