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Hands-on Men Watch Piaget Replica Swiss Replica Technical Watch

Introducing Piaget Emperador Coussin XL700P

In a rather unexpected segue from their normally mechanical men’s novelties, at SIHH 2016 Piaget has launched a replica watch to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its first in-house quartz movement, the ultra-thin 7P calibre, called the Emperador Coussin XL 700P.www.repliqueparfaite.fr

Its roots hark back to 1976 and the in-house 7P quartz movement, but this new movement is a very different proposition; an ultra-thin example of their first use of such a hybrid. Patents have been filed (and for those interested, it is probably worth comparing these patents with those of Seiko’s) and it is the result of two years of research and development. Unlike what Seiko is prone to doing, however, there is no seconds hand in this piece.

However this is not, as more commonly seen in their women’s pieces, just any old quartz replica watch. It is probably best described as being akin to what Seiko does with the hybrid mechanical-quartz Spring Drive. Piaget have called it a generator-regulated mechanical movement.

The new automatic hybrid movement has a 32’768 Hz frequency controls the rotation of the generator and wheels train. The generator produces a charge, sufficient to power the electronics, which then controls the rate at which the gear train runs. It has 32 jewels and a power reserve of forty-two hours. The movement is black-coated, as mentioned ultra-thin (5.5mm), and is finished with circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained mainplate, bevelled bridges, engraved rotor with the Piaget coat-of-arms, and silvered screws. Generator and micro-rotor underlined with polished white gold.

When I first read about this replica watch last month at its pre-SIHH 2016 announcement I wasn’t quite sure that I ‘got’ it in the sense of ‘why’. Design-wise in terms of aesthetics it’s attractive, although some might say the disc on the front is superfluous decoratively-speaking. It does, however, give an aesthetic nod to its mechanical older siblings.

That they’ve put this much effort into this replica watch, both in terms of its R&D and the profile it has assumed in terms of being a new launch, is one of the most interesting things about its existence. Surely this cannot be a one-off use, so what does this mean for potential new models?

The case itself is also white gold, and is 46.5mm with a black DLC bezel. The skeletonised dial is attractive and has many of the design cues familiar to Emperadors, along with silvered indices and hands. It comes on a black alligator strap with a matching 18 carat white gold folding clasp.

 

In the meantime, this one comes in a limited edition of 118 pieces and comes on a black alligator strap with an 18 carat white gold folding clasp.

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Piaget Replica

SIHH 2016 : Replica Piaget Emperador Coussin XL700P

In a rather unexpected segue from their normally mechanical men’s novelties, at SIHH 2016 Piaget has launched a luxury replica watch to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its first in-house quartz movement, the ultra-thin 7P calibre, called the Emperador Coussin XL 700P.

However this is not, as more commonly seen in their women’s pieces, just any old quartz replica watch. It is probably best described as being akin to what Seiko does with the hybrid mechanical-quartz Spring Drive. Piaget have called it a generator-regulated mechanical movement. Its roots hark back to 1976 and the in-house 7P quartz movement, but this new movement is a very different proposition; an ultra-thin example of their first use of such a hybrid. Patents have been filed (and for those interested, it is probably worth comparing these patents with those of Seiko’s) and it is the result of two years of research and development. Unlike what Seiko is prone to doing, however, there is no seconds hand in this piece.

The new automatic hybrid movement has a 32’768 Hz frequency controls the rotation of the generator and wheels train. The generator produces a charge, sufficient to power the electronics, which then controls the rate at which the gear train runs. It has 32 jewels and a power reserve of forty-two hours. The movement is black-coated, as mentioned ultra-thin (5.5mm), and is finished with circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained mainplate, bevelled bridges, engraved rotor with the Piaget coat-of-arms, and silvered screws. Generator and micro-rotor underlined with polished white gold.

The case itself is also white gold, and is 46.5mm with a black DLC bezel. The skeletonised dial is attractive and has many of the design cues familiar to Emperadors, along with silvered indices and hands. It comes on a black alligator strap with a matching 18 carat white gold folding clasp.

When I first read about this replica watch last month at its pre-SIHH 2016 announcement I wasn’t quite sure that I ‘got’ it in the sense of ‘why’. Design-wise in terms of aesthetics it’s attractive, although some might say the disc on the front is superfluous decoratively-speaking. It does, however, give an aesthetic nod to its mechanical older siblings.

