Piaget Altiplano: One of the Thinnest Watches in Horology
Piaget is a Swiss luxury watch brand famous for its collection of ultra-thin mechanical watches. The incredible timepieces in its catalogue come with features such as the thinnest automatic tourbillons and precious stones. Perhaps its most respected and iconic invention is the Piaget Altiplano, which has long been recognised as one of the most refined watches in the market today. The original 1957 Piaget Altiplano was legendary for its use of the 9P calibre movement, which, at the time of its release, was the thinnest wristwatch movement in existence, measuring only 2mm thick.
In 2010, the brand released an upgraded version of the Piaget Altiplano, equipped with a new mechanism and the latest technology that horology had to offer. The new Piaget Altiplano featured a modern design and a larger build than its predecessor, making it more accessible for different wearers. Powered by Piaget’s new Calibre 1208P movement, the new Altiplano continues the brand’s tradition of luxurious ultra-thin watches. Read on to find out all you need to know about this modern icon.
First Impressions
Right off the bat, the Piaget Altiplano looks simple yet incredibly classy. It features a minimalistic style with clean lines and an uncluttered watch face, reminiscent of the German Bauhaus art style. As an ultra-thin Piaget watch, this timepiece weighs almost nothing on your wrist. It comes with a combination of state-of-the-art functionalities and pristine proportions that you would be hard-pressed to find in other watches.
Specifications
The Piaget Altiplano’s central concept is its incredibly thin and light build, a typical feature from this collection. It boasts a minimalist and classic style that would surely suit your taste. That being said, this is the perfect option for those seeking a lightweight and amazing timepiece. As such, let us take a look at its superb features.
Case, Bracelet, and Caseback
Even at first glance, you can tell that this Piaget Altiplano is deserving of its “ultra-thin” title. Despite its impressive 5.25mm thinness, this watch is actually a fairly sizeable one, with a 43mm case diameter. Although the Piaget Altiplano’s proportions make it best suited for average-to-large-sized wrists, its light wafer-thin build means that it can easily be worn on more petite wrists too.
The Piaget Altiplano’s case and angled lugs are made of exquisite 18K white gold, befitting its status as a luxury watch. A handsome black alligator leather strap with an Ardillon buckle completes the look of this timekeeper. Like the other offerings from this brand, the Piaget Altiplano is equipped with a top-notch, scratch-resistant layer of sapphire crystal that protects the dial from any external threats.
On the underside of the Piaget Altiplano, you can find another layer of sapphire crystal, this time serving to contain the watch’s movement. This sapphire crystal caseback allows you to see and appreciate Piaget’s ultra-thin movement at work.
Dial
As previously mentioned, the Piaget Altiplano has a straightforward, minimalist dial that recalls the German Bauhaus style. It has an organised sector dial design, segmented into two concentric circles, with a sleek silver sunburst finish. This is paired with slim baton hour indices that add to the Altiplano’s simple and understated aesthetic. The black baton-shaped hands stand out starkly against the silver dial, allowing for optimal readability. The Piaget Altiplano’s dial is also furnished with a small seconds sub-dial between the 4 and 5 o’clock markers, helping you to track time more precisely.
Movement
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of this Piaget Altiplano, besides its slender build, is its top-notch self-winding mechanical movement. The Piaget Altiplano is equipped with the brand’s in-house Calibre 1208P, which has a thickness of just 2.35mm, making it one of the thinnest self-winding mechanical movements in the industry.
You will notice that the Calibre 1208P is actually 0.35mm thicker than Piaget’s Calibre 9P, which they released with the original 1957 Piaget Altiplano. To compensate for this increase in thickness, Piaget has made sure to update the Calibre 1208P with its most advanced technology. For instance, the Calibre 9P is a hand-wound movement, which required the 1957 Piaget Altiplano to be manually reset and wound each time it ran out of charge. On the other hand, the Calibre 1208P is a self-winding movement. It can wind itself using kinetic energy from the simple motion of the wearer’s arm swinging back and forth, making the modern Piaget Altiplano much more convenient to use.
Piaget has also put considerable effort into the design and build of the Calibre 1208P. Its micro-motor is made from gorgeous rose gold, adding to the elegance of this movement. It bears delicate engravings of the words “Manufacture Piaget” and the brand’s very own coat of arms, identifying this calibre as a Piaget masterpiece. This movement is equipped with a total of 191 components, with 27 jewels, sleek blued screws, wheels with a sunburst motif, perlage on the main plate, and a classic Côtes de Genève finish. You can admire this masterfully crafted calibre through the Piaget Altiplano’s transparent caseback.
Finally, the Calibre 1208P has a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a solid 44 hours of power reserve. This is a considerable improvement from the 37 hours of power reserve that the 1957 Calibre 9P offered and serves as a testimony to Piaget’s efforts for constant innovation. For years, Piaget has been known for being the supplier of first-class movements to other watch brands. Thus, it is no surprise that the mechanism that runs inside the Piaget Altiplano is also of excellent quality.
