Watches and Wonders
Eye of the Tiger: Piaget Hits Hard with New Andy Warhol Models at Watches and Wonders
The iconic 1970s watch rocked (pun intended) Watches and Wonders with two new playful and colorful models with opal and tiger eye dials.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
Looking through notes and images from Watches and Wonders 2023, one time-only timepiece stood out: The cushion-shaped Piaget Black Tie with its malachite dial.
This hardstone dial was the harbinger of an industry-wide hardstone dial revival, with upstart brands as diverse as Toledano & Chan, Formex, Dennison, and Berneron making waves with unconventional cases and dials.
As these niche designs gained traction with collectors, Piaget announced that it had partnered with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and officially given its 1970s cushion-shaped classic, the “Black Tie,” a new moniker: the Andy Warhol Clous de Paris.
Now, with the new Andy Warhol Clous de Paris models announced last week at Watches and Wonders 2025, Piaget has added another layer of Seventies, Studio 54 disco ball glamour to the collection. So, let’s take a look!
High Society
As we have discussed in past articles, Andy Warhol reshaped style almost as much as he changed the art scene. And while he embraced a uniform of (mostly) Brooks Brothers jackets and sunglasses, his watch box was a little more eclectic, with Cartier, Rolex, and seven Piagets. However, the Piaget Black Tie, which was called the 15102 at the time, was said to be his favorite.
Every good watch has a story, and Warhol’s affection for the watch was born out of the artist’s friendship with Yves Piaget. Piaget loved the glamorous life, and Warhol famously loved observing the glitterati. Together, they partied at Chez Regine’s and high society Washington galas.
Yet, despite its strong ties to the Me Decade, the Black Tie’s voluptuous design, with its sweeping gold gadroons that wrap around the bezel, has defied being stuck in the 1970s and become a classic.
Color Theory
As we all know, the Maison’s skill for gem selection and setting is unparalleled. However, when it comes to colorful, hardstone dials, the Maison is also a master. In fact, Yves Piaget once said, “The world to me is like an opal, made of different tastes and colors.”
This combination of good eye and steady hand is best exhibited in the High Jewellery iteration of the Andy Warhol watch. This version uses the language of the original 1972 design but is expressed with an opal dial and baguette-cut blue sapphire gadroons.
Opal is a notoriously difficult gem to cut, so creating a 45mm canvas of this memorizing mineral is a real feat. Moreover, the color of the three rows of baguette-cut blue sapphire gadroons had to be perfectly calibrated to complement the kaleidoscopic nature of the opal.
Tiger’s Eye
Also joining the collection for 2025 is a tiger’s eye dial. It’s a much-anticipated addition to the Andy Warhol Clou de Paris family, joining last year’s blue, green, and white meteorite versions.
This silky stone is chatoyant – meaning that its color shifts from deep orange to honey-brown tones depending on how the light hits it. Again, Piaget’s artisans have the skills to bring out the stone’s graphic stripes and opalescent luster.
Powered by the in-house 501P1 Manufacture self-winding movement, the new Andy Warhol tiger’s eye watch is a made-to-order offering. Thus, buyers can choose between five differently colored leather straps, two hand styles (baton or dauphine), and either a white or rose gold case.
The idea behind making this iteration a bespoke experience is that the wearer can play with the piece to create their signature. And that’s what art is all about.
To learn more about the brand’s Watches and Wonders 2025 releases, check out the Piaget website.