Piaget Altiplano Year of the Monkey watch
Over the past month or so, we have been bringing you a close up look at all of the new watches that celebrate the Year of the Monkey. Today, we present the Piaget Limited Edition Year of the Monkey watch. To celebrate the Chinese New Year (which begins next week), Piaget presents the playful monkey, the ninth sign of the Chinese zodiac, in a beautiful Cloisonné Enamel dial. Cased in the brand’s Altiplano watch, the newest piece in the brand’s “Art & Excellence” collection is bedecked in diamonds for added appeal.
For the creation of this watch, Piaget turned to renowned master enameller Anita Porchet, who has brought the previous Chinese zodiac, signs to life for Piaget (dragon, serpent, horse, goat). Porchet uses cloisonné (the art of partitioning the enamel colors between thin lines of gold) for a more intense color hue and distinctive shading of gray for the monkey to attain its fur coat. In his hand he holds a peach, the symbol of immortality.
The watch is painted in cloisonné style by Anita Porchet.
The cloisonné’ process requires a great deal of patience, as the artisan first forms the motif with hollow partitions of gold, then crushes and mixes the pigments by hand before delicately applying the colors inside the partitions with a fine brush. Colors are achieved through multiple paintings and firings of the dial in the kiln at over 800°C. The 18-karar white gold case is set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds, and a Piaget 430P hand- wound mechanical manufacture movement powers the watch. Just 38 pieces will be made of the 38mm masterpiece.
