Piaget Emperador Coussin 1270S
Skeleton
For the 25th edition of the SIHH, Piaget once again makes a strong impression in the highly exclusive field of ultra-thin complication movements. Confirming its superlative mastery of this demanding discipline, the Manufacture presents the Emperador Coussin 1270S, the world’s thinnest ultra-thin tourbillon automatic skeleton watch featuring a case measuring just 8.85 mm thick. This entirely skeleton-worked model highlighting a remarkable inverted architecture finds its natural place in the Black Tie line with its resolutely contemporary aesthetic. The cushion-shaped ultra-thin (5.05 mm) tourbillon automatic skeleton Calibre 1270S was designed and developed specifically for the equally cushion-shaped case housing it. Setting the perfect finishing touch, the movement adorned with remarkable Haute Horlogerie finishes reveals its exceptional construction on the display side, free of any dial that might disturb this fascinating vision.
A hint to collectors seeking exclusivity: the Black Tie collection welcomes the Piaget Emperador Coussin 1270S model setting a new slimness record for a tourbillon automatic skeleton model, at just 8.85 thick. This model comes in two versions that are rare by their very nature: a modern and sophisticated white gold version; and a more classic pink gold interpretation with a movement entirely made of gold. Dedicated to shaped cases radiating a distinctive, masculine elegance and housing the main complications from the Maison, this line with its instantly recognisable design highlights a remarkable level of finishing applied both to the movements and the exterior. This collection embodies Piaget’s two-fold expertise, expressed through the construction of watch movements ranging from the simplest to the most complicated, along with perfectly mastered production of original cases. Year after year, this collection welcomes most of the new horological complications designed and developed by the Manufacture. The new entirely skeleton-worked Emperador Coussin 1270S is a light, airy descendant of the iconic 1270P calibre, Piaget’s first ultra-thin tourbillon automatic movement.
Infinite mastery of ultra-thin skeleton work
With 27 ultra-thin movements rewarded by 15 slimness records, Piaget has been testifying since 1957 to undeniable mastery in handling the major challenges related to the development of such ultra-thin calibres. In half a century of innovations, the Manufacture has established itself as a specialist of ultra-thin movements that are the authentic signatures of the Piaget know-how. When reduced to its bare essentials, even the simplest movement represents a complication in its own right and calls for an extremely delicate miniaturisation process requiring expertise, patience and dexterity. Regularly enriched with new simple or complicated movements, the range of ultra-thin Piaget calibres also comprises six skeleton movements. The latter represent an art that the Manufacture has been perpetuating since the 1970s, when it presented the first skeleton version of its ultra-thin 9P calibre. Skeleton-working an ultra-thin calibre is an exercise that demands the savoir-faire of the most experienced master engravers in order to openwork the movement as much as possible without compromising its rigidity, its resistance or its reliability. The Emperador Coussin 1270S is the end result of adding the complexity of the infinitely small to the constraints implied by a horological complication and its numerous components, further compounded by the automatic winding mechanism – bearing in mind that most skeleton movements on the market are hand-wound. It took no less than three years to develop this exceptional calibre, to accommodate 225 parts within a barely 5.05-millimetre area and to skeleton-work it while ensuring impeccable operation.
The complexity and originality of an inverted structure
Precise calculations and painstaking development work made it possible to exalt the totally unique and identifiable aesthetic of the shaped 1270S calibre, one of the world’s thinnest tourbillon automatic skeleton movements at just 5.05 mm thick. In addition to the majestic tourbillon, the inverted structure of this movement provides a view of the platinum oscillating weight and bridges. The off-centred micro-rotor and the tourbillon topped by the P for Piaget entwine to form a figure 8 – the ultimate lucky number – that is delicately polished to strike a pleasing contrast with the satin-brushed bridges. Transparently revealed on the display side, this construction unique in the world provides a clear view of the main functional elements of this watch – its automatic winding system, its ‘motor’, its regulator and its gear train – as well as the equally off-centred hour and minute hands. Housed inside the world’s thinnest tourbillon automatic skeleton case measuring just 8.85 mm thick, Calibre 1270S also benefits from meticulous Haute Horlogerie finishes that are visible through the sapphire crystals fitted on both sides.
The supreme art of Haute Horlogerie decorations
This mastery of extreme miniaturisation is enhanced by remarkable movement decoration and finishing, combining traditional craftsmanship with a design distinguished by its contemporary stylistic purity. The new Emperador Coussin is available in two different versions. With its intense black touches applied to the hands, the micro-rotor, the screws and the tourbillon carriage, the white gold variation exudes a resolutely modern appeal; while the pink gold version is endowed with more classic and traditional assets including an extremely exclusive all-gold movement. This model graced with the ultimate degree of finishing epitomises the scope of Piaget’s cherished motto: “Always do better than necessary”. Testifying to the authentically unique character of the movements developed by the Manufacture Piaget, these Haute Horlogerie finishes involve such complex techniques as hand-bevelling with a file and mirror polishing. Entirely executed by hand, typically on the interior and external angles that can indeed only be manually crafted, these decorations magnify the beauty of the noble metal composing skeleton Calibre 1270S. They highlight the satin-brushed, hand-bevelled and polished mainplate and bridges; the satin-brushed, bevelled and polished guilloché pink gold-toned oscillating weight; the circular satin-brushed, satin-brushed and hand-bevelled wheels; the pink gold screws; the blind-hole and mirror-polished screw feet; the satin-brushed hand-bevelled barrel, as well as the hand-bevelled and hand-drawn bridges of the tourbillon carriage.
This precious compendium of horological artistry and stylistic purity is housed inside a cushion-shaped case in 18-carat pink or white gold measuring 46.5 mm in diameter and fitted with a brown or black alligator strap secured by a gold folding clasp.
