HANDS-ON: 6 decades on and still going strong – the Piaget Altiplano 60th anniversary

Felix Scholz

Though Piaget has made a lot of noise in the past 12 months with the sporty steel Polo S, the undeniable heart of the collection is the ultra-slim and ultra-sexy Altiplano. Born in 1957 and named for the flat South American high plains, the Altiplano and the legendary caliber 9P that powered it, have become synonymous with thin.

This year marks the collection’s 60th anniversary, and to celebrate Piaget has released two limited editions in white gold that speak to the model’s rich heritage. Today we’re looking at the larger 43mm automatic version, though there’s also a manually wound 38mm option.

For a watch that slides under the cuff at a mere 5.25mm thin (and a movement that’s less than half that, at 2.35mm), this Altiplano has ample presence on the wrist. Basically, that’s because this watch is all dial. It’s a blue sunburst, which – as you can see from these pictures – shifts from cool grey to far richer tones, depending on the light. Aside from the colour, the dial is an exercise in pure design, with long white gold indices and matching hands. Somehow the elegant printed dial text and pale blue cross hair (another nice nod to the watch’s mid-century roots) only add to the refined look and feel.

I found this a particularly pleasing watch to wear. A lot of brands preach a message of timeless design, but for me the Altiplano – and with it Piaget’s continued commitment to slender watchmaking – is a timepiece that genuinely lives up to the marketing hype.

Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary Australian pricing and availability

Piaget Altiplano 60th Anniversary, automatic in white gold, limited to 360 pieces, $33,200