Tap the image to enlarge
Piaget Altiplano
Ref. G0A39107
The Altiplano exists because of a question Piaget has been asking since the Calibre 9P in 1957: how thin can a mechanical watch be made without compromising it? The 450P that powers this reference is the contemporary answer — 2.1mm thick, hand-finished with Côtes de Genève striping, a circular-grained mainplate, bevelled bridges and blued screws, running at 3Hz with a 43-hour reserve. It is a movement made to be admired, and the solid rose gold caseback exists partly for that reason. At 34mm across and 6.3mm deep, this sits on the wrist in a way most watches of any ambition cannot manage — closer to a slim bangle than to a conventional timepiece, disappearing beneath a cuff entirely. The silvered dial is spare almost to severity, broken only by slender baton indexes and a small seconds sub-dial placed at ten o'clock rather than the expected six, which gives the layout an asymmetry that rewards a second look. The bezel carries 72 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 0.5 carats, set into the rose gold so that the sparkle reads as part of the case rather than an addition to it. The brown alligator strap and solid rose gold tang buckle complete something that has thought carefully about where the formality begins and ends.
- Reference
- G0A39107
- Brand
- Piaget
- Case size
- 34mm
- Case thickness
- 6.3mm
- Case material
- Rose gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Manual
- Calibre
- 450P
- Functions
- Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 43 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Piaget
Georges Piaget set up a workshop on the family farm in La Côte-aux-Fées in 1874, producing movements for other houses. The name did not appear on dials until 1943, and the decision that defined the company came a decade later.
In 1957 Piaget released the calibre 9P, a hand-wound movement two millimetres thick. The 12P automatic followed in 1960 at 2.3mm, then the thinnest automatic in the world. Thinness became the house obsession and its competitive territory, pursued through decades of records and continuing in the Altiplano line — including complete watches, case and all, under four millimetres.
Extreme thinness forced Piaget into a distinctive aesthetic. There was no room for conventional dials, so the company used hardstone: lapis, opal, turquoise, tiger's eye. The 1960s and 70s cuff watches, with woven gold bracelets and gem-set bezels, made Piaget as much a jeweller as a watchmaker, and the Polo of 1979 gave it an integrated gold sports watch of its own.
The company remained family-run until 1988, when it was acquired by Cartier — later folded into Richemont — and it continues to manufacture ultra-thin calibres at La Côte-aux-Fées while assembling and gem-setting in Geneva.
- 1874
- Georges Piaget founds the workshop at La Côte-aux-Fées.
- 1943
- The Piaget name is registered as a brand.
- 1957
- The 9P sets an ultra-thin benchmark at 2mm.
- 1960
- The 12P becomes the thinnest automatic movement.
- 1979
- The Polo launches.
- 1988
- Acquired by Cartier, later Richemont.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Watches Under 37mm (1,305), Women's Watches (1,217), Leather Strap Watches (806), Silver Dial Watches (553), Dress Watches (417) and Solid Gold Watches (112).
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- 34mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | G0A39107 | QdB 25 bis |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £22,000 | £20,900 |
| Case size | 34mm | 32mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Manual | Manual |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 43 hours | 168 hours |
| This watch |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is hand-wound, so it needs winding every day or two but never a battery.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 43 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's, though at 34mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £22,000. There is nothing to compare it against today.
You may also like
In stock, and close on style and price
