Video: Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept, The Continued Quest For Extreme Ultra-Thin

In traditional watchmaking, achieving a mechanical wristwatch with a total thickness of just 2mm was thought to be a totally unachievable goal. The common wisdom was that components could simply not be reduced enough without sacrificing the accuracy and daily wearability of the watch.

In 2014, Piaget set out to develop a super-thin watch with a maximum overall thickness of only 2mm. Very quickly, technicians and watchmakers understood that to reach this goal, they would have to totally rethink all of the traditional methods of producing a mechanical watch.
 

At the 2018 SIHH expo in Geneva, Piaget revealed the first prototype of the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, which immediately received resoundingly positive feedback by both watch collectors and experts. To further develop this concept, the Piaget team was then tasked to finalize the development of the watch and its manufacturing process so that it could graduate from the prototype stage to an accurate and reliable daily wristwatch.
 

From the fusion of the movement to the case, to the development of an infinite screw to set the watch, from the 0.2mm glass to the innovative barrel, this video will help you understand how complex the challenge was and how difficult it was to accomplish this vision.
 

With five patents and a total reinvention of traditional watchmaking, including a new testing process, the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept is the pinnacle of extreme watchmaking. At each stage, this exclusive watch will be totally unique to each individual owner under Piaget’s “Infinitely Personal” concept, which allows more than 195,000 personalized permutations. Now, exclusivity and individuality in watchmaking have a name: The Altiplano Ultimate Concept.
 

(Photography by Pierre Vogel)