Piaget’s classic Polo enters the next stage of its evolution – meet the sleek and artfully sporty Polo Skeleton.
When Yves G Piaget created the iconic solid gold Polo in 1979, he said, “It’s a watch bracelet rather than a mere wristwatch.” Since then, the much-coveted “watch bracelet” has continued to evolve, with notable iterations launched in 2001, 2009 (Polo FortyFive), and 2016 (Polo S) – where a major facelift was that the bracelet link motif no longer carried through the case and dial.
While the recent years have added colourful renditions to this luxury sports watch range, 2021 sees the Piaget Polo taking on the bold new form of an ultra-thin skeleton watch – a welcome addition to the ranks of extraordinarily sleek timepieces that the Swiss horological house is well celebrated for.
Upon viewing the Piaget Polo Skeleton, one cannot help but agree with the brand’s assertion that “there are fewer finer expressions of horological art than that of ‘skeletonisation’ – the intricate reduction of dials and movements to their bare minimum in order to reveal the heart of a watch in all of its mechanical glory.”
Glorious is the Polo Skeleton, whose 42mm steel case measures a mere 6.5mm in thinness (that’s 30 percent thinner than other versions) and houses Piaget’s 2.4mm thin 1200S1 self-winding manufacture movement. Specially developed and produced in-house for this exquisite timepiece, the meticulously finished movement with its off-centred micro-rotor can be also be admired through the clear sapphire crystal case back.
In creating the thinnest case ever seen on a Polo, Piaget’s designers and engineers sought to preserve its unique aesthetic – a cushion shaped dial and curved case surmounted by a round bezel – while maximising its usability and comfort to the wearer. Despite its exquisitely slim profile, the Polo Skeleton offers reliability and functionality, featuring 44 hours of power reserve and water resistance down to three atmospheres.
And – while its grand ancestor was a singular “watch bracelet”, the Polo Skeleton, like the Polo FortyFive and Polo S, did not inherit the form of a completely integrated case and bracelet. Instead, the Polo Skeleton offer two interchangeable bracelets: a polished, satin-finished H-link stainless steel bracelet, and an alligator leather strap in a colour that matches the dial.
Dubbed as wearable art, the Polo Skeleton is undoubtedly a masterful work of beauty worth adding to a prized collection. One question remains: The striking Piaget Blue PVD or understatedly chic slate gray finish? You choose.
Images courtesy of Piaget, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
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