72
Piaget
Ref. 5561C701
Polo
A rare white and yellow gold wristwatch with automatic movement and bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
- Time only
- Rare version cased in white and yellow gold
- Very few Polos with automatic movement have come on the market
The Piaget Polo was launched in 1979 and remained in production until 1990. A truly opulent piece of horology, with its thick gold case and ribbed design on the case and bracelet, it became an icon of its time, worn on the wrists of Andy Warhol, Brooke Shields, and Björn Borg. It was significant because it was the first Piaget watch to receive an official model name rather than simply being identified by a reference number. The name came from the world of polo itself. Piaget was involved with polo events, including the Polo World Cup in Palm Beach, and the name fit the brand's association with the sport and its glamorous clientele.
Made in different sizes as well as in a square shape, the majority housed quartz movements, with only a handful featuring automatic movements (Hodinkee mentions that there are less than 10 known examples).
Piaget
Swiss | 1874Creativity, audacity and know-how are the values that gave Piaget its international reputation and allowed the brand to distinguish itself in the world of fine watchmaking and precision. Founder Georges Edouard Piaget established the company in 1874 and manufactured watch movements. While Piaget is famously recognized today for their elaborate wristwatch and bangle designs, they also mastered the marriage of their high-quality, in-house-produced wristwatches and stunning pieces of jewelry.
Collectors consider the 1970s as Piaget's era of superb creativity and unbounded designs. During this highly creative period, the brand designed an impressive range of cuff and bracelet watches carved in gold and adorned with exotic hard stones. Admired by most as not only jewelry but also true works of art, the firm's hard stone dial watches remain the most iconic, recognizable and desirable among collectors.