EMERALD PIAGET

The green color is particularly relevant now, as spring is in the air. And when combined with a golden case and a watch mechanism from a respected Swiss manufacture, it creates an unparalleled blend of luxury and sophistication.

We usually name our projects based on the storyline of the dial, the theme of the mechanism's engraving, or the idea of ​​our client. In this case, color associations played the leading role, and we named this project after a well-known mineral. We believe you will agree that when you look at this rich, vibrant, deep shade of green, the comparison with this precious gemstone comes to mind first.

It all started with the purchase of a splendid vintage mechanism from a wristwatch at an exhibition in Germany. The mechanism belonged to the renowned watch and jewelry house Piaget.

Piaget is a Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches and jewelry. Over 150 years of innovation have made the House one of the most prestigious watchmakers and jewelers in the world.

In 1874, Georges Edouard Piaget (1855-1931) opened his first workshop on the family farm in the town of La Côte-aux-Fées in the Swiss canton of Jura. He specialized in manufacturing pocket watches and high-precision watch movements, with the help of all 14 of his children. Soon, the Piaget name became known beyond the canton of Neuchâtel, and the company received orders from renowned firms. In 1911, Georges' son, Timothée Piaget (1885-1975), took over the family business. Since then, the manufacture has been producing wristwatches.

In 1943, through the efforts of the founder's grandchildren – Gérald and Valentin Piaget, Piaget becomes a registered trademark. Since then, the manufacture in La Côte-aux-Fées has been producing its own products and confidently expanding its operations internationally. Due to its rapid development, the family business opened a new factory in 1945, in the same town of La Côte-aux-Fées, but now with a focus on innovations and ultra-thin watch movements. Since 1957, Piaget has been using only precious metals in watch production.

To buy Piaget is to enter the elite club of chosen owners of this marvel of engineering, housed in an exquisite jewelry case. The price of Piaget speaks for itself. Even vintage Piaget watches are always in demand at various international auctions.

Modern Piaget collections offer a wide range of options, from elegant business dress watches to true works of jewelry art adorned with precious stones, including diamond-set timepieces.

But let's return to our project. The mechanism was already 'orphaned,' having lost its gold case and been safely melted down in a furnace as scrap, leaving only the dial and hands intact. And it was precisely this mechanism that caught the eye of another client at our watchmaking workshop.

During the discussion of the form and content of the future timepiece, while browsing through our portfolio, the client came across one of our previously completed projects and expressed a desire to replicate it. However, considering the dimensions and structural characteristics of the chosen mechanism for the project, we had to make some modifications, which, in our opinion, not only enhanced the reliability of the entire construction but also made the appearance of the watch even more attractive and unique.

Based on the client's preferences and taking into account the aforementioned considerations, our artist drew several versions of the future watch dial, which were presented to the client for review. As a result, the option with a horizontal bar connecting the "III" hour marker to the center of the dial was approved. This bar, besides being purely decorative (bearing the brand name "PIAGET"), also serves a functional purpose: it presses against the hour wheel, preventing it from slipping off its axis.

The dial will be in the form of a ring, with an outer diameter of 31.8 mm, an inner diameter of 20.4 mm, and a visible diameter of 30.0 mm. The dial will feature a minimalist style, without minute markers, with Roman numeral hour markers of original shape.

After the dial sketch was approved, a technical specification for the project was developed, with the following main requirements:

1. Movement - Manufacture movement produced by Piaget SA, caliber 9P.
2. Dial - Skeletonized, with enamel.
3. Case - 18K gold (750-grade), with double sapphire crystal, diameter 38.0 mm.
4. Crown - 18K gold.
5. Strap - Premium class crocodile leather, clasp - 18K gold.

Next, as usual: approval of the technical specifications, receipt of the prepayment, and off we go.

Logically, the next step was the design of the case. To do this, the movement was first freed from the hands and the dial, and all necessary measurements were taken. Then, the design engineer created a detailed drawing, based on which a 3D model of the case and crown was created.

Since the mechanism chosen for the project was ultra-thin, the case thickness without the crystals was only 8.2 mm! The stated diameter of the case without the crown was 38.0 mm, the height including the lugs was 46.6 mm, and the width between the lugs was 22.0 mm.

Next, we translated all individual parts of this model into wax and sent them to the jeweler-caster. Shortly thereafter, a buckle for the watch strap was added, which was also decided to be made of gold.

Meanwhile, the master watchmaker disassembled the mechanism "to the last screw," and five parts - the main plate, gear bridges, barrel, balance, and anchor fork - were sent to the jeweler-engraver. They were hand-engraved with a vegetal ornament in the Baroque style. Considering the thickness of the platinum, it was moderately skeletonized to preserve the structural integrity. Engraving on watch mechanism parts is inherently complex, and executing it on such miniature and ultra-thin mechanisms comes with additional difficulties and risks. However, our craftsmen are confident in their abilities and know their craft well. This project serves as ample proof of that. It's worth mentioning that the thickness of the mechanism used is only - attention! - 2.0 mm. This is a testament to the highest level of skilled jewelry work. Furthermore, all original factory inscriptions were preserved and integrated into the new design.

