Cover From left: Apo Nattawin, Ella Richards, Gianna Jun and Lee Jun-ho at the Piaget gala dinner in Barcelona
From left: Apo Nattawin, Ella Richards, Gianna Jun and Lee Jun-ho at the Piaget gala dinner in Barcelona
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Piaget’s latest high jewellery collection revives the daring, art-infused spirit of its golden decades and proves that true luxury still knows how to surprise, delight and play
There are jewellers who follow the rules, and then there is Piaget—a maison that has always found joy in rewriting them. With its latest high jewellery collection, Shapes of Extraleganza, Piaget shows once again that true luxury can be bold, witty and just a little irreverent. Unveiled at a glittering gala dinner in the Spanish city of Barcelona this June, Shapes of Extraleganza turns high jewellery into pure celebration: graphic shapes, surprising stones, hidden watches and a design spirit that drifts from the Pop Art studios of the 1960s to the free-spirited glamour of the ’70s, yet feels thoroughly modern today.
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Above (pictured from left) Apo Nattawin, Ella Richards, Gianna Jun and Lee Jun-ho at the gala dinner in Barcelona
(pictured from left) Apo Nattawin, Ella Richards, Gianna Jun and Lee Jun-ho at the gala dinner in Barcelona
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Following last year’s Essence of Extraleganza, this second chapter in a trilogy looks back to the creative energy that defined Piaget’s golden decades. In the 1960s and ’70s, Yves Piaget—a fourth‑generation descendant of the family that founded the maison in 1874—cultivated friendships with artists and tastemakers who pushed the boundaries of art, design and society. Surrealists like Salvador Dalí, provocative sculptors like Arman, and pop culture icons like Andy Warhol were more than collaborators; they were part of the original Piaget Society, where jewellery, art and life collided in a swirl of parties, studios and ideas.
That spirit gave rise to Piaget’s radical 21st Century Collection, launched in Basel in 1969. Its bold stone dials, gold cuffs and unconventional shapes captured the mood of an era when fashion, architecture and culture were all being reimagined, and they remain a defining part of Piaget’s identity today.
Above The Kaleidoscope Lights necklace in pink gold set with a 3.01-carat diamond, blue sapphires, turquoise, sodalite, jasper, ruby root, chrysoprase, sugilite, rhodonite, rhodochrosite and verdite
The Kaleidoscope Lights necklace in pink gold set with a 3.01-carat diamond, blue sapphires, turquoise, sodalite, jasper, ruby root, chrysoprase, sugilite, rhodonite, rhodochrosite and verdite
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Shapes of Extraleganza picks up that creative thread and spins it forward with 51 striking new pieces. Triangles, waves, circles and sharp angles collide in sculptural forms that echo swirling psychedelic prints and the playful geometry of the early-1980s Memphis movement. Led by Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, the movement turned design conventions upside down with bright colours, clashing patterns and a childlike sense of fun—an attitude Piaget channels beautifully in this new chapter.
Take the Kaleidoscope Lights suite, which is a masterclass in lapidary art. Ornamental stones first seen on Piaget watch dials in the 1960s —vivid rhodochrosite, verdite, sugilite— are sliced into curved segments of varying thickness, then fitted into precise striped mosaics. The result is a dramatic sun-ray effect across a collar necklace, long drop earrings, a bold ring and a watch dial that shifts with the light.
Above Gianna Jun wears the Wave Illusion high jewellery set in platinum and rose gold set with red and pink spinels, rubies and diamonds
Gianna Jun wears the Wave Illusion high jewellery set in platinum and rose gold set with red and pink spinels, rubies and diamonds
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Then, there is the Flowing Curves suite, inspired by the organic spirit of the 1970s back-to-nature movement. Rare black opals, one of Yves Piaget’s lifelong passions, shimmer against hand-hammered white gold that undulates like rippling water. This goldsmithing technique is an evolution of Piaget’s famed Décor Palace finish and scatters light in fluid patterns, wrapping the stones in a dance of texture and shine. The result is a surface so alive it appears to move around the stones, adding depth and drama while keeping the opals centre stage.
The Wave Illusion suite channels the playful side of Memphis design. Vibrant red and orangey-pink spinels, rubies and diamonds are set in geometric lines that feel refreshingly unpolished yet exquisitely made. This suite was brought to life in Barcelona by Korean actress Gianna Jun, who is a Piaget global ambassador.
Piaget’s love for hidden surprises appears in the Curved Artistry suite. Radiant sun-yellow sapphires and candy-bright accents centre on a secret ring watch, a discreet flourish Piaget has championed since the 1940s. Lift the smooth cabochon aquamarine and a diamond-set dial appears for an intimate delight for the wearer alone.
Above The Flowing Curves earrings in white gold set with emeralds, chrysoprase and diamonds
The Flowing Curves earrings in white gold set with emeralds, chrysoprase and diamonds
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Meanwhile, hypnotic Colombian emeralds ooze classic glamour in the Gleaming Shapes and Arty Pop suites. One highlight is the Altiplano Arty Pop watch worn at the gala by Korean actor Lee Jun-ho: a striking blend of white gold, emeralds, diamonds and malachite that showcases Piaget’s gift for wrapping its ultra-thin movements in exuberant design.
Elsewhere, the Joyful Twirls cuff watches capture Piaget’s dual mastery of haute joaillerie and watchmaking. Wide, supple bracelets ripple with shades of moody blue sapphires or fiery spessartite garnets and pink sapphires, set so finely they mimic silk. Beneath this gem-set shimmer is Piaget’s famously slim self-winding movement—a feat of precision that has underpinned the maison’s renown since the pioneering calibres of the late 1950s.
Above Ella Richards wears the Swinging Sautoir watch in rose gold with a malachite dial and set with emeralds and diamonds
Ella Richards wears the Swinging Sautoir watch in rose gold with a malachite dial and set with emeralds and diamonds
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Everywhere in this collection, colour is celebrated without restraint. British model Ella Richards—granddaughter of Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards—wore a Swinging Sautoir watch adorned with emeralds, diamonds and a malachite dial at the launch, while American actress Amber Valletta paired a dramatic sautoir strung with rubies, carnelians and opals with Piaget’s vivid Pink Delight ring. Thai actor Apo Nattawin wore the Andy Warhol watch, a gem-set tribute to the eponymous artist who famously collected Piaget creations.
The collection comes to a head with Endless Motion, a table clock conceived with French artist Alex Palenski. Part mobile sculpture and part timepiece, its delicate arms are tipped with stones in oceanic greens and blues that recall the lightning flashes of black opal. Light, shadow and movement meet in an elegant objet d’art that serves as a reminder that for Piaget, time and art are forever entwined.
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Images: Piaget
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
