Piaget, known for its ultra-slim watches, has introduced its latest Altiplano model. Although its only a concept, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept is the thinnest mechanical watch the world has ever seen.
The watch, debuted at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, measures up to a minuscule 2mm, or just under 0.08 inches. To bring this incredible concept to fruition, Piaget had to concoct a new construction method. By utilizing the case as the watch movement’s main plate, the designers were able to build watch components on top of it, instead of building a movement inside the case. Certain things had to be jettisoned — the power reserve barrel no longer has a cover, and instead occupies an indented area of the case, and bridges are removed wholesale. Similarly, instead of using a normal winding mechanism, a key is used to power the watch up after its 44-hour reserve is drained.
Anyone looking to get their hands on the tiny timepiece will have to keep looking, as the Altiplano Ultimate Concept isn’t hitting the production line. Still, Piaget promises that design elements from the Ultimate Concept will translate over to future designs.
In other innovative watch news, check out BEAMS and Engineered Garments’ backwards Timex.
After issuing mismatched Converse and military gear, Engineered Garments and BEAMS reunite for another backwards facing Timex watch.
Although BEAMS introduced a reworked Timex “Safari” in May 2017, it teamed with Engineered Garments one month prior for a pair of Timex Camper watches. This drop sees the same design surface in a new black colorway while retaining the unusual characteristic of the initial drop: the watch face is mirrored, with the numbers and branding facing backwards. The watch hands run backwards as well, making it challenging, but still feasible, to tell time.
The watches release at BEAMS BOY Harajuku and on BEAMS’ web store on January 29 for ¥20,000 JPY (approximately $180 USD). In related news, check out BEAMS’ exclusive Champion capsule collection.
As Business of Fashion reveals, Audemars Piguet is planning to launch its own second-hand operation. The move will reportedly make the company the first major watch brand to officially join the rising market for secondary luxury timepieces.
AP explained to Reuters that its latest venture has already experienced a “test run” at a Geneva store and intends to expand its second-hand business to other Switzerland locations. Piguet’s approach will initially treat customer trade-ins as partial exchanges, later aiming to sell the pieces. “Second-hand is the next big thing in the watch industry,” AP chief executive Francois-Henry Bennahmias tells Reuters. “At the moment, in watches, we leave it to what I call the ‘dark side’ to deal with demand for pre-owned pieces.”
Other, smaller-scale watch brands, such as MB&F and H.Moser & Cie, will also join AP in expanding to the secondary high-end goods market later this year. “It is important to control the sale of second-hand watches to protect the owners and the value of watches already in the market by keeping the grey market in check,” reads a quote from H.Moser & Cie’s Edouard Meylan. Time will tell if AP’s direct competitors will follow the company’s lead.
Stay tuned for more information regarding which Audemars Piguet stores will take part in the brand’s new second-hand effort. Earlier this month, AP introduced the Royal Oak Chronograph in platinum.
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