History of... Piaget - Luxury Watch Insurance

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3 minute read

Updated 2nd May 2025

“The watch, like you and me, has no end and no beginning. Yet it has significance, for it reminds us there is now, and it promises tomorrow.”

Piaget advert by Alberto Rizzo, 1969

For over 150 years, luxury Maison Piaget have been leaders in jewellery and watchmaking excellence. In this brief history of the brand, we trace Piaget’s humble beginnings as a single workshop in the Swiss mountains to the global powerhouse they are today.

The beginning

Piaget was founded in 1874 by Georges-Édouard Piaget, who opened a watchmaking workshop on his family farm in the Swiss Jura Mountains. It was in this workshop that 19-year-old Piaget would hone his passion for crafting timepieces with highly precise movements.

It was Georges-Édouard’s son Timothée who would take the company to new heights after steering the company towards the creation of luxury wristwatches and pocket watches while still upholding their commitment to quality craftsmanship.

Georges-Édouard’s philosophy to, “always do better than necessary,” continued to guide the company’s movements in the 21^st century. In 1957, led by third generation Piagets Gérald and Valentin, the company unveiled the game-changing 9P calibre, an exceptionally thin hand-wound mechanical movement at just two-millimetres.

Just three years later, Piaget would again make waves when they unveiled the then thinnest automatic movement in the world.

Piaget: where art meets excellence

Throughout the years, Piaget never sacrificed style in their quest for innovation. In 1969, guided by Valentin Piaget’s precept to, “do what has never been done before,” the Maison released the groundbreaking 21^st Century Collection.

The collection would succeed in doing what many a watchmaker had tried (and failed) to do, marrying watches with high jewellery in timepieces featuring whisper-thin stone dials, including lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye and malachite.

It was acclaimed Italian artist and photographer Alberto Rizzo who shot and styled the 21^st Century Collection advertising campaign, which doubled as legitimate pieces of art in their own right .

Piaget’s artistic flair is further demonstrated by their long-held affiliation with the Cannes Film Festival, for which they’ve partnered with big celebrity names like Ethan Hawke, The Weeknd, and Aubrey Plaza. Today, celebrities who have been seen on the red carpet wearing a Piaget creation include the likes of Beyoncé, Michael B. Jordan, Emilia Clarke, and Anthony Mackie.

High watchmaking

These flagship watches are timeless commemorations of pieces of Piaget’s history.

The Andy Warhol Watch

Owning no fewer than seven Piaget watches, Andy Warhol’s affinity for the watchmaker earned him his own title collection. The latest Andy Warhol design features a gritty blue meteorite dial and eye-catching diamond bezel.

Piaget Polo 79

The Piaget sports watch is perhaps their best-known, and most iconic, creation. Featuring uninterrupted gold from dial to strap, the eye-catching timepiece is forever tied not only to the sport of polo but the exclusive events hosted by the Piaget Society.

Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar

At just 8.65mm thick, with a deep emerald dial, Piaget’s Perpetual Calendar joins the Polo collection in ultra-thin style. The mechanical timepiece tracks months, moon phases and leap years until the year 2100, which you’ll be able to see in the dark thanks to the Super-LumiNova finish.

Care for your precious items with Stanhope

At Stanhope, we specialise in protecting your high-value valuables. We believe that your most precious possessions deserve the very best of care. Get a free quote today or contact a member of our team.

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.

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