====== Piaget ======
{{wst>menue|Piaget}}

{{wst>image_cr|Piaget|Polo Chronograph}}

**Piaget** is a Swiss luxury watch and jewelry [[manufacture]], currently one of the Specialist Watchmakers of [[Richemont]].

===== The luxury manufacture Piaget =====
In [[1874]] [[Piaget, Georges|Georges Piaget]] founds the «Ateliers de la Côte-aux-Fées», in which high-precision [[watch movement]]s are produced ​​for well-known watch manufacturers. In [[1911]] he hands over the company to his son, Timothée Piaget.

The year [[1943]] brings a significant change for the company's history Based on the experience and the success of the company the grandsons of the founder, Gérald and Valentin Piaget, decide to obtain protection for the name Piaget as a trademark. From now on, the creations of the house bear its own signature. This does not just apply to watch movements, but also to complete watches. Due to the increasing demand in [[1945]] in La Cote-aux-Fées a new, more modern facility is built.

In [[1957]] the famous ultra-thin [[manual winding]] Calibre 9P is presented, which has only 2 mm height. In the same year the first edition of the [[Piaget Emperador G0A33070|Emperador]] is launched, which should become one of the best known models of the brand.

In [[1959]] Piaget opens a jewelry store in [[Geneva]]. In [[1961]] the first foreign branch is founded in Offenbach, the German Piaget GmbH.

The mastery of the extra-flat [[watch movement]] is a specialty of the brand and encourages the watchmakers of the [[manufacture]] to the wildest creations. In [[1960]] a revolutionary [[self-winding]] movement follows the Calibre 12P with only 2.3 mm height. The design breakthrough begins in the early sixties with the creation of extravagant and colorful models. In [[1982]] Piaget develops the Calibre 20P with manual winding and in [[1983]] the calibre 25P. In [[1986]] they finally produce a movement with [[perpetual calendar]].

As part of the quartz revolution in the 1970s Piaget develops in [[1976]] the at the time slimmest [[quartz movement]] 7P. In [[1979]] appears for the first time the sporty model //Polo//, which will later become one of the pillars of the model range. In [[1980]] [[Piaget, Yves|Yves Piaget]] takes over the management of the company.

Piaget impresses by a distinctive style, but also by a number of bestsellers. Both the range of products in the watches area as well as in the jewelry area is located in the highest-price regions of the luxury class.

In [[1965]], Piaget purchased the [[Baume & Mercier]] brand. In [[1988]] Piaget enters the group //[[Cartier]] Monde//, but keeps [[Piaget, Yves|Yves Piaget]] as president. In [[1993]] Piaget, together with [[Cartier]], joins the [[Vendôme Luxury Group]], which is now merged into the [[Richemont]] Group.

===== New investments and models =====
{{wst>image_cl|Piaget|Altiplano 40 mm Profil|Piaget Altiplano 40 mm (profile)}}

During the last decade Piaget has invested heavily in the development of in-house movement expertise. In [[2008]] there are altogether 17 own calibres. In addition, the two main production facilities in [[Plan-les-Ouates]] at Geneva (opened [[2001]]) and [[La Côte-aux-Fées]] at [[Neuchatel]] expand. Meanwhile, all mechanical watches of Piaget are driven by in-house [[manufacture]] movements. Also the proportion of mechanical movements in women's wristwatches is increased, that is in an area of the luxury industry, which until now have primarily been worked with [[quartz movement]]s.

{{wst>image_cr|Piaget|Altiplano Skeleton RS|Piaget Altiplano Skeleton with the calibre Piaget 838P}}

An important role in the current men's collection play, alongside the famous //Polo// series, the model ranges //Altiplano// and //Emperador//. //Altiplano// stands for the ultra-thin [[manual winding]] models in round housings and with elegantly simple dial, //Emperador// for unusual shapes (square or rectangular) and luxurious appearance. In [[2008]] the brand proudly presents the first [[perpetual calendar]] with one of the manufacture developed and manufactured [[complication]] movements with [[dual time-zone]] for the [[Piaget Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar|Emperador Coussin Perpetual Calendar]].

Other watch brands include //Black Tie, Dancer, Upstream, Tradition, Limelight, Miss Protocole//, and //Possession//. The model [[Piaget Upstream|Upstream]] with the [[self-winding]] calibre 504P caused a stir with its [[folding clasp]] integrated into the case and the innovative design reminiscent of modern architecture.

===== Calibre systematics =====
A note on the calibre designations "4" stands for hand-wound, "5" for [[automatic]]. 400P is a [[manual winding]] movement with date and second, [[Piaget 500P|500P]] is the corresponding [[self-winding]] movement. 410P and 510P have [[central seconds]] without date, 420P has date without central seconds, 430P/530P are without date and seconds. The 430P can replace the no longer built 9P, since it is [[gabarised]] for it.

In [[2002]] the [[tourbillon]] calibre 600P is presented. With the height of only 3.5 mm it is the slimmest in the world.

In [[2006]] Piaget presents a new generation of [[self-winding]] movements, the calibre series 800P, which is equipped with [[double barrel]] and, therefore, has a high power reserve of 72 hours. The acronym 830P stands for the hand-wound and the 800P for the self-winding calibre. The variant 850P offers a [[dual time-zone]] and [[small seconds]], while the 880P designates the new [[chronograph]] calibre.

Piaget is behind only [[Audemars Piguet]] in terms of the number of awards held from the prestigious [[Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève]] [[as of 2021]]. The company won the "Aiguille d'Or" grand prize for the first time in [[2020]] for the [[Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept|Altiplano Ultimate Concept]].

===== Weblinks =====
  * [[http://www.piaget.com/|Piaget]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Manufactures Vendôme_Luxury_Group Richemont La_Cote-aux-Fées Val-de-Travers Plan-les-Ouates FHH Luxury_watch_brands}}