"Always do better than necessary." This motto has guided Piaget since 1874, when Georges Édouard Piaget established his workshop in the Swiss village of La Côte-aux-Fées. Today, Piaget is synonymous with ultra-thin movements and high jewelry watches.
The Village Origins
La Côte-aux-Fées sits high in the Swiss Jura mountains, where harsh winters once drove farmers to take up watchmaking as a secondary trade. Georges Édouard Piaget began making movements for other brands, establishing a reputation for precision that attracted prestigious clients.
The Ultra-Thin Revolution
In 1957, Piaget introduced Caliber 9P—a hand-wound movement just 2mm thin. Three years later came the 12P, an automatic movement only 2.3mm thick. These weren't just thin; they were engineering marvels that defied conventional wisdom.
The pursuit of thinness continued. In 2014, the Altiplano 900P measured just 3.65mm—case and movement combined. In 2018, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept achieved an almost impossible 2mm total thickness.
High Jewelry Expertise
Unlike most watchmakers, Piaget brought jewelry making in-house during the 1960s. This allowed seamless integration of gem-setting, gold work, and watchmaking—creating pieces where the watch and jewelry are inseparable.
Key Collections
- Altiplano: The ultra-thin icon since 1957
- Polo: Luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet
- Limelight Gala: Feminine high jewelry watches
- Possession: Rotating bezel jewelry watches
Part of Richemont
Piaget joined the Richemont Group in 1988, gaining resources while maintaining its identity. The manufacture in La Côte-aux-Fées still produces movements, while a second facility in Geneva handles cases and jewelry—complete vertical integration.
For those who appreciate that true luxury often means restraint, Piaget's ultra-thin philosophy offers something unique: the most watch in the least space.