Piaget expands its iconic Polo 79 collection with a sophisticated white gold iteration, following last year’s yellow gold revival.
Quietly unveiled amidst the Watches & Wonders fanfare, this new 18k white gold version maintains the essential DNA of its predecessor—the same 38mm case, polished gadroons, and slim micro-rotor movement—while offering a cooler, more restrained aesthetic.
The white gold Polo 79 presents a more subdued character than its yellow gold counterpart, yet upon closer inspection, its tone-on-tone textural interplay becomes the centerpiece. The alternating pattern of flat brushed surfaces and rounded mirror-polished gadroons creates a striking visual rhythm that’s perhaps even more pronounced without the distraction of a warm gold palette.
A thin, polished chamfer along the edges of the brushed segments enhances this contrast, particularly as light plays across the surfaces, emphasizing the watch’s fundamental design principles of rhythm and flow.
Weighing approximately 200 grams, the white gold Polo 79 offers substantial heft while remaining remarkably wearable thanks to its flowing silhouette and balanced proportions. At just 7.45mm thick, this timepiece showcases Piaget’s dual expertise in gold craftsmanship and ultra-thin movement manufacturing.
Embracing Piaget’s Design Philosophy
The bracelet tapers elegantly toward a hidden triple folding clasp that preserves the visual continuity of the gadroons. Its relatively short links and thoughtful curvature create an almost liquid articulation, allowing it to conform naturally to the wrist despite its significant weight.
This design philosophy echoes Yves Piaget’s famous description of the original as “a watch bracelet rather than a mere wristwatch”—a concept embodied in both its appearance and its tactile experience.
For practical considerations, the Polo 79 offers 50 meters of water resistance—sufficient for everyday splashes, though certainly not intended for aquatic adventures.
The dial, crafted from the same white gold as the case and bracelet, continues the signature gadroon motif with minimal embellishment. Eschewing hour markers, it features only a subtle circular minute track, polished hands, and the PIAGET signature, creating a unified surface from end to end—quintessentially Polo.
Powering this sculpture for the wrist is the finely decorated Piaget Caliber 1200P1, an ultra-thin automatic movement measuring just 2.75mm in thickness. With a 44-hour power reserve and gray-coated 22k gold micro-rotor visible through the sapphire caseback, it represents a significant upgrade from the quartz movements of the original models, even if it’s not Piaget’s newest or thinnest caliber.
While the yellow gold version remains the quintessential Piaget Polo, this white gold interpretation offers an undeniably handsome alternative—cooler in tone, somewhat stealthier, and subtly sportier. If the yellow gold model commands attention as the life of the party, this white gold variant slips in with quiet confidence.
What’s far from quiet, however, is the price tag. At $82,000 USD, it surprisingly exceeds the yellow gold version’s $75,000 asking price—a substantial premium for what many consider a less ostentatious metal choice.
Learn more from Piaget’s website
