Earlier this year Piaget resurrected a 1980s icon in the form of the Polo 79 and now, for Watches & Wonders, they’ve released a modern hybrid that combines elements of that timepiece and the contemporary Polo. This hybrid is called the Piaget Polo Date 150th Anniversary Edition. It’s a limited edition timepiece that takes signature features of the vintage model and reimagines them within the design codes of modern Piaget.
We’ll jump straight to the dial because that is where the party is happening. Instead of the usual horizontal grooves seen in models like the Polo Field, the 150th Anniversary Edition has four large gadroons running across its span interspersed with brushed sections. “Gadroon” is an engineering term for a decorative band, usually found around pillars or vases.
The Polo 79 is absolutely covered with gadroons, although they are much smaller than those presented here. By enlarging them, they become almost brutalist features, large and imposing on the display, enhancing the quasi-industrial aesthetic that informs many sports integrated bracelet watches (an archetype the Polo fits into). In terms of colour, they’re a very pale yellow gold that can react quite extremely to different lighting conditions – shifting from a gold as bright as the Polo 79 to what is quite a slate-ish grey.
It’s available at either 42mm or 36mm making it ideal for a his & hers matching set if you were so inclined. The version we photographed here at Watches & Wonders is the 42mm, giving the round case and flat porthole bezel quite a broad profile. I like it though. At this size, the Polo Date 150th Anniversary Edition feels as chunky and solid as those dial decorations. Especially because it’s made from hard-wearing, scratch resistant steel. Patek Philippe could probably use it as a lesson that steel is still a premier material for sports watches, following on from yet another white gold Nautilus release.
Beneath the dial and visible through the exhibition caseback is the automatic calibre 1110P with 50-hour power reserve and circular Côtes de Genève finishing. Around the edge of the caseback you can see the inscription denoting that it’s part of the 150th Anniversary celebrations as well its limited edition number out of 300. The smaller 36mm version is also limited to 300 pieces.
Rounding out the watch is the fact the 42mm is priced at £12,700 and the 36mm is £18,700 due to its gemset bezel and indexes. While I would probably add a conventional Polo to my collection before this, it is a striking addition to family. I’m a particular fan of how moody and atmospheric it looks in darker lighting.
Price and Specs:
More details at Piaget.
