Piaget

When I was the moderator for the Jaquet Droz brand, I feel in love with stone dials.

There is so much work involved with creating these dials, much more than the simple stamped brass plates that I was used to.  The lapidary skills required to produced such thin disks of beauty from a large rough sample was demonstrated when I visited a special stone cutter in Switzerland a few years ago.  Sadly it is more and more of a lost art.

To my surprise, one of my esteemed colleagues reminded me that Piaget had started producing watch dials utilizing semiprecious stones starting in 1964.  I didn't know any watch group had thought about this concept before Rolex in the 70's.

 

 

 Here are some pictures which I found on an auction site showing the dials a bit more clearly.  There is nothing more beautiful than mother nature itself.

The blue and glimmer of gold found in Lapis.

 

 

The deep translucent green color of precious Jade.

 

The shimmer of meteriote.

 

The amazing array of browns found in tiger's eye

 

 

I would love to see Piaget make more of these dials!

 What do other Piaget fans think?  Love' em or hate them?

 

Best, Mike

This message has been edited by MTF on 2017-02-01 23:04:22

Than Mike for the question.

I'm afraid that I'm 'too young' in horology to remember 1964   

But I do recall Tissot makng the whole watch case out of stone and wood in the 1980s.  Got the current Mrs MTF a nice 'wood watch' that she loved but our dog chewed it..er.....slightly.....well actually a lot. That dog is .....no more...mwahaha.

In an elegant watch, the thin stone dial is a work of art; Piaget is pretty good at elegant thin watches...its their THANG! 

I only have an issue with brands that cover up their inadequacies with fancy dials or even dials made of poo or nautical graveyards; where the most worthy part of their watch is the artwork.

 

Regards,

MTF

I'm a big fan of stone/meteorite dials and fell in love with JD because of that.However,a watch needs a good calibre if it wants to show off it's unique dial.Something about the uniqueness of every individual dial that strikes me.I'm dreaming of spectrolite and lapis lazuli!

but we definately see both sides of the coin in the horological world.

Fortunately there is minimal argument about Piaget.

Piaget incorporates a long history of watchmaking achievement with beautiful dials!

Best, Mike

I could've sworn that I previously responded to this post, but I don't see it here.  Thanks for showcasing some beautiful and unusual pieces from Piaget.  The Polo with meteorite dial is particularly eye-catching.  I'd love to see Piaget release some more stone dials.

Cheers,

Daos

.

Mike,

 

Pietersite (variation of tiger-eye) dial is unlikely because it has been "all mined out", according to South African authorities. 

 

But, Jade dial on Altiplano is back in production......

 

 

Very limited production unlike some other newbie brand recently announced white jade dials.

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2013-07-31 02:19:57

particularly in vintage Piaget watches.   I think the first watch I ever saw that had a stone dial, was a client's mens 18Kt gold Datejust with matching jubilee bracelet and a malachite dial.  While the dial was fascinating, it was not a really good looking combination with a yellow gold watch.  Later I saw Day-Dates with Onyx and Lapis dials, tiger's eye.  Eventually Rolex started making Daytonas with meteorite dials, sodalite dials, and a purple/burgandy stone.  IMHO the Daytona is too sporty and looks odd with stone dials.

It was only after looking in a book that had some vintage Piaget watches that I discovered that Piaget had been making stone dials for their watches back in the 1960's.   I was also really impressed with a beautiful sqaure shaped watch that Piaget made that using onyx for the main section of the dial and then they used malachite as a border around the onyx.  It was elegant and very understated.    I personally would love to see the return of stone dials to Piaget's line up.  I think stone dials in their rectangular Altiplano or in an Emperador would be absolutely beautiful.  I think the only stone I just can't seem to warm up to in a watch is meteorite.  Oh well, I guess we will have to wait until SIHH 2011 to see if Piaget read our posts.

Best regards,

Dino

At least there are three of us interested.

Hope to meet you again soon Dino.

