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Despite the time since it was first brought into being, the
movement stands out as a work of art. Even now, other watch brands use this movement, outside of Piaget, and it is testimony to Piaget's ability and watchmaking skill that such a movement survives the passage of time!
Great story and thanks.
Andrew H
PIAGET Altiplano Saga: Part 1 - The World is Not Thin Enough - Manual 9P movement
PIAGET Altiplano Saga: Part 1 - The World is Not Thin Enough - Manual 9P movement By Melvyn Teillol-Foo The Piaget 9P caliber was 20.5mm x 2.00mm and was introduced in 1957 as one of the world's thinnest manual wind movements; it ran at 19,800 A/h frequen...
Excellent post and great reading
Thank you. I am glad to be learning about the Piaget ultra thins. I am looking forward to part 2... respo
Me too ! There are 6 more parts.........
respo, I'm looking forward to Part 2 as well! Seriously, PIAGET Altiplano Saga is a 7-part series! (SEVEN....count 'em) that will be written by Daos or Me or Anybody we can rope in..... Sharpening my pencil, MTF
Thanks MTF....
The Altiplano with the mesh dial matching the bracelet is cool. Thanks for this very informative post and history on PIAGET! -MW
Piaget has a bunch of matching
dial to bracelet models in their past. We may post the photos in a later part of the Altiplano Saga. Maybe, they would re-issue the concept in future models......if only this global recession would lift. Regards, MTF
Very interesting, thanks.
The new automatic ultra thin caliber from Piaget was one of my favorite news at the SIHH. A great achievement and a beautiful creation. Stunning. Vte
Great write up...I look forward to Part 2...
I love the first two square watches in your article, the gold and blue is so regal!!! And the stone dial (which looks like a BMW insignia is very cool). Great write up, I can't wait to read part 2. Best regards, Dino
Do you like to be square?
dino, What do you think of square watches as a comeback fashion? It is surprising to me that the early Altiplanos were square....."as flat a s a piece of paper" could be the theme. Not many brands have elegant square mechanical watches in their portfolio....
Funny that you ask . . .
. . . because I was a hair's breadth away from purchasing a vintage white gold Omega dress watch in the form of a square with angled corners last weekend. It was fitted with the exquisite cal 302 shaped movement, and in excellent original condition. Ultim...
I love square and rectangular watches...
Hi MTF, After many years of only owning round watches (Rolex sport models), I decided in 2002 I wanted to get a real dress watch. This was shortly after buying my Wife a Cartier Tank Francais. She became a watch snob, and will not even consider a quartz w...
Very interesting...
....that Piaget has been able to establish such a renowned reputation in the area of ultra-thin mechanical watches. I'm curious as to whether you have any information on how they are able to achieve these ultra-thin movements? From watching the video on t...
It must be a philosophy thing....
Ping, In the old days, without CNC milling machines, making extra flat mechanical movements was a challenge. The fine tolerances were not taken on lightly by the watchmakers. Reliability was a problem because the components jammed or the thin plates affor...
Thanks for the insight...
Melvyn, I get it now. They made it their area of expertise to concentrate on, and others focus on different areas. It's very interesting to me because it seems that thin watches are a niche market, at a time when more heft and weight on the wrist is often...
The ultra thin manual 9P movement
Thanks MTF for this series on the Piaget Altiplano and the 9P movement. Looking forward to part 2. Regards, ED-209
Something I never mentioned before...
Stefan, When 'arthur aka wmclarenf1' was looking for watches made after 1957 for family members that matches their birth year, I did not suggest Piaget watches with 9P movements afer 1957 or12P movements after 1960. This was because vintage Piagets are no...
LOL MTF
Thanks for the pointer here.. Actually Piaget would be a great brand for my "wu ling" project... JLC MUT has made it to the shortlist. I have cehcked with JLC who was very gracious to endulge me and they have confirmed reversos do not meet my criteria but...
So do all these watches have solid casebacks?
and not display backs to preserve the case's thinness? Cheers, Anthony
Not even this one....
Anthony, Of course, preserving flatness is one of the reasons to have solid casebacks, but Piaget is not always blindly pursuing flatness. They decided to increase by 0.15mm from the 9P to the 9P2 movement to increase stability. What is surprising is that...
Hopefully Piaget will not be too modest in future models
A beautifully engraved movement such as the one you posted shouldn't be enclosed in a solid caseback IMO! Cheers, Anthony
Superb work, MTF.
A very interesting read and journey through Time. These Ultra Thin movements are candy for the eyes. Thanks for the information, and for my personal education, as I learnt a lot, here. Best, Nicolas
I'm learnng too
Nicholas, I'm learning too with each research before each article. It seems Piaget has many secrets.....well maybe not like State secrets bu they did not seem to have put their patrimony on the high altar like some 'Other' brands! I guess that God's altar...
Thank you Melvyn
Hi, I've long dreamed myself of a platinum Piaget "Gouverneur" with a Piager 9P! These calibres are great, and I hope to see the following part on the 430P! Cheers Dje
And so you shall.......
For dje: Platinum Governeur No 430P write-up as part 2 of the Piaget Altiplano Saga will be about the 12P movement........ Regards, MTF...
Love that 120th Anniversary edition! Thanks for the compilation and I cannot wait for the
6 additional chapters! Mike
Were you seduced by the relatively plain
outside or the unseen movement inside? Would you have been satisfied with the outside if you KNEW the engraved movement was inside? That is the fascination of Piaget fans' psyche that I am trying to tease out. Regards, MTF
I would have been happy with just the simple layout on the outside
I like how the PR indication is displayed and the contrasting color used. The engraved movement would have been a cool bonus. Cheers, Mike
Yes. Piaget informs me that...
...early versions of the 9P only had 17 jewels. Cheers, Daos
Thanks a lot Melvin for this great post.
I love this one which is totally unknown to me: Don't hesitate to post more about this watch ! Thanks a lot ! Fr.Xavier...
Despite the time since it was first brought into being, the
movement stands out as a work of art. Even now, other watch brands use this movement, outside of Piaget, and it is testimony to Piaget's ability and watchmaking skill that such a movement survives the passage of time! Great story and thanks. Andrew H
Thanks MTF. This history is significant and should be better recognised
Good to see you talking about it. - SJX
Only by dragging out Piaget
Thanks SJX. Teasing out the story from Piaget took some time. Many of their private collection pieces were stranded in Shanghai for an exhibition and we had to wait for the photoshoot.. Regards, MTF
The range of styles utilizing the 9P movement...
...are astonishing. Piaget delivers such a range of timepieces; some sober and serious, others flirtatious and full of color. I do love seeing the photos from Piaget's Private Collection. The company has a history of design and mechanics of which to be ve...
I LOVE those vintage pieces; too bad more "collectors" and enthusiasts don't understand
and know the real history. But then, that's what we're here for...
shhhh Don't talk up the prices...
Thomas, I'm looking for some vintage pieces. Pease don't talk up the prices! Actually, its too late. Piaget vintage prices hae been rising and even more so since I started reading Piaget PuristSPro Forum . I think in times of recession, our tastes return ...