Additionally, after engraving, the jeweler-plater applied a new high-quality gold plating to the mechanism, using the electroplating method.

A few words should also be said about this unique mechanism. The ultra-thin Piaget caliber 9P wristwatch movement, with a thickness of only 2.0 mm and a diameter of 20.5 mm, featuring manual winding, was first introduced in 1957 at the Basel Watch Fair, causing a sensation. It was the result of a decade-long effort by Piaget watchmakers to create ultra-thin timepieces. Its oscillation frequency is slightly higher than that of ordinary movements, at 19,800 vibrations per hour (2.75 Hz). Piaget refers to caliber 9P as a "manufacture movement." Due to its compact size, this caliber has been used in many models of both men's and women's watches. The simple, sturdy, and ultra-thin movement is equipped with central hour and minute hands.

As in many of our projects, this movement is accompanied by a historical background with a detailed description of the caliber, its features, as well as a brief description of this particular project.

The dial was crafted from brass, as well as the mounting ring for securing the movement in the case and the rear decorative insert. According to the design, the dial blank underwent laser cutting and engraving. After the engraving work was completed, the dial plate looked as follows:

If the dial was crafted using modern automated technologies, then the rear decorative insert was engraved by hand using the same floral motifs.

After cutting, we decided to fit the dial and insert onto the movement. In our opinion, the result was beautiful and harmonious.

Furthermore, legs for attachment were soldered to the dial. We want to remind you that this is our signature touch: we equip all custom dials with legs for secure fixation in the movement, avoiding the use of glue or double-sided tape! This eliminates any displacement of the dial and, consequently, damage to the movement's axes. By the way, the rear insert is also securely fastened with screws.

A layer of emerald epoxy enamel was applied to the recesses of the dial and decorative insert, while the protruding parts were coated with 14-karat gold plating. You can judge for yourself how stunning and vibrant the combination of these two colors looks.

"What about your case?" you might ask. Well, after casting, the case was machined on a lathe to the required dimensions. Then, all the case parts, as well as the winding crown and the lugs, fell into the caring and skillful hands of our jeweler-engraver. Once again, manually and without the use of any machinery, they began the engraving process. The theme is the same as on the movement and the decorative insert. Engraved elements are placed on the bezel, the sides of the case, and even on the top surface of the lugs. Pay attention to the detail and the volumetric rendering of the leaf and background motifs. It's a very painstaking and labor-intensive process, believe me. However, the end result justifies all the effort invested.

Upon completion of the engraving work, the case was polished, after which we conducted a preliminary fitting of the movement and dial in the case. Then came the question of selecting the hands. After extensive experimentation with various types and colors, we concluded that the most optimal choice in our case would be to use contrasting black classical "Breguet" hands.

After the fitting and approval of the hands type, the timepiece proceeded to the final assembly by the master watchmaker. The movement was lubricated, assembled, serviced, adjusted, and installed into the case. Subsequently, the dial, decorative insert, and hands were affixed. Sapphire crystals were then installed into the front and back bezels (the top one being spherical, the bottom one flat, both with a diameter of 31.0 mm).

The final touch was the premium-grade strap, matching the dial's tone, meticulously crafted by hand from crocodile leather and stitched with green linen thread using saddle stitching. The buckle of the strap also features engraving.

The watches turned out to be bright, unconventional, and very attractive. See for yourself:

These watches will undoubtedly attract attention to their owner. Classic design combined with unconventional exterior solutions, with the heart of the piece being a unique ultra-thin mechanism from a renowned Swiss manufacturer, will certainly not go unnoticed. This bold accessory, complementing almost any outfit while serving as a fully functional timepiece, will delight its owner and evoke positive emotions, garnering admiring glances from those around.

  And where would we be without quality control? As always, we carefully inspected the resulting watches to ensure they meet our internal quality standards, addressed any identified issues, and only then delivered them to the client.

Another creative journey has come to an end, during which we embarked on a path from concept development through collaboration and interaction to the completion of the project, resulting in luxurious men's skeletonized watches created with love and inspiration. Each project we undertake to create watches is not just a demonstration of technical craftsmanship but also an art of embodying the ideas and desires of the client.

If the 'EMERALD PIAGET' has sparked positive emotions in you and you're considering creating something similar, our workshop is always at your service. We guarantee a personalized approach and your full involvement in the process of creating unique, one-of-a-kind watches that will embody your boldest fantasies.