BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
For Watches & Wonders Geneva, Piaget unveiled a new version of the Polo watch that is its entry into the “integrated bracelet sports watch” sector that’s been hot for the past few years and continues to be so today. Of course, the new Polo Perpetual Calendar Obsidian wasn’t the only watch they unveiled, but it’s the one that caught our attention the most.
The Polo is a great watch in a rather, erm, difficult position. Traditionally, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet have dominated this particular market sector. Of course, there are alternatives worth considering like Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas watches and Chopard’s Alpine Eagle, and now Rolex has the Land-Dweller as well. These watchmakers are all more well-known in the watch circles that I’m in. Piaget’s Polo seems to end up relegated to the back of the crowd most of the time. Their complicated watches are what could well set them apart from the rest, as they’re inventive and have a unique approach to design that favours them well.
Piaget’s Polo Perpetual Calendar Obsidian watch is a classy piece with a weighty 42.00mm x 8.65mm 18k white gold case. With a flexible blue rubber strap, it wears comfortably on the wrist; the thinness of the case surely helps with this. A blue alligator leather strap is also included.
The obsidian dial, which Piaget colours blue, is distinctive and functional. The pattern of the obsidian is unique to each watch as the obsidian is a naturally occurring product. All of the indications are super clear in person, and I like the small moonphase display at 6 O’clock. Overall it’s a cleaner design than previous iterations of the Polo with a perpetual calendar.
Around the back is the self-winding calibre 1255P which Piaget makes in-house. Composed of 238 components, the movement is just 4mm thick. It also has a 42-hour power reserve and a 3Hz beat rate; a blue-coloured gold micro-rotor provides the winding for the movement and it’s been balanced exceptionally; check our Instagram video to see it in action.
Overall, this is a strong entrant from Piaget and one which is eye-catching and unique; I hope it’s enough to pull some folks away from the more “common” offerings. Because of the tariffs, I suspect, this watch is priced upon request in the USA, but in Francs it’s CHF97,500, in Sterling it’s £89,000, and in Euros it’s €107,000 all including their country’s respected VAT.
