When Piaget introduced the contemporary Polo Skeleton collection in 2021, the maison was praised for elevating its iconic sport-chic watch by pairing it with a bold yet tastefully skeletonized automatic movement that dominated the dial.
That the in-house calibre 1200S1 was a mere 2.4mm thin – allowing for a super slender 6.5mm case – meant that the Polo Skeleton delivered not just on stunning aesthetics but on supreme wearer comfort too.
Now the watchmaker, who’s celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, has added a new dimension to its Polo Skeleton by presenting it in a sleek black ceramic case – Piaget’s first foray into the use of this lightweight, scratch-resistant material.
Three Years in Development
The biggest challenge in creating the Polo Skeleton Ceramic was the development of the 42mm ceramic case that needs to be slim and shapely yet robust and waterproof.
To that end, the maison took three years to perfect the ceramic components – the two-part case, bezel and crown – from the ground up as well as a special titanium container treated with black DLC to match the inky appearance of the ceramic. This dark ensemble helps to give a water resistance of 50 metres.
Ceramic offers owners plenty of advantages. In addition to its light weight and scratch resistance, it retains its colour over time and is resistant to corrosion and magnetic fields.
Bearing a horizontally satin-finished top surface, the bezel has the characteristic cushion-shaped opening we have come to expect from the modern-day Piaget Polo. And at 7.5mm in height, the case is just a smidgeon thicker than its steel and gold counterparts. In any case, this impressive slenderness is achieved thanks to the wafer-like proportions of the calibre 1200S1.
1200S1 Skeleton Movement
Developed at Piaget’s movement manufacture in La Côte-Aux-Fées, the ultra-thin 1200S1 automatic skeleton movement basically takes up the entire dial. It’s got a 3 Hz frequency and a 44-hour power reserve, but the attention-grabbing stat is that it is just 2.4mm thin.
As with other skeletonised versions of the Piaget Polo, it stands out for its pared-back, sinuous shapes. The bridges have been treated with an anthracite tone and the moving parts, like the gears, with a grey hue. In both cases their surfaces are decorated with a swirling sunburst pattern.
Against this contemporary, monochromatic backdrop, the Alpha-shaped central hour and minute hands stand out nicely. Like the hour indices that project from the peripheral flange, they are filled with a Super-LumiNova that is navy in daylight while glowing green in the dark.
At 9 o’clock the micro-rotor on which the lume-filled Piaget logo is emblazoned is also blue. Its swaying adds a touch of animation to the dial as does the oscillating balance at 6 o’clock.
Black and Blue Straps
The Polo Skeleton Ceramic comes on a sporty black rubber strap that has a ribbing to match the direction of the satin-finishing on the bezel. Using the Singletouch quick-change system, that strap can be easily swapped out for a second strap in blue rubber that also comes with the watch. The latter really helps to make those navy dial accents pop. Both straps have a steel and titanium folding buckle.
For more information about the Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic Ref. PGG0A49011, head on over to the brand's website.
