Oscar Isaac sports a Piaget Polo S in upcoming film “The Card Counter”
Zach BlassAs COVID restrictions ease in New York, one of the things I am very excited to bring back into my life is going to the cinema to see a film. While we are all very used to streaming content at home, there is something magical about watching a movie in the theatre and taking it in on the big screen. Some directors and producers believe this is the only way to see a movie, and as a result have held out with their new releases until moviegoers received the green light to return to cinemas. One such film is The Card Counter from director Paul Schrader, the former screenwriter who wrote the scripts for Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Executively produced by Martin Scorsese, the movie stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe. The Card Counter tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler (played by Oscar Isaac) haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions. Having watched the trailer, the film has certain piqued my interest. But what really caught my eye was the fact that Oscar Isaac is clearly wearing a stainless-steel Piaget Polo S with a grey dial.
The Piaget Polo S presents an attractive opportunity to own an integrated stainless-steel sports watch from a storied manufacturer. Upon its release, the Polo S was immediately compared to the Patek Philippe Nautilus, but it is, in fact, a distinctly different proposition in the metal. The Piaget Polo S may share a horizontally guilloched dial, but from there subtle differences in shape and finish begin to distinguish it further. The rounded cushion case profile, boasts different finishes – in fact the literal opposite of the Nautilus.
The brush of the satin finish is horizontal instead of vertical, and the combination of satin brush and mirror polish is intriguingly inverted in its aesthetic. Where you would typically find brushed surfaces, Piaget has elected to utilize a mirror polish. This also extends to the bracelet, with centre links horizontally brushed and framed by polished metal in favour of the more typical mirror finish to central links. Being a cushion-shaped 42mm watch that’s a slender 9.4mm thick, the lug to lug measurement is surprisingly compact at a hair under 47mm – a goldilocks measurement across the wrist that will suit most buyers. It is also worth mentioning the watch is 100 metres water resistant and features a 110P manufacture caliber with 50 hours of power reserve, known as the 1904-PS MC in Cartier watches and the Vacheron Constantin 1326 as seen in their more approachable Fifty-Six collection. The 110P is well decorated with circular Côtes de Genève, bevelled bridges, an engraved winding rotor with the Piaget coat of arms with circular Côtes de Genève, and blued screws on the bridges.
What remains to be seen is how the watch fits Isaac’s character in the film. Piaget and the legendary 9P society are meant to embody elegance, the sunny side of life, and jet-setting luxury. The Card Counter, however, appears to be quite a gritty film, making the watch an interesting pairing. I am certainly curious to see what role the watch plays in the film, if any, and if it somehow ties into the backstory of the protagonist or his roots and family. Regardless, it is fair to say the watch looks great on Isaac’s wrist – even if I would suggest he take a link out for a more snug fit.