The New Piaget Altiplano Origin 35mm (Live Pics & Price)

The Altiplano is, without doubt, the most emblematic watch of the entire Piaget collection. In 1957, Valentin Piaget introduced two future icons of watchmaking: the Altiplano and the ultra-thin calibre 9P. Three years later, Piaget launched the 12P, an ultra-thin self-winding movement. But this watch, the Altiplano, was more than just a mechanical statement, and its design, simplified to the max for heightened elegance, will remain the foundation for most Altiplano watches. Today, the brand goes back to basics with the new Piaget Altiplano Origin 35mm, a watch that founder Georges Piaget would certainly admire. 

The new Piaget Altiplano Origin extends on the brand’s thin concept with a case thickness of 8.1mm. It is certainly not the thinnest of the brand’s portfolio, which includes the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, measuring in at an impressive 2mm depth. Belonging to the same collection, which takes its name from the flattest region of South-Eastern Peru and western Bolivia, the new 35mm Altiplano is available in three versions: two 18k rose gold versions – including one with a diamond-set bezel – and one 18k white gold diamond-set bezel. All three 35mm Piaget Altiplano Origin watches are two-handed dress watches styled on leather straps. 

The new Altiplano Origin watches, despite their simplicity, are uniquely hallmarked. The equally slim Piaget 501P movement, exposed through a sapphire crystal caseback, reveals its oscillating weight bearing the Piaget Coat of Arms and the 8 o’clock location on each dial, when inspected closely, reveals the “Altiplano” signature.

The three new Piaget Altiplano Origin watches in gold feature respective rose gold and white gold hour and minute hands. Echoing the straight and slender shape of these hands are 12 baton indices around the hour track, framed by a polished 18k rose gold bezel (ref. G0A45405 retailing at CHF 18,100), a diamond-set 18k rose gold bezel (ref. G0A45406 retailing at CHF 25,100) and an 18k white gold diamond-set bezel (ref. G0A45407 retailing at CHF 26,200). The gem-set iterations feature a total of 76 round brilliant-cut diamonds amounting to 0.49ct.

The three new Piaget Altiplano Origin watches come fitted on leather straps. The rose gold iterations are completed on shiny red alligator leather straps, while the white gold diamond version comes on a shiny deep blue alligator leather strap. All three bands with respective rose gold and white gold buckles offer the company’s self-interchangeable strap system for alternating with other coloured Piaget straps. In addition to this, the 35mm size of the Altiplano Origin is sure to appeal to both male and female wrists. We might recommend men opt for a different strap, which will be easy since the watches are equipped with a self-interchangeable system.

The Altiplano Origin is powered by Piaget’s in-house self-winding 501P movement. The 3.6mm movement is an evolution of the brand’s 530P calibre, providing a 43-hour power reserve and performing at 21,600 vibrations per hour.

More details at piaget.com.