Piaget: Altiplano Ultimate Automatic 910P

Three years after the launch of the revolutionary slimmest manual-winding watch in the world at that time “Piaget Altiplano 900P”, in 2017 Piaget celebrates the 60 anniversary of the Altiplano line and the ultra-thin 9p movement revealing the new Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Automatic.

With a thickness of only 4,30mm, Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Automatic breaks free of the distinction between movement and exterior elements, to set a new record: that of the world’s thinnest automatic watch.

Designed as an inseparable whole to set a new thinness record, the movement and case form a single entity, with the latter serving as a mainplate to which the 219 incredibly thin components are affixed. This highly complex architecture has led to a reversed movement construction, with the bridges fitted on the dial side, since they are now visible through the front of the watch. This style vocabulary is further enriched by the going train which is also revealed, extending an irresistible invitation to let time stand still and revel in admiring this 41mm diameter mechanical masterpiece.

To save these precious tenths of a millimetre, the entire mechanism and hand-fitting is contained within the thickness of the balance wheel, thus entailing an off-centred display of the hours and minutes. Working within these small confines, Piaget opted for a suspended barrel, held by a single bridge on the dial side, contrary to customary barrels that are also fixed on the mainplate side. The Altiplano Ultimate Automatic enjoys a generous 50-hour power reserve. Driven by the same concern for optimising use of the available space, the oscillating weight in 22K gold with black PVD coating is positioned on the movement periphery so as to be incorporated into its thickness and thus contribute to the overall slimness. The choice of gold for this technical component is essential as it allows a perfect machining, and it endows the oscillating weight with a weight, an inertia and a robustness guaranteeing excellent winding performance. This type of construction has been applied also for the hours and minutes that are integrated within the thickness of the calibre, whereas they tend to be placed on top in standard constructions.

Machined in the actual 18k gold watch case, the mainplate has been satin-brushed and sandblasted, while the wheels are alternately sunburst. Hollowed out so as to afford an even better view of the subtle mechanism also the chamfered bridges are sunburst satin- brushed. The historical “Piaget Automatic” inscription that appeared on the very first ultra-thin timepiece from the Maison also sets the seal on this new watch, thereby paying tribute to the extremely rich history of the line.

The new Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Automatic is proposed in pink gold (€. 28.700) and in white (€. 29.800), both versions are combined with a black alligator leather strap.