That they’ve put this much effort into this replica watch, both in terms of its R&D and the profile it has assumed in terms of being a new launch, is one of the most interesting things about its existence. Surely this cannot be a one-off use, so what does this mean for potential new models?

In the meantime, this one comes in a limited edition of 118 pieces and comes on a black alligator strap with an 18 carat white gold folding clasp.

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Piaget Replica

REPLICA PIAGET : Emperador Coussin XL Large MoonEnamel

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Released at Luxury Replica Watches & Wonders 2015, Piaget’s Secrets & Lights collection is an in-house project between Piaget’s Haute Joaillerie and Haute Horlogerie departments. This collection is inspired by what they are calling a ‘mythical journey’, with a focus on the route from Samarkand to Venice, both cities that are renowned for a rich artistic and architectural histories.

This collection comprises of ninety-three jewellery creations and thirty-eight replica watchmaking creations, utilising six metiers d’art skills including two new ones for Piaget : eggshell lacquering and feather marquetry.

We shall feature some of the other pieces from the Secrets & Light Collection but today it is about a planisphere map model called the Emperador Coussin XL Large Moon Enamel replica watch, which also comes in a gem-set version.

Featuring the skills of the renowned Anita Porchet, this dial is gold, and features the use of hand-engraving and champlevé enamel work to depict the Silk Road area covered in Piaget’s ‘Mythical Journey’. You will notice that the depictions of land mass is not smooth; this topographical approach, with land shown in relief, is particularly stunning, showing off immense skill and patience. It would have been far easier to just have it all flat.

The replica watch is a fairly largely sized 46.5mm (hence its ‘XL’ name) 18 carat pink gold case; perhaps it is more for those whose idea of a dress replica watch is not necessarily svelte. Inside is the automatic Piaget Calibre 860P movement with a 72-hour power reserve and 21,600 VPH. This movement was especially designed to power the large moon phase at 6 o’clock. The moon phase indication is designed to be a simple representation – the yellow moon disc is gradually revealed or obscured by a dark blue ‘mask’, to reflect how a moon waxes and wanes to the eye. The coarse granular look of the moon disc provides a nice contrast to the blue disc.

This is a very striking replica watch and yet another example of the rather beautiful dials that Piaget creates. They may be more widely known for its ultra-thin pieces but their dedication to dial artistry deserves more appreciation. For example at Replica Watches & Wonders 2014 there was this simply stunning scrimshaw dial, and the delicacy of embroidery on a dial as well.

The Emperador Coussin XL Large Moon Enamel comes on a brown alligator leather strap with a matching pink gold folding clasp. As mentioned above, there is also a gem-set variant. It has 160 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx 1.4cts).

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

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Piaget Replica

Replica WATCHES WONDERS 2015: Piaget LimelightStella

One of the foci of luxury Piaget’s Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 releases was that of their first automatic complication replica watch for their women’s collection in the form of the Limelight Stella replica watches. The complication in question? A moonphase, courtesy of the new automatic Calibre 584P.

Designed and developed in both of Piaget’s La Côte-aux-Fées and Geneva locations, its display of the lunar cycle is via a two large moons framed by a diamond-set v-shape opening at 12 o’clock. Surrounding the moons you will see the celestial features of Ursa Major and Minor.

The moon phases appear on a disc adorned with stars and two moons that is driven by a 135-toothed wheel that requires a correction only after 122 years, so don’t stress too much about it.

This new Calibre 584P has a 42-hour power reserve, is 21,600VPH, a circular-grained mainplate, bevelled bridges, blued screws, circular Côtes de Genève, and the Piaget coat-of-arms on the oscillating weight.

In terms of the exterior, it is a very nicely sized 36mm in diametre (thickness of 6mm), which is what gives it enough space to have such a prominent moon. It is of special note that the case design is that of an oval ‘inside’ the circular case. There are fourteen brilliant-cut diamonds accentuating the moonphase complication, with delicate applied hour-markers and a sunburst motif on the dial. There is also an added bit of charming whimsy via the star on the end of the seconds hand. Close-up, it really is a beautiful dial on an elegant replica watch.

For women who are used to wearing replica watches smaller than 36mm you will find that the lines, especially in terms of the ‘shape within a shape’, add a softness to the size, and the lugs are very short and snug, so it is far less likely to hang over your wrist. For those accustomed to replica watches of around 36mm and above, and this is an increasing number of women, then you will have a fair idea of how this might sit on your wrist.

