With its 150th year well under way, Piaget has dived back into its archives and reimagined its iconic Piaget Polo, rereleasing it as Polo 79.
First revealed in – you guessed it – 1979, the original Polo was an emblem of its time; a sports watch (Yves Piaget himself was a keen equestrian) yet presented in 18k gold, it was flashy and practical all in one fell swoop. A timepiece and a bracelet in one, the original Polo was shockproof and waterproof, catering to a new breed of sport-hungry yet image-conscious watch buyers.
“[The Polo] really encapsulated the zeitgeist of the times,” says Piaget CEO, Benjamin Comar. “This watch was striking by its look, the fact that Piaget was surfing on the new sport chic trend but in full gold and it became an icon; the proof that you were part of this dazzling Piaget Society.”
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Its popularity was quickly cemented, and the model was replicated in a number of variations: round, square, gem set, leather strap and more. Although the first release was square, it was the later round-face model that has really cemented itself into cultural history.
And then, what of the newest iteration? Truthfully, little has changed. The new Piaget Polo 79 still has that iconic second-skin look and sits satisfyingly snug to the wrist, but instead of the original quartz caliber it now has an ultra-thin 1200P1 in-house self-winding caliber, which can be seen through the crystal back.
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In another move away from the forefather, the Piaget Polo 79 has been expanded from 34mm to 38mm. “Back then, the biggest size they ever created was a 34mm. We debated between different sizes and the 38mm won every poll – that size was more in tune with what people today are looking for,” Comar explains.
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Other than this, however, the new iteration is virtually identical – a carefully made decision that lovers of the brand will no doubt appreciate. “The idea was not to dwell on the past but to bring this icon into the modern world,” Comar says.
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“The biggest risk was to disappoint,” he added, on the challenges of remaking this iconic watch. “There is a fine line between not twisting it enough versus the vintage version and breaking the codes and harmony and upsetting the fans. Ever since I’ve joined the company two and a half years ago, people have been asking about this relaunch. The pressure was high.”
The release of Piaget Polo 79 marks but the first in a year-long series of activations planned throughout 2024 to mark the brand’s 150th anniversary. “[We have planned] not just one milestone, but different milestones, each celebrating a product and a story behind it. Up next, Watches and Wonders, so stay tuned,” Comar teases.
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