It was back in 1979 that Piaget released the first Polo watch – a timepiece that would become an icon not just for the brand, but for the watch-collecting world, as well. Now, to mark the 150th anniversary of Piaget, and the 45th anniversary of the Piaget Polo, the brand releases the all-new Piaget Polo 79 watch – inspired by the original.
Piaget Polo 79 in 18-karat yellow gold.
Piaget
The new Piaget Polo 79 watch retails for $73,000.
Piaget
Before we delve into the watch, a little background is key. Exactly 45 years ago, in 1979, Yves Piaget wanted to create something totally different that could cater to the needs of the brand’s sophisticated clientele but would offer a sporty chic appeal.
Many of Piaget’s customers were taking an interest around the world in the sport of polo, among other sports. Yves Piaget had a love of all things equestrian.
He got highly involved in polo matches – even creating several Piaget Celebrity polo events in the 1980s.
Yves Piaget designed the Piaget Polo watch that made its debut in 1979 and became an icon in time. This picture is from an interview in YGP Magazine in 1983.
Piaget
Yves Piaget’s concept was to create a sporty watch that was shock resistant and water resistant but still attractive. He set to work designing the perfect watch.
The result was a round yellow gold watch with an incredibly distinctive horizontal pattern formed by alternating polished and brushed links and carrying the motif from bracelet to case and even the dial.
The Piaget Polo watch became a legend among the Piaget Society that were great supporters of the brand.
An ad for the square Piaget Polo from 1981.
Piaget
The original watches were advertised in the 1980’s as “the world’s ultimate sports watch” – predominantly because they were performance oriented (water- and shock-resistant) yet still luxurious in design.
For these watches, the brand turned to ultra-thin mechanical and quartz movements. Square versions of the famed Piaget Polo emerged, as did gem-set versions and white gold and two-tone variations.
A catalog page from 1982
Piaget
Each version reflected the glamour of the era and the Piaget Polo watch – immediately identifiable from across a crowded room – was a signature for celebrities and stars such as Andy Warhol and Elizabeth Taylor, among others. It could be seen on wrists in night clubs, at polo matches, on yachts and more.
Variation of the Piaget Polo from a 1982 catalog.
Piaget
Now, to celebrate this iconic watch, the 150th anniversary of the brand and the return to vintage legends, Piaget releases the new Piaget Polo 79 – with modern tweaks.
The 38mm 18-karat yellow gold round watch is powered by the brand’s in-house-made ultra-thin mechanical 1200P1 self-winding caliber, whose movement is visible via a transparent sapphire case back. The watch retails for $73,000.
The movement of the new Piaget Polo 79 watch, with its fine finishings, is visible via a transparent sapphire case back.
Piaget
This article was first published on forbes.com and all prices are in USD.