Available in three versions, the pink gold Limelight Stella comes in polished or gem-set bezel verions, whilst the white gold version features a gem-set bezel. They all come on alligator straps with matching pin buckles.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 at the invitation of Richemont Australia]

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Piaget Replica

Replica PIAGET : the rose takes newforms

Having already covered the hand-embroidered Piaget rose dial earlier this year, today it’s the turn of two other interpretations of their floral emblem. For those who wish to know a little about the significance of the Yves Piaget rose, click here. The choice of this flower is not without meaning, and it is why it features in both their replica watches and jewellery.

Today the skills and craft that are being highlighted are hard-stone marquetry and grand feu enamelling.

Firstly, marquetry.

Stone marquetry has been traditionally used in furniture, as an architectural feature, in religious art, as a decorative art. In their quest to find new way in which to realise the Yves Piaget rose on a stylish replica watch dial (it occurrs to me that for a completist who has the funds, collecting these would be an interesting thing), Piaget approached the workshop of Hervé Obligi, which has been honoured with the ‘Enterprise du Patrimonie Vivant’ (a recognition of the French State for excellence in traditional and industrial skills), to see their skills in a miniaturised form.

The making of these roses involves a few main steps : selecting the stone (in this instance, Imperial Mexican jasper), using diamond-blade saws to cut it into thin pieces, selecting the appropriately coloured areas for the rose’s petals, tracing the petals are traced onto the jasper with a steel point, and then using a hazelnut wood bow strung with steel wire soaked in abrasive is used to cut the petals.

Each petal is then adjusted and assembled into the complete rose onto a surface, and heat-sealed with resin to join them. The finished rose is then attached to the gold dial of the Altiplano. Then, it is polished by hand to the form you see here.

This Altiplano is in a 38mm white gold case with a brilliant-cut diamond bezel and comes on a matching white satin strap. Made in a limitation of eighteen pieces, inside is the manual-wind Piaget 430P movement, with 43-hours of power reserve.

Today’s second piece that also forms a part of the Piaget Art & Excellence collection, is the Piaget rose in Grand Feu enamel.

For those unfamiliar with it, enamelling is the heating of silica (glass) with other elements including a colour (usually in the form of a metal oxide) at 800 – 1200 Celsius and to liquefy and bond the metal. The process of heating and cooling is repeated to add more layers, and applied to a replica watch dial using a quill.

The enamel artist creates colours through the combination of silica and metal oxides. Designs and colours can be either in the enamel itself, or there may even be plain enamel on to which the design is painted.

For this ‘Grand Feu’, the method used was that of repeated application of the coloured powder.

The dial is firstly engraved in relief with the rose motif of the Yves Piaget rose. After this, the sun ray guilloché is added. The enamel is then spread on its surface in successive layers as per the heating and cooling process mentioned above, with differing heights of engraving and different layers and colours of enamelling. Once the final glazing is complete, polishing.

As with the previous marquetry piece, this is in a 38mm white gold case with matching white satin strap. Inside is again, the manual-wind 430P movement. The limitation is also eighteen pieces.

The Grand Feu dial is the more delicate of the two pieces featured today, but I find the the darker hues of the stone marquetry replica watch more striking. Regardless of which you prefer, these are two worthy and fittingly delicate new manifestations of Piaget’s floral motif.

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Piaget Replica

EXTREMELY REPLICA PIAGET: Black Tie Vintage Inspiration

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For a few years now, brands have been reaching into ‘their’ 1960s and 1970s for inspiration. Many brands have gone down the path to those decades for, in particular, sports replica watches, but to modernise dress replica watches from that period is possibly a rather more tricky proposition, especially in the case of women’s replica watches, which were considerably smaller then than what the 21st century woman is accustomed to.

I am not old enough to have registered the profile of fake luxury Piaget during this period but my father was, and it was through his eyes that I first learned about Piaget. As a child there were several brands of which I was perhaps more aware than others because of his ownership of them, and Piaget was one of them. His was a dress replica watch on a yellow gold bracelet with a stone dial. Very bold and reminiscent of what I see in the replica watches the subject of today’s post.

Two models symbolising this period of Piaget’s history have been added to what they call the ‘Extremely Piaget’ emblematic replica watches line.

