During the summer, Piaget reopened its Boutique located Place Vendôme after several months of work. If you remember well, I presented you the Geneva boutique which was one of the first decorated with the new Piaget architectural style. Obviously, the Place Vendôme Boutique follows the same decoration concept defined by Christine Querlioz. And once again, it works very well!
I know very well the Boutique since I have spent a lot of time inside. If I recognize the shape of the Boutique (it is difficult to move the walls...), all its lay-out was redesigned to make it more open, more comfortable for the clients and visitors. We find again the contrast between the materials, the black, light brown and white elements, the soft lights. The objective was to make the place more elegant, sober and quiet at the same time. There isn't any aggressive luxury display and at the end, you only feel the refined atmosphere faithful to the Piaget image. The goal is achieved since I really felt the difference when I visited the Boutique a few weeks ago.
The Paris Boutique is located Place Vendôme in a superb XVIIIth century building, the Hôtel Moufle aka the Hôtel de Serres:
Inside the Boutique with the main displays:
The Boutique is well illuminated thanks to numerous soft lights:
One of the selling tables:
A quiet and classy atmosphere:
The micro-rotor movement is highlighted thanks to this frame:
Some refined details:
I propose you to have a closer look on several watches I had the chance to handle during my visit.
Let's start with this Altiplano Ideogram. The chinese characters means "Dragon".
It is a watch I like because, despite the presence of diamonds on the dial and on the bezel, the whole watch remains very sober.
The ideogram is very well made mixing engraving and gems set parts. The thin and discreet Altiplano hands are perfect in this context since they don't hide the chinese characters.
The case diameter is 38mm. The watch is not a LE what I thought at first.
We leave the Altiplano collection with this Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar.
The greatest asset of this watch is the original dial lay-out which allows to gather a lot of data and to remain legible.
Don't forget that this watch is not only a PC. It also features a second timezone display!
I like this concept. If you travel, you don't need to change the time setting of your watch thanks to the use of the second timezone display. It is a very useful complication in the context of a PC watch.
The case is large with a 46,5mm diameter. But thanks to the short lugs, the watch is not that big on the wrist.
I appreciate the retrograde displays of the days of the week and of the date. To be frank with you, the date is a bit difficult to read (27th) but any other function is clearly displayed. However, I would have used a different colour for the night/day display of the second timezone. It is a bit confusing.
The sensual shape of the Emperador Coussin case:
The watch has a strong presence on the wrist. The slate dial is superb and combines perfectly with the case colour.
Black Tie again... with the Gouverneur Flying Tourbillon.
You know the question with any Gouverneur watch... is it an oval or round case? This question symbolizes the fact that the case design is subtle and complex.
I'm happy to see again the flying Tourbillon by Piaget... it is one of the specialities of the Manufacture. The movement used in this Gouverneur is the 642P. But what is the difference when compared with the 600P?
Look at the lower part of the dial and you will see a moonphase display. So here it is.
By the way, I find this display very nicely done and it is a very good way to insert this complication inside a dress watch dial. There are a lot of circles on the dial and this circular atmosphere is one of the explanations of the appealing power of the Gouverneur.
I also like the idea to combine a very visual and always moving complication (Tourbillon) with an almost static one (moonphase display).
The case is again quite large (43mm) but it allows to make the dial "breathe". This watch has a very pure design and it is maybe my fav inside the Gouverneur line. And of course... we have the pleasure to observe the hypnotizing flying Tourbillon which makes us forget the time display!
Back to the Altiplano collection with the 2013 Piaget star!!!
This is a very important watch for Piaget.
The reasons are obvious: the micro-rotor movement comes back in a more reasonable case diameter (40mm) and this Altiplano is the first one which features an additional complication.
I was a bit afraid at the beginning when I learnt that the new Altiplano was offering a date display. But I have to confess that I find it well integrated on the dial thanks to the nice date window and its original location at 9 o'clock.
The beauty of the 1205P micro-rotor movement (picture taken at the SIHH):
The 1205P is the thinnest automatic movement with date (3mm).
I find the 40mm perfect for my wrist. I like the unusual dial lay-out with the off-centered second hand and the date at 9 o'clock:
I couldn't resist to see again the Altiplano Automatic Skeleton!
We are talking here about a 38mm masterpiece! The best of the Piaget manufacture is gathered in this watch.
The movement 1200S is the thinnest automatic skeleton movement with a height of 2,4mm. But it is more than this technical achievement. The movement looks like a a very thin and complex lace which highlights the flawless finishings.
Sometimes, skeleton watches look a bit old-fashioned. It is not the case here: the Altiplano has a very contemporary design. Look at the finishings of the details... it is a true mechanical ballet.
The back is also very spectacular (picture taken at the SIHH) and the micro-rotor finds here a perfect stage for its show!
A technical and aesthetical marvel. The 38mm case allows the movement to fully fill the case which is an excellent idea. It is a much more convincing watch, at least for my taste, than the Altiplano Skeleton Handwind (40mm diameter). Maybe my fav Piaget of these last years.
If we don't speak about gems and stones in a Piaget report, we miss something! One of the assets of the Manufacture is its ability to combine high watchmaking skills with perfect jewellery craftsmanship.
This 41mm Altiplano is powered by the 1200P micro-rotor movement. Look at the perfection of the dial setting. It combines 155 brilliant-cut diamonds and 36 baguette-cut diamondfs (3 per hour!). The PG case is set with 313 brillant-cut diamonds and 48 baguette-cut diamonds.
Each diamonds trio creates a sort of cartouche on the dial:
A spectacular watch on the wrist:
I would like to finish the report with the Creative collection, more precisely with two Limelight Couture Precieuse cuff watches.
We already spoke about the close links between Piaget and the fashion world. These two watches embody this meeting point.
The PG bracelet is impressive, very comfortable thanks to a very flexible structure.
The practical closing system:
I would like to thank a lot the young lady for the wristshots!
I prefer the wider version which takes more advantage of the concept of the watch even if this version is nice too:
Both are powered by quartz movements. These watches are inspired by models of the 70s and they are the proof that Piaget is a very skillful chain-maker. Managing to achieve such flexibity requires a lot of mastery and knowledge.
With this report, I wished to present you the new decoration style and lay-out of the Boutique but also the wide range of pieces available. It was for me a great pleasure to handle these timepieces and I hope you enjoyed the report the same way. I would like to thank a lot the Piaget Boutique staff for the warm welcome and the availability. Of course, if you are in Paris, don't hesitate to visit the Boutique!
Fr.Xavier
