Piaget

In all honesty 2016 was for me a record year in terms of incomings (and this is not always a blessing).....so perhaps the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph didn't get as much wrist time as it deserves.  

This is a bit of an issue for many watch lovers I think..but after rediscovering this watch I can only confirm my initial choice. At 8,24mm the watch is not just the thinnest flyback chronograph in the world but retains the Altiplano identity in the context of the first complication for this line.

It might seem simple but keeping a watch extremely elegant, a record breaker and functional at the same time is not an easy feat.  The second time zone at 9 o'clock is very practical and adds yet another useful function to travellers: both in form and spirit ! . 

I find the 41mm size just perfect for this watch. To some the concentration in the middle of the dial is not appealing but to me is once again the right choice that makes the time function breathe. 

Less is more and 3 hands watches (including these from Piaget) are always much appreciated in communities like ours. This said Piaget shows that less can also be more at the same time! In my view the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph retains simplicity with an important complication. 

Now the world of Chronographs is not known for worrying too much about movement thickness or total case size.  We see it even with some of the new introductions at the SIHH. Great complications but very bulky cases!

In this case the 4'65mm movement is a true innovation that nobody else in the industry is pursuing with the same vigour as Piaget.  I love the fact that the whole watch at 8.24 mm retains a certain solidity.  While I like the concept watch that Piaget just introduced at the SIHH 2018 I also think that you can't  achieve extreme thinness without sacrificing the "feel" of a fragile watch (which to some degree I experienced in the Vacheron Constantin Ultra fine 1955. Still an amazing watch that I enjoy a lot but the Piaget feels more stable without being bulky).

Now I have no disdain for thicker watches (like the IWC Big Pilot which I like in the historical and tool context of that watch) I actually really like them. But the elegance and comfort of this watch makes it really special to me. 

Pictures don't really rend justice to the charm of this piece.

The dial sunray brushing combined with the baton hands express a modern yet classical elegance.  

I think that the beauty of every "after" review is that it goes beyond the honeymoon stage and analyses a watch with a clearer mind. In my case this rediscovery was a revelation that all the elements that made this watch so special and unique to me are still very true today. I am certain that I will give to this watch a lot more wrist time in 2018. 

Thanks for reading!

Christian 

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