Piaget - Altiplano Ultimate Concept

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept 2020. Following the introduction, in 2018, of a prototype that was just 2 mm thick, Piaget is now bringing the Altiplano Ultimate Concept to the market as a fully developed, tried and tested watch. The Altiplano Ultimate Concept can be customised to the requirements of individual owners. The six-figure price is on request and depending on customisation.

Following the introduction, in 2018, of a prototype that was just 2 mm thick, Piaget is now bringing the Altiplano Ultimate Concept to the market as a fully developed, tried and tested watch.

This watch implements several Piaget innovations, including a case that forms part of the movement, a unique, integrated winding crown, an ultra-thin crystal and new constructions for the barrel and energy regulation.

Comprised of 167 individual components, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept was developed and produced entirely in-house by Piaget's dedicated Research and Innovation division in a process that required the filing of no fewer than five patents, beginning with the creation of a 41 mm case into which the movement baseplate is directly machined.

Too thin to use gold, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept case had to be made from a new, cobalt-based alloy that is highly resistant, 2.3 times stronger than gold but, as a consequence, more difficult to machine.

Other parts were entirely re-engineered and re-sized, with wheels, for example, being reduced from a conventional 0.20 mm thick to 0.12 mm and the sapphire crystal, normally 1 mm thick in a standard watch, being pared-down by 80 per cent to an unbelievable 0.2 mm. A mere 0.12 mm of cobalt separates the movement from the wearer's skin.

The mainspring barrel has no cover or drum but is mounted on a single, ceramic ball-bearing within the frame of the watch and enables the 4Hz (28,800 vph) fully-wound movement to run for up to 40 hours.

The crown, has been completely re-invented to take the form of a flat, telescopic system (with its own, specially-designed winding tool) that fits flush with the case band and in which the conventional sliding pinion clutch and crown wheel are substituted for a single, 'infinite screw'.

Such a construction offers the great advantage of perfectly protecting the crown, and therefore the movement, from unwanted shock.

Since a conventional, straight winding stem could not be used for the dial's off-centre position, a patented 'staggered' stem was created.

The conventional hour hand is replaced with a revolving indicator disc while the minute hand works in the usual way.

Instead of having a dial and two hands placed on top of a bridge, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept features a dial that lies beneath it, thus providing protection from any contact with the strong but wafer-thin crystal should it be momentarily deformed in an impact.

The minuscule size of many components did not prevent Piaget's artisans from embellishing the movement with sunburst and satin-brushed finishes, chamfered and polished bridges and enhancing the appearance of the combined case/baseplate with a sophisticated PVD treatment.

A special alligator skin strap, a blue rubber and a blue technical textile strap were developed. They are all ultra-thin, featuring a velvet calfskin lining and an ultra-strong Kevlar - secured by an ultra-thin cobalt pin buckle.

Altiplano Ultimate Concept G0A45502

The Altiplano Ultimate Concept can be customised to the requirements of individual owners. As a result, buyers may specify the colour of the bridge and dial, the finish of the hands and the main plate and select the favourite strap.

The six-figure price is on request and depending on customisation. piaget.com

Altiplano Ultimate Concept G0A45500

Altiplano Ultimate Concept G0A45501