Watch design trends frequently oscillate like a pendulum, with minimalist styles intended to blend in with your wrist at one extreme, and designs intended to elevate your look and captivate at the other.
From a slim, elegant creation to a bold, unmistakable classic, here are two contrasting timepiece drops united by their extreme luxuriousness.
Piaget Polo 79
The Piaget Polo represents a period of innovation and growth for the company. The piece was an ode to sport when it was first introduced in 1979.
Now, more than 40 years after the model’s original release, Piaget revives the classic for fresh audiences with relevant updates. The gleaming 18-carat gold icon endures despite technical changes.
Unexpected trends that pushed the boundaries of fashion took over the scene in the 1980s. This led to a broader cultural change and the blending of fashion and sports. Sports like polo gained popularity, and consumers started to notice casual athleisure. As its market continued to expand, Piaget introduced a design that would appeal to consumers seeking dress watch options with practical features like shockproof and waterproof capabilities.
The Maison aimed to demonstrate that elegance can coexist with sport, despite the fact that many sports-oriented timepieces adopt more functional, occasionally large, aesthetics. None other than the Polo 79 was the outcome.
Other watchmakers had just begun to experiment with sports watches made of steel, but they all didn’t look like the Polo 79, which doubles as a stylish bracelet and a timepiece. The piece also comes in full gold, which adds a striking touch to any formal or casual ensemble.
Being an equestrian, Yves Piaget, who led the company when it introduced the Polo, infused his passion for the sport into the design; the silhouette could be worn to a polo club and effortlessly incorporated into elegant evening wear.
Certain design elements used throughout the watch convey a subtle elegance. The watch’s brushed block and gadroon links alternate and run continuously from the dial to the case to the bracelet. This gives it the appearance of being carved from a single piece of gold.
Additionally, it retains the elegant features of all other Piaget products despite being shockproof and water resistant.
In terms of mechanical updates, the new features include an expanded 38mm crystal case and an upgraded 1200P1 in-house, self-winding calibre. Over time, this has changed because Piaget introduced the renowned 7P ultra-thin movement in 1976, which drove all of the early Polo models.
Newer models by the 1980s featured thinner, updated 8P and 9P systems. Due to the popularity of the silhouette, Piaget began producing a variety of colourways and variations, including round, square, and gem-set. To give customers more options, a leather strap was even added to the Polo. Although the style is timeless at its core, these iterations brought it into the modern era and reshaped it to fit in with current trends.
The Piaget Polo 79 is available in White Gold and Yellow Gold variations, retailing for €92,000 (~RM445,194) and €83,500 (~RM404,062), respectively. For more information, visit Piaget’s official website.
Santos de Cartier
One of Cartier’s iconic designs, the Santos de Cartier watch, is always changing.
The company has unveiled a compact model that is 27 mm wide in the case and 34.5 mm tall, which are similar to the watch’s earlier iterations.
The innovative spirit of Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, for whom Cartier originally designed the Santos de Cartier watch, is embodied in this small-scale model.
Its round form and exposed screws became a defining feature of the collection.
The basic design elements of larger Santos de Cartier watches, such as crisp lines, precise shapes, and exquisite details, are still present in the small model. These components also stand in stark contrast to the visible screws’ industrial look.
The sunray-effect dial and a high-autonomy quartz movement that has been specially modified to fit the new case are among its new features.
With metal bracelets and calf leather strap options, this new small model offers the same interchangeability as its larger versions and comes in steel and yellow gold. The all-gold model has an alligator strap, while the non-precious models have a smooth calfskin strap. The ardillon buckle on both leather strap options complements the case’s elegant design.
Visit the brand’s official website to learn more about the price and availability of the miniature Santos de Cartier watch.
