Intro
2025 opens with the Polo in the headlines and the unexpected Piaget Polo Flying Tourbillon Moonphase, the most complicated so far. The collection kicks off the new year as closed the previous one, i.e., with the launch of the first Skeleton with a ceramic case ever. Once a sleepy collection for years, Piaget’s luxury sports watch is under development.
Unstoppable evolution
While the Skeleton opened a “top-down” product release, an ultra-thin perpetual calendar followed, first in steel and then in gold. After releasing the iconic full-gold Polo 79, Piaget kept pushing the envelope to make the Polo more desirable than ever before and elevate its luxurious perception, fostering creativity that we hope will soon involve the three-hander and the chronograph.
The Flying Tourbillon Moonphase proves Piaget’s daring spirit and showcases architecture that is as distinctive as unexpected for a brand this traditional. Its cushion case is 44 mm in titanium, but its thickness stops at just 9.8 mm. The brand thus holds to its pedigree by offering a complicated yet slim and light Polo. Furthermore, designers enhanced the “gadroon” pattern on the dial and strap to extend it to the case side for the first time.
While we like the design philosophy, we don’t do the PVD treatment instead. At least, it makes sense from a design perspective, reminding us it is a complicated yet sporty haute-horlogerie timepiece and comes in signature “Piaget Blue”. The most daring product choice is under the hood since Piaget paired a rectangular-shaped calibre with the cushion-shaped case.
The Piaget caliber 642 P
At 4 mm in thickness, it allows the watch to be under 10 mm in thickness. It features a flying tourbillon and moon phase indication. The dial side has a visible perlage decoration, while the bottom end has circular Côtes de Genève but is hidden. It features extensive hand-made decorations with bevelled and polished edges.
Also, the tourbillon case is made of titanium, like the cushion case. The most outstanding achievement is how designers successfully and seamlessly integrated a rectangular movement into a cushion case in a way you can hardly notice.
Final thoughts
The Piaget Polo Flying Tourbillon Moonphase will guest star at Watches and Wonders, where we’ll have plenty of time to get our hands on it. Thumbs up to Piaget for being as brave as out-of-the-box in the design process. You do not usually expect this from one of the most traditional brands in the fine watchmaking arena despite already proving their bravery with the Altiplano Ultimate Concept.
In the ultra-flat, sporty, yet super luxury category, Piaget explored uncharted territory, creating a model that will speak volumes to fine collectors. They will be the ultimate judges to reference G0A49080, whose listed price is 115,000 Euros.
(Photo credit: Piaget, Horbiter®)
Giovanni Maria Di Biase @Horbiter®
