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Piaget Limelight
Ref. G0A42150
The Limelight Gala was designed to sit at the boundary between jewellery and watchmaking, and this reference makes that intention plain. The asymmetrical case has elongated lugs that sweep outward and continue into a diamond-set bezel, so the stones do not frame the watch so much as become its architecture. At 26mm across and just 7mm deep, the whole piece lies flush against the wrist in a way that suits an evening sleeve. The calibre 59P inside is one of Piaget's own ultra-thin quartz movements, chosen here because anything thicker would have broken the silhouette the case demands. That priority — form dictating the engineering rather than the other way around — explains why the crown is hidden on the caseback: there is no acceptable place for it on the case flank without interrupting the line of the diamonds. The silver dial carries black Roman numerals against a clean ground, and the black satin strap closes with an 18-carat white gold pin buckle that matches the case material rather than contrasting with it.
- Reference
- G0A42150
- Brand
- Piaget
- Case size
- 26mm
- Case thickness
- 7mm
- Case material
- White gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- 59P
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- 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 4 collections
This watch appears in Watches Under 37mm (1,305), Women's Watches (1,217), Silver Dial Watches (553) and Solid Gold Watches (112).
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 26mm 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 |  G0A42150 | O42855266004001 | L52007716 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £24,500 | £23,900 | £22,850 |
| Case size | 26mm | 26mm | 29mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Fabric strap | Mesh bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
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?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £24,500. Goldsmiths list an ex-display example at £16,425.
Can I buy this ex-display?
Yes. Goldsmiths list an ex-display example at £16,425, against £24,500 new — a saving of £8,075. Ex-display watches are unworn shop stock rather than second-hand — sold below the recommended retail price, and with the manufacturer’s guarantee intact.
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