Once the thinnest watch in the world, now moved to the third place after Bulgari and Richard Mille, the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept remains a very impressive example of horological micro-engineering. It’s a manually wound mechanical watch with a total thickness of only 2 mm, entire watch, not just the movement.
The Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept was introduced at the 2018 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH 2018) as the thinnest mechanical watch in the world. It was presented as a concept watch, showcasing numerous innovations to accommodate all components within such a compact space. Piaget stole the show that year. However, the lingering question on everyone’s mind was whether such a a complex and technically advanced watch could transition into commercial production and, if so, whether it would be practical for everyday wear.
Two years later, in 2020, Piaget provided affirmative answers to those two questions – the Altiplano Ultimate Concept evolved from an ambitious experiment pushing the boundaries of horological micro-engineering to a fully developed and tested watch. Now, it is available for watch lovers and collectors to purchase, own, and use.
I was fortunate enough to see the Altiplano Ultimate Concept in person and even had the chance to strap it on my wrist. The version I encountered was the dark slate blue edition crafted from cobalt alloy. Wearing this watch feels surreal; just imagine, within the 41mm case that is a mere 2mm thick, resides a hand-wound movement comprising 167 components with a power reserve of around 40 hours. Achieving this required some innovations, including a case that is an integral part of the movement, a unique integrated winding crown, an ultra-thin crystal, and, more importantly, new constructions for the barrel and energy regulation.
Even though this watch is available for purchase today as part of the permanent collection, it won’t be produced in large numbers. Moreover, buyers have the option to personalize the watch, adding a unique touch. They can specify the color of the bridge and dial, the finish of the hands and the main plate and select straps that match or contrast. The price of the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept is around 420,000 EUR.
More details about Piaget watches on www.piaget.com .
