As we’re heading to the final months of 2021, watch brands are ready to pull the trigger and unveil a lot of new creations, as that’s the case with the freshly-unveiled Piaget Polo in its 36-mm-large iteration. Piaget‘s new range extender is a welcome addition and a smart move, too, as long as the contemporary Polo collection concerns. The Maison is thus extending the-cushion-dial-in-a-round-case product portfolio, geared towards women whose current 42mm Piaget Polo looks just “too much”. Despite Piaget not disclosing any target audience (nonetheless, photos speak for themselves), you won’t deny the new offering is a call to action to women and the Far East, although one option might equally please him and her.
In contrast, when I look at some markets and their customers, I won’t be surprised to see some men getting off a Piaget boutique with a gold Piaget Polo 36 with diamonds on their wrists. As far as new size concerns, I’ll preferably list the Polo 36 as a unisex timepiece; in my circle, most friends would add a Polo to their collection, yet they consider the 42 mil iteration too big, and they usually won’t buy anything over 37 mm in size instead. Therefore, I won’t be surprised to see the blue-dial steel option with baguette diamonds on white gold indexes become a hot seller among watch enthusiasts across some European markets. As stated above, the Piaget Polo 36 comes standard in multiple options, including pink gold with an alligator leather strap or H-shaped bracelet and a premium fully paved edition (with or without bracelet). Colour choices and materials pay tribute to Piaget‘s ultra-classic approach to watchmaking and the 80s, where yellow gold was vastly popular (and still is, if you opt for sister company Cartier).
The 36 mm Polo is a scaled-down Polo 42; proportions are unchanged. It means the new ones preserve a feat I’d redesign moving forward: the fat and too large bezel. From a technical point of view, the Piaget Polo 36 adopts a somewhat different movement than its 1190 sibling, i.e. the calibre Piaget 501P1. It is an evolution of the 530P calibre with a 4Hz frequency and 40 hours of power reserve. They’re standard specifications for a luxury watch. I would instead recommend you take a look at the high-end finishes throughout, and I’ll never stop praising Piaget for their lovely finished calibres as I did on the Piaget Polo Chronograph, for instance. In this regard, Piaget pursues an “old school” approach capable of pleasing the most demanding watch connoisseur.
The 501P1 is beautifully finished inside and out, featuring circular Geneva waves on either winding mass and bridges, along with bevelled angles and blued screws. Add the hallmark Piaget coat of arms, and you end up staring at an exquisite mechanical movement, whose size is proof positive of Piaget‘s expertise in crafting thin calibres. Measuring just 8.8mm, in thickness, the Piaget Polo 36‘s case shaves 0.6mm off a 42 mm standard model. It’s a pity the new one is half as much water-resistant, stopping at 5 atm. Sticker prices start at 13,500 Euros for the steel Polo and ramps up to 65,000 Euros for the fully paved Polo 36 with strap. In summary, the Piaget Polo 36 confirms the brand’s commitment to grow further and develop the Polo collection, and I look forward to one more product range, placed in between big and small Polos. It seems like a not-to-be-missed opportunity for the Swiss brand.
(Photo credit: courtesy Piaget)
Gaetano C @Horbiter®
Instagram – Gaetano Cimmino
