The Piaget Polo collection, introduced in 2016, made waves with its design, perhaps too conservative at first. Since then, the brand has worked hard to give the collection more individuality, more Piaget-ness. Following the initial models with date and chronograph, we saw Piaget Polo watches with colorful dials or contrasting bezels, and, of course, earlier this year - the Piaget Polo Skeleton, a very attractive model true to Piaget's ethos. Now it's time for the return of the Automatic Chronograph in a beautiful limited edition with a silver and blue color scheme, contrasting elements, and an integrated rubber strap. The Piaget Polo Blue Panda Automatic Chronograph was initially released exclusively for Mr Porter, but will soon be available worldwide.
The History
The Piaget Polo watch is the brainchild of Yves G. Piaget, an engineer-watchmaker and gemologist who joined the family business in 1966. Yves had a passion for horses and equestrian competitions like polo, which led the brand to sponsor the world's largest polo tournament for six years. Using this as a way to promote his creations, he designed and created special watches released in 1979 - the Polo, elegant watches in a modern sporty-chic style with a fully integrated bracelet. They were created as a continuous flow of solid sculptural gold ingots that wrapped around the wrist. It was then equipped with an ultra-thin quartz caliber 7P… remember, in the late 1970s, quartz was far more attractive than anything mechanical. But times have changed.
In 2016, the current generation of Piaget Polo was released - watches that became a sort of mix between the spirit of the original 1970s watches with an integrated design and sporty elements, responding to the growing demand for luxury sports watches, yet remaining true to the brand's past with a cushion-shaped case reminiscent of the Emperador collection. The shape, however, was much more modern and refined than the very bold Polo of the 1970s, and this was for the better. Then still called Polo S, they were offered in versions with a time-only movement and a chronograph, and featured a relatively thin profile in line with the brand's tradition of using ultra-thin movements.
Five years later, the brand renamed the collection to the simpler name - Piaget Polo - and released several series to give the watches more individuality, originality, and Piaget style. The pinnacle of this transformation was presented at the beginning of 2021 in the form of the stunning Piaget Polo Skeleton model - ultra-thin watches with a magnificent openwork movement, vibrant color, and more luxurious appeal, fully in line with Piaget's spirit.
Piaget Polo "Blue Panda"
Today, the brand presents a new limited edition based on the classic model with an automatic chronograph. While the base, identical proportions, case, and movement remain unchanged, the design and color scheme have been significantly updated, making this Piaget Polo Blue Panda model likely a new highlight of the collection.
First and foremost, we still find the beautifully executed cushion-shaped case of the collection, with alternating curved lines and a combination of horizontally brushed surfaces and polished chamfers - all classic elements of modern luxury sports watches. The case appears, at least on paper, quite large with a diameter of 42mm. Nevertheless, its concept is smart with short lugs, a thin profile of only 11.2mm (which is really not bad for an automatic chronograph), and a strap that hugs the wrist. Overall, this version feels more like a 40mm watch when wrapped around the wrist.
Other case elements have been retained, such as the 100m water resistance, sapphire crystals at the front and back, and well-integrated oval chronograph pushers. But what really changes the look of the watch and its feel on the wrist is the new rubber strap. Previously, the watch was available on a not quite integrated steel bracelet (the watch still has lugs) or a classic leather strap, but now it comes on a rubber strap that perfectly fits into the overall design of the watch.
The strap not only curves between the lugs, smoothly transitioning into the case, but also has a textured surface reminiscent of the dial. Finally, as mentioned above, this changes the way the watch wraps around the wrist and makes it more balanced. Finally, as mentioned above, this changes the way it wraps around the wrist and makes the watch more balanced. And finally, it leads to a more relaxed, slightly sporty look that really fits the Polo concept.
Another major change can be seen on the dial. Indeed, as the name suggests, the Piaget Polo Blue Panda Automatic Chronograph has a two-tone dial with contrasting subdials. Usually, the watches are only released with monochromatic blue, silver, or gray dials, but now they are equipped with blue additional Piaget dials, making them more attractive on the wrist and more casual. Otherwise, nothing has changed: the dial is still textured, with horizontal grooves and a matte surface. The applied markers and polished steel hands are also identical, including the seconds hand with the "P" counterweight (not the most attractive...) and the date in a metallic frame located at the "6 o'clock" position. The combination of steel/silver with blue subdials/strap is really beautiful, at least to me.
Under the screw-down sapphire case back still lies the in-house caliber 1160P, a thin and compact integrated chronograph movement based on the Piaget caliber 880P and manufactured in ValFleurier (Richemont's production center). It shares the same architecture as the Cartier caliber 1904-CH. However, it is equipped with the best combination in town - a column wheel and vertical clutch, as well as a dual barrel providing a 50-hour power reserve. Its height is only 5.72mm, allowing the watch to remain thin. The watch displays hours and minutes, but without a small seconds hand, instead using a two-register chronograph with 12-hour and 30-minute counters. Through the case back, you can see the pleasant finishing: a blue rotor, blued screws, circular Geneva stripes on all bridges and rotor, as well as beveled bridges.
Availability and Price
The Piaget Polo Blue Panda Automatic Chronograph 42mm also features an interchangeable strap system that can be removed without tools. The watch is released in a limited edition of 888 pieces, which were initially presented exclusively at Mr Porter, but will soon be available on the Piaget website, in boutiques, and at the brand's retailers.
The price of the watch is 15,800 euros.