Besides the gorgeous (and unique, too) Polo Tourbillon Relatif Dragon (Ref. G0A36545,) Piaget has also presented another dragon-themed product. Presented in a shape of a so-called “fob watch” (or, more plainly, a “pocket watch” although I highly doubt that the piece is supposed to travel in your pockets,) the hand-wound Piaget Altiplano Tourbillon Dragon (Ref. G0A36563) is equipped with what is claimed to be the world’s slimmest tourbillon movement.
According to Piaget’s official press release, their fairly new Piaget 602P hand-wound caliber is just 3.50 millimeters thick!
To get the idea of how thin it actually is, just compare it to the similarly specced Lange L072.1 tourbillon movement that, featuring comparable 36 hours of power reserve, is more than twice as thick measuring 7.6 mm from top to bottom. Beating at a rather slow frequency of 21,600 vph, the hand-crafted movement offers 40 hours of power reserve and features a nicely executed flying tourbillon escapement that, featuring three titanium bridges, tips the scales at just 0.2 grams!
Since it doesn’t make sense in designing a whole new timepiece just to show off their prowess when it comes to Grand Feu enameling, guys at Piaget based the new timekeeper on their current fob watch with reference number G0A33063.
Accordingly, the timekeeper comes in a compact white gold square-shaped body measuring only 40 millimeters. Its bezel, which is, too, crafted from the same precious metal, is set with 144 brilliant-cut diamonds weighing approximately 2.4 carats (around 480 milligrams.)
But, of course, its main point of attraction is on the other side of the body. Its solid case back is not only equipped with a small sapphire window that gives an unobstructed view of the tourbillon carriage but also features a meticulously executed Grand Feu enamel depicting a Chinese dragon.
The artisan used black enamel to form a background and then applied numerous layers of semi-translucent white enamel in order to make the graphic image of the dragon.
Although I dismiss the idea of offering dragon-themed jewelry as opportunistic, I must admit that this particular implementation of the idea looks like a real work of art that, when the time comes, will take its rightful place in a museum of modern art. Only three individually numbered pieces will be sold.
See also: Chaumet Dandy Chronograph XL El Primero
WWR Verdict
Originality 5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 3/5
Overall Legibility: 4/5
Nighttime Legibility: 1/5
Value for Money: n/a
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Photos: Piaget
Piaget Altiplano Tourbillon Dragon (Ref. G0A36563) specification
Movement: Hand-wound, Caliber Piaget 602P, 22.40 mm x 28.64 x 3.50 mm, in-house, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 22
Movement frequency: 21,600 vph
Movement decoration: Hand-decorated; Circular Geneva Stripes, circular-grained main plate and bridges, beveled and drawn bridges and tourbillon carriage, blued and polished screws on bridges
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds (flying tourbillon)
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: 18-karat white gold
Bezel: Matches case, set with diamonds
Shape: Square
Size: 40.00 mm
Case height: 7.90 mm
Dial: Silver-toned, sunburst finish
Hour markers: Black
Hands: Baton-shaped
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Presented with an 18-karat white gold chain, a grey alligator cordlet, and a grey alligator leather base and fob
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective coating
Back: Solid, Grand Feu miniature enamel, sapphire cutout showing the tourbillon