PIAGET

Piaget has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the most sought-after and renowned luxury watch brands in the world, thanks to a century of design and performance excellence. Piaget luxury timepieces have a long and illustrious history, marked by a commitment to precision, elegance, and the best Swiss watchmaking ideals. It's certainly worth having a deeper look at Piaget's history, from the beginning to the present, for seasoned fine watch collectors and history buffs alike.

Piaget's journey begins in the little, secluded town of Côte-aux-Fées, tucked in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Georges-Édouard Piaget created a small workshop on his family farm at the age of 19, where he began to develop and build watch components and precise moments. He was steeped in the unrivaled history of Swiss watchmaking from the outset, a caliber of excellence for which Piaget luxury watches would eventually become recognized worldwide.

Georges-Édouard Piaget's credo, surprisingly, was "Always do better than required." In the following decades, this concept drove the watchmaker's course, and in the 1920s, Piaget transitioned from supplying exquisite precision movements and internal watch components to some of the most prestigious Swiss watchmakers to producing fine luxury watches of its own. Piaget luxury timepieces — both wrist watches and pocket watches – began to develop a name throughout Europe for both elegance and precision under the direction of Georges-Édouard Piaget's son, Timothée Piaget.

The third generation of the Piaget family, led by Gérald and Valentin Piaget, created a state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Côte-aux-Fées in 1945, extending the brand's heritage even further. Valentin Piaget's objective, over a century after his grandfather's command to "do what has never been done before," was to "do what has never been done before." This guiding concept would come to transform the brand's image and operations in the coming years, and Piaget luxury timepieces would achieve international praise not just for their quality but also for their unique creativity.

Beginning in the late 1950s, Piaget's history left an unmistakable impression on the watchmaking industry by combining cutting-edge technology with a forward-thinking style. Piaget presented the mechanical hand-wound 9P caliber at the Basel Fair in Switzerland in 1957, an ultra-thin design that made a tremendous impact on those in attendance. Piaget used cutting-edge micro-rotor technology to develop the 12P, the world's smallest automatic movement, just three years later.

Piaget luxury timepieces continued to grow as the firm expanded into fine metalworking and gem-setting, establishing ateliers in the prominent region of Geneva, Switzerland. The "21st Century Collection" became known in the 1960s for its design-driven aesthetics and seductive appeal. Piaget made history in 1963 when he created the world's first watch dials made of decorative stone.

While Piaget's history began with premium clocks for men, women's interest grew in the latter part of the twentieth century. Many prominent female luminaries, like Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jacqueline Kennedy, wore Piaget luxury watches. Piaget was motivated to push deeper into the domain of cutting-edge design and to embrace its image as a distinct creative brand as a result of its increased prominence and status. Piaget began an unique initiative with Salvador Dali in 1967, which led to years of collaboration with extraordinary artists.

With Yves G. Piaget, Piaget's history continued into the fourth generation in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1979, she coordinated the launch of the Piaget Polo watch, a timepiece connected with European athletic tradition's dignity and strength. Both as heirloom-quality timepieces and status symbols, Piaget luxury watches for men and women continued to gain regard. Piaget watches, in particular, have earned a reputation for reflecting the contemporary period via design while remaining loyal to the original bedrock tradition of great Swiss watchmaking.

Through a variety of beautiful luxury jewelry, Piaget has increased its breadth and appeal over the last few decades. Possession, the brand's hallmark jewelry collection, was introduced in 1990. Piaget jewelry has become known for its blend of excellent workmanship and exquisite execution, much like Piaget luxury timepieces. Diamond embellishments, pure gold workmanship, and exquisite details characterize the collection's dramatic but delicate aesthetics. Rings, necklaces, and bracelets from Piaget have grown popular among collectors who appreciate subtle elegance and superb jewelry design.

In 2001, Piaget opened a new atelier in Geneva named Plan-les-Ouates, continuing the brand's legacy into the twenty-first century. Piaget, for example, continues to have a presence at Côte-aux-Fées, and appears to have never lost touch with its roots. Piaget continues to astonish the globe nearly 150 years after its founding with sleek and superbly crafted Piaget luxury timepieces in a variety of designs. Piaget has embodied an unwavering commitment to innovation, elegance, and creativity throughout its history.

(Founder Georges Edouard Piaget in above photo)