 

Mike

The three of us can always hope for some new stone dial Piagets ...but I guess we should not hold our breath! 

It was great meeting you at the Purists dinner in Boston a while back.  You certainly brought some interesting watches.  Also I think since Bill L. mentioned I had never seen a Peter Speake-Marin, you were kind enough to bring yours for me to view.  Very handsome watch!  Hope to catch up with you at a future Purists dinner/event.

Best regards,

Dino

I've got a Piaget watch with i jade dial!

I dont know anything of the watch so thank's for the info about that it is a stone! I've been thinking about it for a long time.
I got the watch from my grandfather, bought in the 60's.

Iif you know anything more about my watch, I'd apreciate any information!

have a nice day!

Regards Magnus

I AGREE,.STONE DIALS ARE BEAUTIFUL . A CHARACTER THAT ONLY PIAGET WATCHES HAVE GOT.

LOOK AT ANY GORGIOUS DIAL WITH STONE AND THE FIRST IMPRESSION IS : MUST BE PIAGET.

PIAGET , THE JEWEL WATCH.

PROUD OWNER OF THE FOLLOWING PIAGET WATCHES.

shadowprince2000,

 

Welcome to our humble abode!

You may have left your CAPITAL keyboard on.  Please note that Internet etiquette has assigned a meaning to capital letters when posting....it means SHOUTING loudly.

I am sure you did not mean that to happen, so please adjust the setting on your keyboard.

 

MTF

 

I INHRETED THE LOVE OF PIAGET WATCHES FROM MY MOTHER WHOM SHE USED TO TAIK ABOUT THEIR BEAUTY SINCE I WAS A KID. NOW , I OWN 5 WATCHES , 4 OF THEM HAVE EITHER : MALACHITE OR JADE OR LAPIS.

CHECK THE PICTURES.

shadowprince2000,

 

Your photos are not appearing. 

On the Posting Editing page, where you typed your posts, there is a section called 'Add Images to your Post'. 

Depending on your PC, Mac, or iPad, please use one of the clicks to get to a photo upload page. There , you can add your photos.  Do not try to add photos directly on the page for typing words.

 

Maybe, you can add your photos to a newer thread about stone dials.

CLICK the following URL link to get there:  piaget.watchprosite.com

 

We hope to see your photos there like this one below:

 

Regards,

MTF

 

 

I agree, stone dials are beautiful. A character that only Piaget watches have got.

Look at any gorgeous dial with stone and the first impression is: Must  be Piaget.

Piaget, the jewel watch.

Proud owner of the following Piaget watches:

This message has been edited by MTF on 2013-07-27 19:03:13

shadowprince2000,

 

You showed some rare watches.

Opal is brittle and difficult to make big dials so we usually get ladies' watches with opal dial. A larger watch is rare indeed.

Lapis lazuli dial is in a very rare shaped case and bracelet combination; I have only seen that shape in Piaget museum and not in the real world.  You must live in a museum! 

 

Finally, the jade dial watch has a iconic gold woven bracelet that Piaget.

The bracelet design is from decades ago but Piaget could revive the design in 2013 with a small technical improvement. Now, the size can be adjusted by the local service centre instead of being sent back to Geneva for permanent alteration by the bracelet specialist.

 

Thank you for showing us some exquisite rare pieces do exist outside Piaget museum.

 

Regards,

MTF

 

PS. I made some typing edits to your post.

 

 

Thank you. I think piaget watches designs in 1960`s and 1970`s were much prettier than their late ones .

 

Appreciate your comment.

I love the stone dial Piagets of the past.  Its great seeing someone wearing and enjoying them.

I have a Piaget opaque ruby dial with 12 diamonds (white gold hands included) for sale, if annybody is interested.

and like you, Mike, my appreciation comes from my being familiar with Jaquet Droz watches. It would be nice to see Piaget employ stone in one of the modern Altiplano models. My favorite JD (I love the hexagonal grain pattern of the ruby's heart stone):

Bill