Piaget Polo 79: A Revival of Integrated Gold Opulence
The integrated full-gold construction of the Polo 79 defines its entire design language. Owners who have handled the piece describe the experience as 'pure hedonism,' where the watch feels like a single, sculpted object rather than separate components. The continuous flow of the gadroons from the case onto the bracelet creates a visual and tactile unity that defines its character. This solid gold architecture, rather than just being a luxury material, dictates the watch's presence and how it settles on the wrist, embodying a statement of wealth and luxury that was emblematic of its original era. The flat profile of the original ref. 7661, which collectors note wears beautifully, further emphasizes how the material and form work in unison to create a distinctive silhouette. 12
The Polo 79 sits within a diverse lineage that includes later iterations like the Polo S and the contemporary Polo Skeleton. Collectors debate whether the Piaget Polo line should prioritize the overt material opulence of its solid gold heritage or the technical artistry of modern skeletonized movements. The original Polo was primarily a time-only watch, with its design emphasizing precious metal and status. In contrast, the Polo Skeleton showcases haute horology through an openworked dial and intricate hand-finished movement components, highlighting technical skill over pure material value. The forums call the Polo S a strategically important release aimed at expanding the customer base, often drawing 'Genta-esque' comparisons while maintaining a distinct Piaget identity. 2
23 source threads ▾
1. Piaget Polo FortyFive Chronograph Flyback GMT Review (August 2009, 47 replies)
2. collected my Piaget Polo 79 yesterday. sharing some photos of the watch... (February 2025, 43 replies)
3. First weekend with Piaget Polo Skeleton Blue (November 2021, 26 replies)
4. The New Piaget Polo 79 (February 2024, 25 replies)
5. Incoming ! Piaget Polo Skeleton Blue (November 2021, 25 replies)
6. 2nd weekend of honeymoon with my Piaget Polo Skeleton (November 2021, 25 replies)
7. Piaget Polo S Green Dial First Review (June 2021, 22 replies)
8. New models added to the Piaget Polo collection. (June 2011, 20 replies)
9. Incoming - Piaget Polo S Green limited edition 500 (June 2021, 20 replies)
10. The Piaget Polo FortyFive (August 2011, 18 replies)
Piaget Polo 79: Reference Breakdown
Primary Design Inspiration
The Piaget Polo 79 directly revives the bold, geometric case and integrated solid gold construction of the original 1979 Piaget Polo, designed by Yves G. Piaget.
Lineage & Modern Comparisons
Polo 79: Focuses entirely on full-gold construction, material opulence, and a seamless, sculpted case-to-bracelet integration.
Polo Skeleton: Shifts the priority toward technical mastery, highlighting haute horology via an openworked dial and intricate, hand-finished movement components.
Polo S: Positioned as a separate, highly versatile steel sport-chic timepiece designed to broaden the line's reach.
Collector Sentiment
The re-release has generated significant traction within the community. Collectors highly value the return to the brand's historic design identity, noting that the original aesthetic had been "forgotten for too long."
Production Status
The available source material does not specify whether the Polo 79 is a limited edition.
Primary Design Inspiration The Piaget Polo 79 directly revives the bold, geometric case and integrated solid gold construction of the original 1979 Piaget Polo, designed by Yves G. Piaget.
Lineage & Modern Comparisons
Polo 79: Focuses entirely on full-gold construction, material opulence, and a seamless, sculpted case-to-bracelet integration.
Polo Skeleton: Shifts the priority toward technical mastery, highlighting haute horology via an openworked dial and intricate, hand-finished movement components.
Polo S: Positioned as a separate, highly versatile steel sport-chic timepiece designed to broaden the line's reach.
Collector Sentiment The re-release has generated significant traction within the community. Collectors highly value the return to the brand's historic design identity, noting that the original aesthetic had been "forgotten for too long."
Production Status The available source material does not specify whether the Polo 79 is a limited edition.
Credit : terbaboom
That's exactly what Yves G. Piaget was going for — unapologetic but disciplined.
The reason it doesn't read as ostentatious in the way lesser integrated-bracelet gold pieces do is the geometry: the case and bracelet flow as a single sculpted form rather than a watch bolted onto jewellery. When the design language is that coherent, the gold stops being decoration and starts being structure.
The sodalite dial is the one that stops people cold at the boutique.
On the competition point — fair, the bracket is crowded, but most of what's competing is steel with integrated bracelets. The Polo 79 in solid gold at that price is actually a narrower field than it looks. What you're paying for isn't just the material, it's the 1200P movement in a case that's 3.65mm thick — that combination in solid gold is genuinely rare.
I don't dispute those points. 100k opens up a lot of possibilities for all kinds of varieties of watches. Didn't realize the polo 79 is that slim I gotta go to the boutique
I really kind of love this watch...
That's the honest split with this reference — it asks a lot of the wearer.
The forum threads we drew from make that tension explicit: members who own one describe committing to it fully, treating the gold and the scale as the point rather than something to be quietly managed. The collectors who hesitate on it almost universally come back to the same conclusion you did. Nothing wrong with appreciating a watch from a respectful distance.
The discontinuation is one of the more puzzling calls in Piaget's recent history.
The forum record on this goes back years — members were flagging that dropping the original integrated aesthetic was a misstep almost immediately after it happened. The Polo S and its successors sold fine, but they ceded the specific territory the original owned: a solid gold integrated-bracelet dress-sport watch with a genuine in-house ultra-thin movement. The 79 reissue is an admission that the territory was worth holding.
