At the center of the new watch is its namesake perpetual calendar, with the complication capable of accurately displaying the day, date, month, and moon phase for nearly a century. Piaget adds a chic twist to this timeless haute horlogerie complication by executing it through its sports-focused Polo collection, creating a fascinating novelty that marries modern mechanical tradition with a touch of action-readiness.

The Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin boasts a 42mm stainless steel case, a relative rarity for perpetual calendars often housed in precious metal cases, with its thinness of 8.65mm showcasing the brand’s aptitude for creative mechanical watchmaking. Notably this choice of material helps provide the sophistication of the watch’s incredibly thin perpetual calendar functionality with a more casual and versatile appearance, fostering a unique duality in wear. For added flexibility, the model comes equipped with a comfortable stainless steel bracelet, which can be effortlessly swapped for a sporty rubber strap.

While the case of the watch is undoubtedly fascinating, it’s the uncommon Polo which captures your extended attention. The watch features a stunning green dial with a harmonious hue, with it striking a clear balance between functionality, organization, and legibility. The dial importantly avoids overcrowding, in part by showcasing the moon phase through a smaller window at the 6 o’clock position. This design decision not only enhances the generally legibility of the display but also adds a touch of technical sophistication to the timepiece, harmonizing flawlessly with its overall design.

Piaget lives up to its “ultra-slim” promise with the Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin via the caliber 1255P. This movement is essentially the automatic caliber 1200P, launched in 2010, enhanced with a perpetual calendar module. Remarkably, this brings the movement’s overall thickness to a mere 4mm. While it might not break records for thinness, it brings several advantages, including an attractive price point, all while maintaining the delicate balance between reliability and slimness. With an overall height of 8.65mm, Piaget has created a highly desirable perpetual calendar watch with a casually chic aesthetic.

The Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin is available for $58,500 on a non-limited basis. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the watch live and in-person, alongside so many other exceptional timepieces, at this year’s WatchTime New York.

To learn more, visit Piaget, here.

And to purchase your tickets to WatchTime New York 2023, click here.

Blue works well with a wide variety of watches, and the Piaget Polo is no exception. The blue obsidian has some grey tones to it, which makes it a nice balance between being elegant and sportive, precisely the sweet spot Piaget is aiming at with the Polo collection to begin with. Apart from the craftsmanship needed to make it, one of the most enticing aspects of a stone dial is that no two are alike. The texture is always different, giving you a unique watch.

Piaget combined the dial with a bezel set with brilliant-cut blue sapphires in the bezel. While I can surely enjoy the use of gemstones on watches, I wasn’t sold on the concept with this particular watch when I saw the embargoed pictures. In real life, I have to alter my opinion about it. The blue sapphires work well with the dial, as they share the same hue but complement each other by delivering it differently. As the blue sapphires are not all the same size, they emphasize the cushion-shaped case of the dial, which gives a very pleasing effect.

In terms of movement, there also nothing to complain. Caliber 1255P is only 4mm thick, allowing the Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar to have an overall height of just 8mm, with a diameter of 42mm. Given the fact that it is features a perpetual calendar complication and automatic winding, this is quite the achievement. The Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Blue Obsidian is priced at $114,000

For more info, visit Piaget, here

To some extent, I understand the reasoning behind this, but the issue I have with it is that it changes something that should give you everyday pleasure into a commodity. Of course, it is the prerogative of the owner to do with the watch what they please, but in all honesty, I am more pleased seeing a rare watch with some evidence of daily enjoyment than one in mint condition.

Maybe I am a rare breed these days, but despite owning some (vintage) watches in excellent condition, they all get worn. I do this with respect for their age and purpose, as taking a 1950s gold Piaget to play a game of racketball is perhaps not the wisest idea, but going to dinner and the theatre with my wife suits it much better. Yes, I have scratched these watches, which sometimes hurts, but I have enjoyed them most of all. While this may decrease their value to others, it increases it for me. They are now not lumps of money in a bank safe but treasured objects of beauty that carry memories. While it might not put you on the road to becoming rich, I feel that being able to enjoy precious things for what they were made for, regardless of their monetary value, is true wealth.

Do you agree with me that watches should always be (sensibly) enjoyed on the wrist, regardless of their value, or do you prefer keeping them safe at the bank in their original condition? Let me know in the comments!

This starts with a 42mm large case crafted from stainless steel. Perpetual calendars housed in cases made from this material are still relatively rare, as its prestige usually demands precious metal cases. Piaget combined this with a comfortable stainless steel bracelet that can also be swapped for a rubber strap, in case you want things to be even more sportive.

The green dial has a beautiful hue, but what stands out most is how well-organized and legible the dial is. It is not overcrowded, in part also because Piaget opted to show the phases of the moon through a smaller window. This not only works well in terms of legibility but also has a slightly more technical look to it, making it perfectly aligned with the rest of this timepiece.

Piaget added the word ultra-slim to the name of this Polo and makes due on that promise with caliber 1255P. This is, in essence, automatic caliber 1200P, which the brand launched in 2010, with an added module for the perpetual calendar functions. This brings the overall height of the movement to an impressive 4mm. While this is not record-breaking, it comes with a few advantages. One of them is that its price also isn’t record-breaking and that within this 4mm of height, Piaget found the perfect balance between reliability and slenderness. With an overall height of 8.65mm, the brand has created a very desirable perpetual calendar with a casual chique appearance.

