Within the Altiplano collection, Piaget presented three new timepieces at the 2019 edition of SIHH. Mainly characterising these new ones are their subtlety, excellent setting craftsmanship and an even greater focus on the use of hard stones, in this case meteorites. One of the main areas of the Maison's savoir-faire is the setting technique. Indeed, Piaget is one of the few traditional manufacturers to have jewellery-making skills on a par with the creation of timepieces, enabling it to create models that combine the techniques of watchmaking and the precision of gem-setting. These gems, which are formed by extremely high temperatures and enormous pressure, are extracted at great depth and give rise to the extraordinary luminosity of Piaget timepieces. Among the new models presented is the Altiplano High Jewellery 36mm, which is aimed at a female audience and those who appreciate more classic proportions. For the first time, this model is offered with baguette-cut diamonds set on the bezel and dial in a limited edition of 88 pieces. The 'Blue Piaget' dial also features a sunburst satin finish. In the Altiplano High Jewellery 36mm presented at SIHH 2019, baguette-cut diamonds frame the watch and emphasise the quarters on the dial, highlighting the intensity of the shade of Piaget Blue, a hue somewhere between cobalt and midnight blue. Like the sky, the dial changes according to the different types of lighting, with the soleil finish creating a hypnotic play of light and shadow. The influence of the sky is even more evident in the 41mm Altiplano Tourbillon in white gold with a blue meteorite dial framed by diamonds. The hours and minutes at eight o'clock are indicated by the Altiplano collection's characteristic baton hands and hour markers, while the flying tourbillon at 2 o'clock recalls the rotation of planetary bodies against the backdrop of a dark blue sky. The distinctive lines on the surface of the meteorite are known as 'Widmanstätten figures' and are typical of the structures of iron and nickel alloys in ferrous meteorites. The formation of this type of meteorite is thought to date back to the cataclysmic events that led to the creation of solar systems. The Altiplano Tourbillon 41mm, produced in a limited series of only 28 pieces, represents the highest level of Piaget's expertise in the art of gem-setting, the choice of semi-precious stones and the production of ultra-flat timepieces. Rounding out the trio of new creations presented by Piaget at SIHH 2019 as part of the Altiplano collection is a model that showcases the purest expression of Piaget's essential design code: we are talking about the Altiplano 40mm in pink gold with a grey meteorite dial with hour and minute display and date at 3 o'clock. The combination of pink gold and grey meteorite and indices also in pink gold, while similar to the style marked by the contrast of the 36mm and 41mm models, manages to enhance the subtle nuances of the meteorite. The Piaget Altiplano 40mm in pink gold with a grey meteorite dial is offered in a limited edition of 300 pieces.
