The Play of Shapes: Piaget's Legacy of Design
We are swooning over Piaget's stunning designs, where exquisite craftsmanship come together in the most breathtaking way possible!
One fine Wednesday evening, not knowing what to expect, I attended the Piaget Play of Shapes dinner at the Mandala Club, which was an absolutely fabulous affair! Together with other guests in attendance, we learned that their motto — “Do what has never been done before” — inspires every Piaget's creation, and this spirit lies at the heart of the collections showcased. This creative philosophy is beautifully embodied in Play of Shapes, a boundary-breaking design language from the 1960s; the avant-garde Sixtie trapeze watches; and the iconic Andy Warhol watch, celebrated for its bold design and artistic legacy.
Piaget's legacy of transforming watches into captivating, design-led jewelry began in 1969 with the revolutionary 21st Century collection at Basel Fair. This collection, driven by Valentin Piaget and designer Jean-Claude Gueit, championed unexpected case and dial shapes like ovals, rectangles, and trapezes, echoing Yves Piaget's profound belief that "a watch is first and foremost a piece of jewellery." It was a bold move that celebrated form and light, pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking.
The Sixtie, deeply rooted in Piaget’s historic codes and named after the flamboyant 1960s, beautifully embodies this philosophy. Its iconic trapeze shape directly mirrors the fashion of the era, reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent’s trapeze dress. This jewelry watch exquisitely balances geometry with femininity, exuding a subtle extravagance. It features a flexible trapeze-link bracelet and a gadroon-adorned bezel, reinventing the trapeze shape with fluid geometric forms and crafted with Piaget's renowned Mastery of Gold, enhancing its light and luster.
Another testament to Piaget's artistic vision is the Andy Warhol watch. Launched in 1972 as the 15102 and later renamed in partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundation, it became the most beloved of Warhol's seven Piaget watches. Symbolizing bold design and a cherished friendship with Yves Piaget, it features a striking 45mm case with gold gadroons. New high jewelry editions showcase mesmerizing opal, blue sapphire, and tiger’s eye dials powered by an in-house movement, offering endless collectible options with diverse materials and styles.
So which is your favourite?