Last summer, in 2016, we saw the release of the Piaget Polo chronograph. Designed and marketed as an everyday steel watch in order to attract young watch enthusiasts to appreciate the ever-increasing market segment movement, unique and versatile design, looking for a serious watch reputation. While not much of the wide range of 5,000 – 10,000 dollars, check these boxes, Piaget may have been successful. Now, in addition to the steel bracelet model, this is a limited edition Piaget Polo black ADLC frame with a black dial and a very cool rubber strap that has actually stitched so you will not look like a fool, Credit Suisse Climbing the ladder. If there is any departure, because they make them in a limited number of 888 – three lucky numbers in Chinese tradition.
The Piaget Polo S case is sized at an ideal 42mm wide and is a relatively slim 9.4mm thick, water-resistant to 100m. That familiar cushion-shaped dial within a more rounded case is immediately recognizable as a Piaget. One of the first things that separates this from the standard Piaget Polo S watch is the ADLC (amorphous carbon-like coating) coating on the bezel, providing superior scratch-resistance and protection for day-to-day wear. ADLC is generally superior to PVD for the purposes of protective coating, but I think it also lends its own unique, nearly glossy, brushed coat here. Also, I love ceramic as much as anyone but I’m glad Piaget chose to forego it here and opt for the brushed steel coated in black ADLC which I feel we don’t see often enough.
The black dial with a horizontal stripe pattern looks great, and I am really happy about the legibility of the dial. The hour and minute hands, indices, and dial text are all easily readable against the black background of the dial. I’m typically ambivalent about date windows, but I do appreciate the subtly tapered shape that almost looks like an isosceles trapezoid at 6 o’clock. Back to the hands, the only color on the dial is the bit of red at the end of the seconds hand, with the counterweight of the seconds hand sporting that very cool-looking diamond containing the “P” insignia. The legible, handsome baton hands are lumed and have a polished steel outline. The indices are lumed and polished as well.
As I’ve mentioned, this Piaget Polo S comes on a black rubber strap that’s given a dressed-up makeover with the addition of slate grey stitching throughout. If you’re feeling more traditional, the watch will also come with a calfskin leather strap that you can swap for. The downside here is obvious: no bracelet option which is the standard look for the Piaget Polo S, and there is something to say for the aesthetic cohesion lost with the lack of the brushed/polished steel contrast you’d otherwise get. So, as much as I really like this piece, I don’t know if I could pull the trigger unless I was looking for my second (or third, or more) Piaget Polo S. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, though, as this black model will also come in the chronograph version.
Turn the watch around and you see the in-house 1110P self-winding movement, which was developed from their 800P movement. The 1110P is 25.58mm wide and a slim 4mm thick while boasting that brooding slate grey rotor donning geneva stripes and the Piaget coat of arms. As for the technical specifics, the 1110P operates at 28,800vph (4Hz) and has a 50-hour power reserve. It’s made up of 180 components, contains 25 jewels, and has blued screws on the bridges. All in all, it’s a thin, modern, in-house Piaget movement, and that basically says it all.
Earlier today we saw some of the new Cartier-driven Cartier watches, which last year introduced another cushion-shaped look at part of the price-inviting steel model. You can save about $ 2,000 if you choose a simple, in terms of steel-driven Cartier, although it looks like Cartier, they will have more wide-ranging attraction. Rubber strap on the Patek Philippe Seabed observer cost about $ 18,900 to refresh Vacheron Constantin overseas to see the steel is $ 19900, we see last year and Girard-Perregaux Laureato Steel is $ 14,300. This ADLC Piaget Polo Rubber Strap is a 888-year limited edition price of $ 8,900 – which is a few hundred less than a steel bracelet model. Looking at the cost of this competition, I think Piaget is a knock on the door of the park.