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Watches & Wonders 2020: Piaget Limelight Gala Watch

The world is full of extraordinary women who are inspiring, creative, daring, and powerful, all while embracing femininity in their own unique way. Women appreciate craftsmanship, talent and creativity. The new Limelight Gala was inspired by an iconic model created in 1973 when the brand’s famous Piaget Society was in full swing. Celebrities, artists, clients, and friends of the Maison would get together for the most fabulous parties, gathering stars such as Salvador Dali, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol, Cary Grant and Sami Davis Jr.

As vibrant today as it was in the 1970s, the Piaget Society continues to unite a creative, curious, and intelligent set of people who share a certain art de vivre —the art of living. Piaget’s Limelight Gala was inspired by the elegant spirit of the 1960s, with its sensual curves, cambered case, and asymmetrical lugs that extend from each side of the case onto the bracelet. The modern interpretation of the Limelight Gala reproduces the same design with a perfectly integrated case and lugs that are combined with a swirl of exquisite gemstones, ornate dials, and sumptuous gold bracelets.

Almost 60 years on and the Piaget Limelight Gala is more than a wristwatch, it is a feminine icon that has become a symbol of elegance and harmony.

Piaget Limelight Gala Watch from 1973

This year, Piaget is presenting a new Limelight Gala timepieces in celebration of these iconic creations that dates back to more than half a century. Each piece follows Piaget’s four pillars of excellence: The Art of Movement, The Art of Gold, The Art of Colour, and The Art of Light.

Shimmering in the light, this new Piaget Limelight Gala Precious Sapphire Gradient —reference G0A45163— celebrates the signature design of the Limelight Gala collection with a hand-engraved gold bracelet and dial that are highlighted by 20 large diamonds —approx. 1.46 carats— and 22 blue sapphires —approx. 4.01 carats— set in a subtle gradient of blue.

The work of a chainsmith is similar to that of an Haute-Couture dressmaker. The artisan will start with hundreds of gold links, which will be tightly assembled. The next step is the soldering of the countless miniature links that will result in a bracelet of remarkable suppleness. The white gold bracelet featured on this new timepiece has been created in this fashion, then hand-engraved in the Palace Décor style, one of Piaget’s most iconic motifs, which requires eight hours of work. Only a few artisans, who work in Piaget’s “Workshop of Extraordinary Creations”, have the expertise to hand-engrave this pattern.

Sticker Price Upon Request. For more info on Piaget click here.

Piaget Limelight Gala Precious Sapphire Gradient

The dial is also made of white gold and is engraved using the same Palace Décor technique. It takes two hours to complete the engraving on the dial and it is always carried out by the same engraver who decorates the bracelet to ensure a uniform design. To let the Décor shine through, the dial is covered in translucent blue enamel. It is oven-fired multiple times at a temperature over 800 degrees celsius, giving this technique the name of Grand Feu enamel. Finding the perfect color gemstones for this timepiece was also one of the most challenging operations. It involved sampling large quantities of gemstones to ensure the perfect color match, a task made even more complex given the large progressive size of the stones and the high gem quality standards of the Maison. To magnify the brilliance of the stones, Piaget’s gem-setters have expertly set the gemstones by hand, using the Serti Descendu technique. This timepiece is so unique that it is a numbered edition. There is also a similar version —ref. G0A45363— with a mother-of-pearl dial and a dark-blue alligator strap, limited to 88 pieces.

Sticker Price $59,000 USD. For more info on Piaget click here.

Piaget Limelight Gala Precious Mother-of-Pearl

A new rose gold version ref. G0A45161 also using the Serti Descendu technique to set the 57 diamonds —approx. 4.80 carats—, is available with a burgundy-colored strap and a delicate mother-of-pearl dial of exceptional quality. It is extremely white in color, with beautiful reflections, which attests to its high quality. Three new Haute-Joaillerie Limelight Gala timepieces join the collection this year with stunning oval dials paved with snow-set diamonds, and a captivating setting of marquise-cut gemstones on the bezel, lugs, and bracelet.

Sticker Price $53,000 USD. For more info on Piaget click here.

Piaget Limelight Gala Precious Mother-of-Pearl

The marquise cut is an important part of Piaget’s history. As legend has it, France’s King Louis XV asked to cut a diamond in honor of the smile of his beloved Marquise de Pompadour. The resulting diamond let the light shine in from the very center of the gemstone, giving it a unique radiance. This unique cut became a signature for the Maison. The three new High Jewellery timepieces come in a 28 mm by 23mm case. One model adorned with a fully-paved bracelet set with 364 brilliant- and marquise-cut diamonds —approximately 12.42 carats—, reference G0A45170, a second one set with both diamonds and blue sapphires —reference G0A45171—, and the third one set with 237 diamonds and fitted with an elegant blue satin strap —reference G0A45168.

Sticker Price Upon Request. For more info on Piaget click here.

Piaget Limelight Gala Precious Full Pavé

Piaget Limelight Gala Precious Full Pavé

Three new aventurine glass models join the Limelight Gala collection, showcasing the brand’s love for the celestial sky above our heads. Each dial is crafted from aventurine glass, a magical material that takes its name from the Italian word avventura, meaning “adventure”. Aventurine dates back to the 17th century with some of the first records coming from Murano, Venice, a town famous for its glass making. The process consists of adding copper oxide to the glass to give it a mesmerizing twinkle that mirrors the starry night sky. There are two Limelight Gala Aventurine Glass Dial: a 32mm case —Ref. G0A45162— adorned with 63 diamonds —approximately 1.76 ct— and a smaller 26mm case version —Ref. G0A45152— with 57 diamonds —approximately 0.87 carats—, both limited to 300 pieces each. Another model, the Limelight Gala Precious Aventurine Glass Dial —ref. G0A45180—, is set with 57 diamonds —approximately 4.80 carats— using the Serti Descendu technique and limited to 200 pieces.

Sticker Price $55,500 USD for 32 mm Precious Aventurine, $32,700 USD for 32mm and $22,600 USD for 26 mm. For more info on Piaget click here.

Piaget Limelight Gala Watch Aventurine