Piaget Focus
Golden petals sprout from diamond-set centres, and silk-like gold is woven into intricate bracelets. We discover why Piaget is a major player in high jewellery
Founded in the quaint Swiss village of La Côteaux-Fées more than 140 years ago, Piaget has its roots in the art of watchmaking. Indeed, the brand is responsible for some of the most innovative, cutting-edge horology on the market today—not least in the realm of ultra-thin movements. However, this paragon of authentic luxury craftsmanship is equally peerless in the field of haute joaillerie.
The segue into jewellery, which now forms a third of the brand’s sales, began in earnest under the auspices of a fourth-generation member of the family, Yves G Piaget. Appointed company president in 1980, Yves’ influence truly began to be felt at the firm in the 1960s and ’70s. He says that he and his ancestors always looked at a watch as a piece of jewellery, so the move into creating haute joaillerie was a logical one.
The aesthetic championed by Yves melded gold and platinum—which, since 1957, the brand had used exclusively—with a riot of colour. Both jewellery pieces and watches were bedazzled with precious gems such as diamond, ruby and emerald, and decorative stones or polished materials, including turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, coral, nephrite and jade. That combination continues to define the Piaget DNA to this day.
There is a sense of light and joy to Piaget’s designs. This is jewellery made for women of spirit, elegance, individuality and good humour. The brand espouses a philosophy it calls The Sunny Side of Life, which encourages living life to the fullest and embracing positivity, audacity and elegance in equal measure. The maison hopes the passion its artisans put into creating jewellery and watches will be reflected in the joie de vivre with which its clients approach the world.
See also: Find Out Why Piaget's Possession Collection Is For Keeps
