Manufacture
MTF's comprehensive report offers an exclusive look inside the expanded Piaget Manufacture in Geneva, detailing the intricate processes behind their high-end timepieces. This article compiles insights from the PuristS On Tour 2008 visit, providing a rare glimpse into Piaget's commitment to in-house production and artisanal craftsmanship. Readers will discover the meticulous work involved in creating Piaget's cases, bracelets, and complex movements.
PIAGET: PuristS On Tour 2008 Part 4 – Geneva & For Ladies
Previously, we reported on the PuristS On Tour 2008 visit to Piaget:
Part 1: click here
Part 2: click here
Part 3: click here
In this final part 4, we visit the Piaget Manufacture in Geneva where most of encasing in their in-house made cases and bracelets is done. Only the top-of-the-range complications are encased in the Cote-au-Fees manufacture.
Piaget Geneva Manufacture was expanded and PuristS were honoured to be amongst the first visitors in October 2008. We entered by the new ramp and reception area and immediately noticed that the extra length of corridor meant that the Piaget staff looked much fitter! 
Piaget CEO, Philippe Leopold-Metzger was not kidding when he said they were still putting the final touches in the construction.
Design Department
Not every day do you get to hold a 1.5m long solid gold bar........
Geneva Manufacture Director, Pascal Narbeburu (black suit in background) was keeping a close eye on it
Cases and bracelets in precious metals are all made in-house
Polish......polish.....and then......polish again.
Finished Gold Polo cases
Secret Finished "Black" Polo cases......shhh.
World's most expensive dustbin!
I was surprised to see this "old fellow", the last non-CNC milling 'robot' in the Manufacture, was supposed to have been replaced soon after my first visit in 2007: click here
Pierre Guerrier (Product Manager - Black Tie Collection) looks the part.......
Two Movements -- One Watch -- Many Jewels
Jewellery Presentation
Jean Bernard Forot (Marketing Director Jewellery; right) made the Collection come alive!
A Gorgeous Piaget Jewellery Designer
The new Collection?..........shhh
My favourite jewellery piece below
A deceptively "simple" yet well thought out necklace. Note the many variations of wearing this piece. The 'P' clasp allows firm but flexible adjustment of length. The 'roller beads' provide flowing movement with many degrees of freedom.
Finally, the proof of the conviction that the people at Piaget instilled in at least one of the PuristS over the 2 days.
Convinced by the aesthetics, mechanics and techniques at Piaget, Mr XYZ bought this piece upon his return.....
On behalf of the PuristS, I would like to thank Philippe Leopold-Metzger and the warm people at Piaget for an enlightening and enjoyable PoT 2008 (PuristS on Tour).
Copyright Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo, 2009.
This message has been edited by MTF on 2009-05-13 05:54:52
Excellent pics and post MTF! Let's not forget to give a BIG Thank You to Stephanie for being such a great host! Here's a couple more pics: We were all paying attention: Hello! =) -MW
Thanks again to Philippe Leopold-Metzger, his assistant Stephanie and the whole Piaget team for their wonderful and warm hospitality. We all had a great time visiting Piaget Manufacture. It was also an honor and a privilege to be one of the first guests to visit the expanded facility in Geneva. We got to see some incredible Piaget watches. My favorite is the Altiplano Squelette. The movement is ultra-thin at only 2.7mm and is based on the in-house Piaget caliber 838P manual wind movement. The wo
Here's a short video I took of Piaget watchmakers benchtesting a tourbillon: And the finished product: Regards, ED-209
Very cool watch and wonder if you use it as a minute hourglass. If not, Piaget should make the slight changes in design so it can be IMO Cheers, Anthony
ED209 - cool video. I'm puzzled, one of the piece you had a wristshot, is it a watch or hour glass jewelery?
Hi ATM, It's both! My pics don't show it but it really is a watch on the second dial behind all hour glass and jewelry. It's based on the Piaget Altiplano Double Jeu case and is actually two watches within one. There's a hinge opposite the crown side that flips open to reveal the watch (like a clamshell with a jewel top and watch mechanism bottom section). The watch side uses a manual-wind 830P movement. Hi Anthony and patrickau, I recall reading in iW magazine that there's about 6600 grains of
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