Jamie Weiss
High-end watchmakers have long since embraced ceramic as a watch case material. It might not be as stereotypically desirable as precious metals, but the brilliant colours ceramic can produce (and the difficulty of manufacturing them) gives it allure all of its own. Indeed, it’s surprising that Piaget hasn’t experimented with ceramic watches sooner, especially since it’s known for ultra-thin and light watches – perhaps that’s a reflection of the Maison’s fastidious nature. However, the Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic, with its stealthy black and blue look, modernises the model further with a sportier build.Of course, it’s hardly a surprise that a Polo is Piaget’s first ceramic watch. Since its introduction by Yves Piaget in 1979, the Polo has always been a canvas upon which Piaget has introduced fresh innovations, with some notable moments including 1982 when the Polo became Piaget’s first skeletonised sports watch, 2009 when it sported Piaget’s first rubber strap, and 2021 when it featured Piaget’s first quick-change strap system. It’s also Piaget’s sportiest watch line, so ceramic just makes sense.Piaget explains that the Polo Skeleton Ceramic took three years to develop, which involved completely redesigning the Polo’s case. The two-part case and crown are made from jet-black brushed ceramic, which sandwich a black DLC titanium mid-case containing the movement. The movement, too, features black DLC elements, giving the whole watch a stealthy tone-on-tone look. The impressive part is that the Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic is a svelte 7.9mm thick, which is notably 1.4mmm thicker than pre-existing Piaget Polo Skeleton steel and gold models. The tradeoff, however, is that the case depth rating is upped to 50 metres instead of 30 metres – a concerted effort to make the Polo Skeleton even more sporty and suitable for daily wear.This also explains why the new Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic ships with two rubber straps, a black number and a blue number (keeping to the theme), which are easily interchangeable thanks to the Polo’s Singletouch quick-change system. The pivot to two rubber straps, rather than a bracelet and leather bundle as seen on the prior steel models, or sole leather strap offered on the precious metal models, further leans the Polo Skeleton Ceramic into the sportier side of the spectrum.Like previous Polo Skeleton models, it’s powered by the manufacture calibre 1200S1, an ultra-thin micro-rotor movement that has a 44-hour power reserve. The design of this movement is exceptionally pleasing to the eye, with gracefully curved armatures, an exposed barrel at 12:30, and a blue micro-rotor that’s visible from both sides of the watch. The indices and hands are also filled with dark blue Super-LumiNova, reinforcing its dark-hours theme.The Polo Skeleton Ceramic is perhaps one of the sportiest creations ever produced by the brand. At the very least it is now the sportiest Polo Skeleton with its more robust ceramic and titanium case and nearly doubled 50-metre depth rating. Its first-ever usage of ceramic is an exciting milestone for the watchmaker and jeweller, and one I hope to see extend out to its other Polo watches as well. Of course, as was the case at its inception in 1979, Piaget has aimed to deliver something more sporty yet also in its uncompromising jet setting and luxurious sense of style and glamour. At US$42,900 it may not be for everyone’s budget or lifestyle, but it will certainly have major appeal with 9P Society tastes and for those who prefer something more exclusive and conversation-starting on their wrist.Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic pricing and availabilityThe Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic is available now from Piaget retailers. Price: US$42,900, A$69,500BrandPiagetModelPolo Skeleton CeramicReference NumberG0A49011Case Dimensions42mm (D) x 7.9mm (T)Case MaterialBlack ceramic and black DLC titaniumWater Resistance50 metresCrystal(s)Sapphire front and backDialSkeletonised, rehaut in black DLC titanium with dark blue Super-LumiNovaStrapBlack rubber, steel and titanium folding clasp, Singletouch quick-change system,Additional blue rubber strapMovementCalibre 1200S1, in-house, micro-rotor automaticPower Reserve44 hoursFunctionsHours and minutesAvailabilityNowPriceUS$42,900A$69,500
08.09.24