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Lot Essay
Piaget has long been regarded as one of the most inventive names in Swiss watchmaking, combining exceptional jewellery expertise with an uncompromising approach to design. The creative freedom that characterised the manufacture during the 1960s and 1970s, widely considered a golden age for both design and the decorative arts, remains central to its identity today. During this remarkable period, Piaget expanded into high jewellery while simultaneously creating some of the era’s most daring wristwatches, ranging from extraordinary gem-set creations to bold and highly sculptural designs. The present timepiece is a contemporary interpretation of one of the manufacture’s most iconic creations: the ‘Black Tie’, now officially known as the Andy Warhol following an agreement with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, in tribute to one of the model’s most celebrated admirers.
In contrast to many of Piaget’s more organic and extravagant creations of the period, the design is defined by an imposing, almost architectural cushion-shaped case framed by a distinctive multi-stepped bezel. Although deceptively simple in appearance, its carefully balanced proportions allow the watch to combine considerable presence with remarkable elegance. The original design emerged in the early 1970s and was conceived to house the revolutionary Beta 21, the first Swiss-made quartz movement, placing it firmly among the defining creations of the early quartz era.
The present example is further distinguished by its magnificent blue meteorite dial. Its naturally occurring structure creates an extraordinary pattern of vibrant blue tones that shifts according to the light, ensuring that no two dials can ever be exactly alike. Set against the strong geometric architecture of the case, the celestial material creates a particularly striking contrast, bringing a contemporary dimension to one of Piaget’s most recognisable designs.
In contrast to many of Piaget’s more organic and extravagant creations of the period, the design is defined by an imposing, almost architectural cushion-shaped case framed by a distinctive multi-stepped bezel. Although deceptively simple in appearance, its carefully balanced proportions allow the watch to combine considerable presence with remarkable elegance. The original design emerged in the early 1970s and was conceived to house the revolutionary Beta 21, the first Swiss-made quartz movement, placing it firmly among the defining creations of the early quartz era.
The present example is further distinguished by its magnificent blue meteorite dial. Its naturally occurring structure creates an extraordinary pattern of vibrant blue tones that shifts according to the light, ensuring that no two dials can ever be exactly alike. Set against the strong geometric architecture of the case, the celestial material creates a particularly striking contrast, bringing a contemporary dimension to one of Piaget’s most recognisable designs.