Price
Recognised as one of the thinnest luxury timepieces in the market, it is no surprise that the Piaget Altiplano retails at quite an exorbitant price. You can purchase this watch for around $17,785 USD. This price tag might be a little much for some, but considering its exceptional features, quality craftsmanship, and iconic status, this is actually quite a reasonable bargain. If you are looking for a high-end, ultra-thin timepiece, then the Piaget Altiplano is definitely worthy of consideration.
Alternatives to the Piaget Altiplano
The Piaget Altiplano is undeniably an exquisite ultra-thin timepiece. It is the perfect option for those who enjoy luxurious, minimalistic, and lightweight watches. However, despite the impressive features the Piaget Altiplano offers, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Whether it is because of its exorbitant price or because you simply do not like its design, fear not for we have collated three of the top alternatives to the Piaget Altiplano below.
1. Baume et Mercier Classima Ref. M0A10354
If you enjoy wearing contemporary stainless steel watches, then the Baume et Mercier Classima Ref. M0A10354 is the right choice for you. This ultra-thin watch comes with a thickness of 5.95mm, barely 0.7mm thicker than the Piaget Altiplano itself. It also has a slightly smaller build, with a 40mm round case and bracelet, both made of stainless steel, matching the watch’s white dial perfectly.
The dial of this Baume et Mercier Classima piece is also very straightforward and simple, much like that of the Piaget Altiplano. It features silver leaf-shaped hands and hour markers in the form of baton indices and long Roman numerals. In addition, you can also find a small date function located next to the 3 o’clock marker. This Baume et Mercier watch is powered by a Swiss E.T.A Calibre F06.111 quartz movement, which gives it a useful 50-metre water resistance rating. This allows the watch to withstand a quick dip in the pool or some time in the shower.
With its similar minimalistic style and slender build, the Baume et Mercier Classima Ref. M0A10354 is a great alternative to the Piaget Altiplano. As a quartz piece, this watch is not as accurate as the Piaget Altiplano but makes up for this by being much more affordable. It retails at a price of just $769 USD, making this a more accessible option for fans of ultra-thin watches.
2. Hamilton Jazzmaster Thin Line Ref. H3852556
The Hamilton Jazzmaster Ref. H38525561 is instantly recognisable due to its stunning vintage-inspired style. This slender watch features a 40mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 8.5mm. The green sunburst dial features luminous silver-tone hands and thin indices that complement its silver case perfectly. A date aperture is also located at the 6 o’clock marker, featuring white text against a black background for better contrast and improved readability. A khaki brown leather strap with white stitching completes this Hamilton piece’s handsome look.
In addition, this Hamilton Jazzmaster watch is powered by a top-notch automatic-winding calibre 2892-A2 with a thickness of 3.6mm and 42 hours of power reserve. Like the Baume et Mercier Classima Ref. M0A10354, this watch is equipped with a 50-metre water resistance capacity. Although this watch is not quite as thin as the Piaget Altiplano, it features a relatively lightweight build and a classy style that would be perfect for your next dinner party. You can purchase this watch for just $709 USD.
3. Chopard LUC XPS Ref. 161948-5001
Like the Piaget Altiplano, the Chopard LUC XPS Ref. 161948-5001 is a classic, elegant ultra-thin dress watch. It features a 40mm satin-brushed rose gold case, with a thickness of around 7.2mm. This is paired with a gleaming silver-white dial with rose gold hands, indices, and Arabic numerals. A small seconds sub-dial is also located at the 6 o’clock marker, and a brown leather strap completes the watch’s whole fancy appearance. As with other Chopard L.U.C. watches, this ultra-thin luxury piece is equipped with a layer of sapphire crystal to protect the dial from any impacts or scratches.
This Chopard watch runs on a self-winding L.U.C. Calibre 96.12-L movement. It delivers approximately 65 hours of power reserve, almost 50% more than what the Piaget Altiplano offers. However, the tradeoff is that it comes with a reduced 30-metre water resistance rating and a slightly greater thickness of around 3.3mm.
The Chopard LUC XPS Ref. 161948-5001 is one of the best alternatives to the Piaget Altiplano, as they share the same dressy aesthetic. Although it cannot match the thinness of the Piaget Altiplano, this watch is a better option for those who prefer higher power reserves and slightly more affordable prices. You can purchase this slim luxury watch for approximately $12,349 USD.
Final Thoughts
Over the years, Piaget has made a name for itself by producing some of the best ultra-thin watches in the market. The Piaget Altiplano first made waves in 1957 for being the thinnest wristwatch ever released and has continued to maintain a stellar reputation amongst watch enthusiasts for being one of the thinnest mechanical watches in the market. Piaget also continues to innovate with the Altiplano, equipping its modern incarnation with the first-class, highly advanced calibre 1208P, which features an improved power reserve and water resistance capacity.
Aside from that, the Piaget Altiplano also boasts an elegant and modern design, making it a great choice for formal events. If you want to show off at your next dinner party, then getting your hands on the Piaget Altiplano, one of the thinnest watches in horology, would be a great way to do so.
Photos credit to Piaget Official Website unless stated otherwise.
Featured image courtesy to Piaget Official Website.
Curious about what are the best everyday watches available in the market today? Spare some time and read our article about 20 Best Everyday Watches.