Pricing for the Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin is marked at $58,500.

For more info, visit Piaget, here

Blancpain Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel

Blancpain is introducing an updated version of its Traditional Chinese Calendar model, this time aptly honoring the Rabbit. The Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel combines the principles of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar with the Gregorian calendar date. As an expression of these two intervals of time, the dial layout utilizes numbers and symbols across three subdials, a moonphase aperture, and a window at 12 o’clock that depicts an image of a rabbit. On the reverse, the crystal case back reveals an oscillating weight that is engraved with two rabbits. 

The Blancpain Villeret Calendrier Chinois Traditionnel is limited to production of 50 pieces, each retailing for approximately $94,000 when converted to USD.

To learn more, visit Blancpain here.

Piaget Altiplano Rabbit

Taking a straightforward and sophisticated approach to this year’s zodiac symbol is Piaget with its Altiplano Zodiac. The dial of the model depicts two rabbits, achieved by a delicate Grand-Feu cloisonné enamel technique. The small-scale artwork was created in partnership with master enameler Anita Porchet to create the soft detailing of the two rabbits. Measuring 38mm in diameter with a svelte height of 6.6mm, the white gold case is finished with a diamond-studded bezel that furthers its elegance. 

The Piaget Altiplano Zodiac Rabbit is limited to 38 individually numbered pieces that are available in the brand’s boutiques with the price available upon request. 

To learn more, visit Piaget here.

Ulysse Nardin Classico Rabbit

Much like the prior, Ulysse Nardin is not new to celebrating the Chinese New Year with a commemorative piece, this time naming its annual model the Classico Rabbit. The artistic piece uses the champlevé and cloisonné methods of enameling to depict a scene of two rabbits in a mountainous landscape. The technique requires precise skills, though it results in a complex level of handcrafted detailing. The 40mm case is made from rose gold, complementing the warm tones of the dial and the rose gold hands and indices. 

The Ulysse Nardin Classico Rabbit is limited to 88 pieces each retailing for $45,900. 

To learn more, visit Ulysse Nardin here.

Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rabbit 

Vacheron Constantin is honoring the rabbit front and center of its Métiers d’Art the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rabbit. In the center of the dial is a meticulously engraved rabbit brought to life against a flower motif backdrop that is based on classic Chinese iconography and etched directly in the metal. The 40mm watch is available in either a platinum or pink gold case, with the engraved rabbit taking shape in the material respective to that of the case. On the periphery of the dial are four windows displaying the hour, minute, weekday, and date. Powering the timepiece is the self-winding manufacture caliber 2460 G4. 

The Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac – Year of the Rabbit is a limited series of 9 pieces per reference and is only available at Vacheron Constantin Boutiques with pricing available upon request.

To learn more, visit Vacheron Constantin here.

Franck Muller #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard

Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller joined forces with Tokyo-based streetwear label #FR2 to create the #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard in celebration of the Year of the Rabbit. In the first collaboration between these two distinct brands, Franck Muller is adopting the distinctive design language of #FR2 using its Vanguard watch as a base. The timepiece has a matte white dial with black hands, markings, and appliqué indices that create a high-contrast look. The watch is made edgier by #FR2’s provocative “Fxxking Rabbits” motif in place of the 7 and 8 o’clock indices. The  tonneau-shaped case that is characteristic of the Vanguard takes shape in a new carbon and glass fiber composite. 

The Franck Muller #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard is a limited edition of 800 pieces, and is exclusively available across Southeast Asia and Australia.

To learn more, visit Franck Muller here.

Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon “Year of the Rabbit”

This year, Arnold & Son is joining the Chinese zodiac with its Perpetual Moon collection with the release of its Perpetual Moon “Year of the Rabbit” model. The unique watch depicts a sculpted 18-carat rose gold rabbit seated beside a waterfall-covered pagoda, all set against a black aventurine backdrop. In a large aperture on the upper half of the dial is a turning disc that depicts the phases of the moon crafted from mother-of-pearl with painted elements in relief, all enhanced with Super-LumiNova. Inside the model is the Arnold & Son caliber A&S1512, a manually wound movement equipped with a double barrel and a 90-hour power reserve. 

Pricing for the Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon “Year of the Rabbit” is marked at approximately $61,530 when converted to USD.

To learn more, visit Arnold & Son here.

Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rabbit

The final zodiac-inspired watch on our list is the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rabbit from Chopard. The timepiece is clad in ethical rose gold with its design based on the L.U.C XP extra-flat collection. Honoring the rabbit, the dial is decorated with a scene of two rabbits in motion using the traditional Urushi Maki-e technique, which is a combination of lacquer and gold powder. On the exterior, the 39.5mm case has been sculpted from a block of 18-carat rose gold, sourced from an ethical supply chain pioneered by Chopard. The case has a svelte thickness of 6.8mm, made possible by the in-house L.U.C 96.17-L self-winding movement. 

Pricing for the Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rabbit is available upon request.

To learn more, visit Chopard here.