It was only two months ago that Piaget rocked the digital world with the launch of the Polo 79 which is ravishing by any and all standards. Revolution covered this watch in-depth on video as well as in this technical article discussing the history and merits of this timepiece. Now as Watches & Wonders Geneva opens its doors on Day 1, so do the proverbial curtains lift off the new Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon.

It is the manufacture’s thinnest high complication watch to date, and anyone who has a passing interest in horology would have caught wind of Piaget’s unrelenting devotion to record-breaking ultra-thin high complications. It’s in its DNA as a movement specialist, since the company had created first ultra-thin movement Caliber 9P in 1957 and then 12P in 1960, with more along the way such as the Caliber 1200P family of movements. And most recently in 2018 the introduction of the Altiplano Ultimate Concept allowed Piaget to dominate this scene for a few years before competition began to heat up again — as they are wont.

Since this is the year of Piaget’s 150^th anniversary, the manufacture would certainly be remiss if it hadn’t revisited this specialized field of ultra-thin high complications, and thankfully for all who love a good joust — at least in terms of horological innovation — Piaget does not disappoint. The new Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon shows just how adept the manufacture has become in this highly rarefied space.

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon

First let’s look at the key specifications of the watch. The case is 2mm in height, exactly the same as the original Altiplano Ultimate Concept, even though Piaget has added a tourbillon regulator into this current model. It measures 41.5mm in diameter which is half a millimeter bigger than the original, and it offers 40 hours of power reserve, which is pretty much the same as the original. This is remarkable given the addition of a tourbillon regulator which despite its reduced overall mass still requires about 25 percent more energy. As such Piaget had to redesign an incredible 90 percent of the components, meaning that even though the two watches look somewhat alike, they are all but completely different in construction.

Other key aspects to note about the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon is the watch is indeed water resistant to 20 meters, which is not bad at all considering how delicate it is. This is an extremely important element of Piaget’s modern approach to technical innovation, pursing the farthest limits of ultra thin haute horlogerie without compromising on performance, quality and wearability. As CEO of Piaget Benjamin Comar explains, “We did far more than merely add a tourbillon. We reinvented everything.” To wit, this timepiece was finalized after a staggering conceptualization process involving 70 different version of the tourbillon cage, 15 versions of the anchor, and 30 versions of the case frame.

The material used for this watch is a M64BC cobalt alloy with blue PVD-treatment. We’d hesitate to describe it as the case material since the watch doesn’t have a case per se, likewise with the movement, which isn’t a movement per se. Rather, the case and the movement are fused as one single component, completed with an incredibly thin sapphire crystal glass on both sides. Featuring a spectacular one-minute peripheral tourbillon, the entire construct is simply known as Caliber 970P-UC.

Its silhouette is perfectly streamlined, thanks to the complete absence of a standard crown, and it is completely flat when viewed laterally. Complete with some touches of gold and silver against the rich, elegant blue tones, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon is indeed a worthy superstar in celebration of Piaget’s 150^thanniversary.

More Piaget novelties will follow in the coming days, so keep your eyes peeled as we bring you the latest news from Watches & Wonders 2024.

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon