Masterpieces of Time

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept: from a micro-engineering experiment to reality

The Altiplano Ultimate Concept is no longer just an ambitious experiment in breaking the boundaries of horological micro-engineering, but a fully developed and tested watch that is now available for watch lovers and collectors to buy, own and use. Share

Piaget stole the show at the 2018 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie with the unveiling of the remarkable Altiplano Ultimate Concept -the thinnest mechanical watch in the world. Measuring a gossamer 2mm, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept served as a stage for numerous Piaget innovations, including a case that formed part of the movement, a unique, integrated winding crown, an ultra-thin crystal and, more importantly, new constructions for the barrel and energy regulation.

Thanks to this evolution, the power reserve of the Altiplano Ultimate Concept extended to more than 40 hours, a benchmark in the canon of ultra-thin watches. But what people wanted to know was whether or not such a complex and technically advanced watch could ever be produced commercially and, if so, would it be a practical proposition for daily use?

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept: from a micro-engineering experiment to reality
Photo: Courtesy of Piaget

In 2020, Piaget is proud to announce that the answers to those two questions are ‘yes’ and ‘yes’ -because the Altiplano Ultimate Concept is no longer just an ambitious experiment in breaking the boundaries of horological micro-engineering, but a fully developed and tested watch that is now available for watch lovers and collectors to buy, own and use.

Bespoke finishes and unique features are often considered key to luxury, a fact that Piaget recognized more than 50 years ago when it introduced its innovative ‘Style Selector’ at its New York boutique in order to offer customers the opportunity to choose the shape of their watch case, the type of dial and bracelet and the extent of the gem setting. The idea proved so popular that it was rolled-out to Piaget stores around the world -and it has been revived today by making the Altiplano Ultimate Concept extensively customisable to the requirements of individual owners.

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept: from a micro-engineering experiment to reality
Photo: Courtesy of Piaget

As a result, buyers may specify the colour of the bridge and dial, the finish of the hands and the main plate and select straps that match or contrast -a range of options that will allow the Altiplano Ultimate Concept to be created in more than 10,000 permutations, thus ensuring that few will be alike and most will be truly unique. The Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept will, of course, be a rare watch in any event -but, with so many different combinations of colours and finishes available, there is little to no chance of a meeting anyone else wearing an identical example.

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