The first of these is the one at the top of this post, the (double) cushion-shaped Black Tie Vintage Inspiration. It is based on the Beta 21 quartz movement piece owned by Andy Warhol but now contains a mechanical movement (automatic Calibre 534P). This new version is in a white gold stepped case with a brushed bezel measuring 45mm x 40mm and an onyx black dial. This is actually a great looking replica watch; very strong lines but in spite of its size pretty dressy, and reeking of suitability for evening wear. It is limited to twenty-eight pieces.

Those with their finger on the Piaget retro pulse may know that there has been another similar piece in the Extremely Piaget’ collection, but with its case in 18 carat yellow gold and the dial a natural green jade colour. In comparing them both, this new white gold one seems more modern and probably with broader appeal.

The second ‘vintage inspiration’ model launch at SIHH 2015 was a women’s replica watch in a retro oval shape that is a nod to a piece from Piaget’s past. It featured an oval case set with diamonds and emeralds with a matching jade dial, came on a gold bracelet, and was the inspiration behind subsequent similar oval models. You can see the original piece on which this was based on Piaget’s website at this link. Its most famous fan was Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

In many ways the bracelet is key with this new piece, and Piaget are proud of what is called a ‘palace’ finish. Although the goldsmith was not there when I visited the booth, they had someone there demonstrating the art of creating these bracelets so that they are not only comfortable, but achieve that almost shimmering effect on the wearer’s wrist. The bracelet is fitted directly to the case.

This replica watch may be familiar to those of you who know the ‘Extremely Piaget’ women’s replica watches well – it is already a part of that collection in the form of a pink gold version with twenty brilliant-cut diamonds and four turquoises on its bezel and a matching turquoise dial, and a white gold version with twenty brilliant-cut diamonds and four blue sapphires on its bezel, surrounding a matching lapis lazuli dial.

This new model comes in two variants : a silver-toned oval dial with a diamond bezel, and the replica watch itself in either white or rose gold. The size is 27mm x 22mm, and the twenty-four brilliant-cut diamonds are a total of 1.46 carats. Perhaps the one ‘downer’ in these replica watches is that they contain a quartz movement, the Piaget 56P, but I recognise that the movement probably isn’t the critical element to these replica watches.

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Piaget Replica

HANDS-ON : Replica Piaget Limelight BloomingRose

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During SIHH 2014 Piaget may have launched the Altiplano 900P, but there was another equally personal-to-the-brand replica watch released in January that has just hit Australian shores, the Limelight Blooming Rose.

As I covered at SIHH 2013 last year, Piaget’s jewellery replica watches form a rich and intriguing part of its history, with the style changes not only illustrating the design codes of each decade, but perhaps also reflecting the changing relationship between the brand and its evolution of what it refers to as “feminine replica watchmaking”.

The ‘Blooming Rose’ of the name refers to the Yves Piaget rose. Lest you think that this is just a rose that appears in jewelled form, it isn’t. It is, in fact, a large peony-like garden rose with large petals that comes in four colours – Cream Yves Piaget, Golden Yves Piaget, Pink Yves Piaget and Yves Piaget. The rose motif first made its appearance at Piaget in the 1960s, Mr. Yve Piaget became a member of the Geneva International New Rose Competition jewellery in 1976, and in 1982 the winner of said competition, a rose bred by Meilland et Cie with some eighty petals, was christened the ‘Yves Piaget rose’. For those who are interested, you can read more about the rose at the Meilland website here.

Although the Limelight Blooming rose does not have eighty petals, it is special in that it is not just a replica watch in the shape or a rose, but that it also opens like one. Four gem-set petals can be rotated to show a rose in bloom, revealing a further four petals, thanks to a hidden rotating mechanism. For those who like a replica watch with an interactive part, I can see how opening/ closing it whilst on the wrist could turn into an unconscious habit.

There are two versions, in white gold and in rose gold. This is obviously the latter version. In an 18k rose gold case on a white satin strap with a diamond-set Ardillon buckle, there are 265 diamonds in this piece (252 of which are in the case), with a total of 2.471 carats. The case itself is  34mm and 8.1mm thick. Inside is the Piaget quartz 56P movement, and the time is set on the underside of the replica watch.

As you can see in this wristshot, this is a very delicate jewellery piece and although the black version (which I saw at SIHH) is a little more formal in feel and perhaps more of a night time replica watch, the white one does seem a bit more versatile in terms of day/ night wear.

If you want to learn more about the importance of roses to Piaget you can read about the rather charming Piaget Rose Day here.