The Piaget Polo is an effervescent, trans-generational timepiece whose distinct aesthetic is as recognisable as it is revered. Originally introduced in 1979, the Piaget Polo heralded in a new era of watchmaking, one that had a greater focus on function and less on form. The combination of a sleek, luxurious look coupled with the prestige of a true haute horlogerie maison propelled the Polo into folklore, with the likes of Roger Moore, Andy Warhol and Miles Davis favouring the original editions.
Fast forward half a century later and the Piaget Polo's influence continues on, and in 2016 it was reintroduced to the world as a modern, sporty chic watch that continued on the original model's thematic and wholly unique look. And now, half a decade later, we are introduced to the latest version of the Polo, the Piaget Polo Skeleton.
MR PORTER, a long-standing partner of Piaget, is proud to announce that it will offer the Polo Skeleton alongside other Piaget models on its e-commerce platform, giving buyers unprecedented access to a modern icon around the world.
Filled with vision, confidence and poise, the Polo Skeleton is an embellishment of tradition, ushering in a new era and a new direction of watchmaking for Piaget's esteemed model. The reduction of the dial and the baring of the movement was a task well befitting of Piaget, a maison that long had a history of openworking watches.
The process of openworking the Polo was not nearly as simple as you may imagine. Piaget completely redeveloped the watch, and in doing so perfected the harmonious balance between the case and the inverted dial. It features a case that is 30% thinner than the current existing models measuring just 6.5mm in thickness, giving the Polo Skeleton a beautifully curved case, surmounted by a round bezel and cushion-shaped dial.
Slimness was key in the evolution of the Polo Skeleton, which meant that Piaget needed to redevelop the 1200S manufacture movement, which in itself measures a paper-thin 2.4 mm in total thickness. The movement itself is robust, reliable and practical while retaining all of the traits of an alluring haute horlogerie calibre.
The Piaget Polo Skeleton is available in two distinctly different models, each conveying a different sense of occasion and each portraying differing characteristics. Both are clad in a stainless steel case, with the first model featuring a movement finished in blue PVD and the second with a slate grey finish. Both models will come with a stainless steel bracelet as well as a leather strap matching the colour of the openworked dial.
The illusion of transparency continues through the Polo Skeleton, with even its hands being pared-down so as to not impede on the drama of the openworked backdrop. Turning the piece around and the theme of skeletonisation continues, with an uninterrupted view of the meticulously finished and detailed movement available through the open sapphire caseback. And finally, the integration of a micro-rotor as opposed to a hemispheric oscillating weight ensures that the philosophy of lucidity and clarity continues on.
From the outset, the Piaget Polo Skeleton is a unique, wholesome and beautifully executed timepiece, ushering in an era of complexity, drama and theatrics. It's dangerous territory when a watchmaker decides to upheave and openworked, and with nowhere left to hide imperfections are often left in plain sight. But Piaget has excelled where others have not, creating a modern timepiece well in-keeping with the stylistic and design-driven ideals of the contemporary haute horlogerie landscape.
MR PORTER is proud to offer the Piaget Polo Skeleton in both variations.