Piaget Altiplano Chinese New Year, Year of the Ox watch.
Top-tier watch brands such as Piaget are getting ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year in a few weeks. This year is the Year of the Ox and Piaget executes its ultra-thin Altiplano watch with grand-feu cloisonné’ dial of an ox beautifully.
By turning to celebrated artist Anita Porchet to paint the métiers d’Arts dial, Piaget propels the hardworking ox to new heights. The ox is praised in Chinese culture for its dependability, strength and association with farming and harvesting. While some watch brands portray the ox in different scenes, Piaget gives the entire dial to the honest and loyal animal. Porchet executes the ox in tones of gray and black, outlined in gold.
In fact, the art of cloisonné, which dates back centuries, begins with the creation of gold ribbons that form the outline and miniature portions of the painting. Then, enamel pigments are placed and the dials are fired in kilns at temperatures nearing 1000 degrees centigrade. The dials are then varnished with a clear coat to offer fabulous sheen. The task is not as easy as it sounds and requires hundreds of hours of meticulous painting.
Thanks to the incredible workmanship of Anita Porchet, the eye of the bull has a beautiful gleam, and the colors shift magnificently through the gray scales.
Because the craftsmanship and the animal should take center stage, the background is incredibly simple and sublime. This Piaget Altiplano Year of the Ox watch measures 38mm in diameter and is crafted in 18-karat white gold. The case is bedecked with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds. It is powered by the in-house-made Piaget 430P hand-wound movement that is exceptionally thin. In fact, Piaget is a master at creating ultra-thin movements and has even set world records for its work.
It is very fitting that it would utilize its ultra-thin expertise side-by-side with the incredible prowess of master enameler Anita Porchet for this work of art. Just 38 pieces of the exceptional Piaget Altiplano Year of the Ox watch will be made, each retailing for $67,500.
Chinese New Year, sometimes also referred to as the Spring Festival starts on February 12, 2021 and runs until February 22, 2022.
