What do you do when your dress-watch-buying customers want to play sports? You create the Piaget Polo. