jean piaget had

Here are some interesting skeletonized versions of Piaget's new Polo 45 (FortyFive) collection timepieces. I spotted these watches at Piaget, though I don't believe there has been any press about them. Piaget may be waiting to announce them, but here they are. There is a chronograph and three-hand version, and they are pretty much the same Piaget Polo 45 you are now familiar with, but with stylized, skeletonized dials. Under the dials is the in-house made Piaget movement with perlage polish. The the dials retain all the necessary markers and numerals, but are otherwise skeletonzied. A liberal amount of red is used adding to the sporty feel of the watch. Many people feel that the Piaget Polo FortyFive watch collection was a mistake to begin with. Being overpriced and under-styled. Others really liked it though - and for those people I think these skeletonized models will be a hit. Piaget uses a large red circle over the date window, which is a nice touch. I don't think these watches have the typical Piaget polish that we are used to, but that isn't really what the Polo FortyFive collection is all about. While the hour markers do a good job of popping out on the dial, the hands need a lot of improvement to be legible enough. I understand that these skeletonized Polo FortyFive watches are going to be commercially available but in limited amounts. Look for them sometime this year at a price that is likely a slight premium over the standard Piaget Polo FortyFive automatic or chronograph models. Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com. Gallery: Piaget Polo 45 Skeletonized Watch

  To accommodate its development, Piaget is carrying out major expansion work at its manufactory in Plan-les-Ouates. The imposing edifice inaugurated in 2001, which is also the firm?s headquarters, can no longer absorb increased manpower fuelled by growth. Located on a plot of land covering nearly 30,000 m2, the existing building provides a total floor space of 8,471 m2. This summer, 850 m2 of new floor space will be added to the current building, enabling the firm to strengthen its activities, particularly in the fields of product development, marketing, training and the production of watches and jewellery. The expansion project is being overseen by the designer of the site, architect Pierre Studer. Founded in 1874 in La Côte-aux-Fées, Piaget today occupies two sites. Workshops in the Neuchâtel Jura region continue to produce movements, while on its Geneva site the firm carries out all operations relating to exterior watch parts, as well as the casing up of movements. Piaget also has a large luxury jewellery workshop. More than 40 professions are practised within the firm, which is one of the rare companies to combine watchmaking and jewellery skills. In parallel with the expansion of its manufactory, Piaget is converting its retail outlet on the rue du Rhône. From next spring it will house a showroom on the second floor where thematic exhibitions will be staged, devoted in particular to the firm?s rich heritage. The company in fact owns an important collection of historic pieces, watches and jewels, attesting to its unique position in the history of watchmaking and jewellery. Its bold designs and expertise will thus be showcased on a floor space of nearly 180 m2 which will also include a VIP lounge and an area dedicated to after-sales service, in addition to the store?s existing premises.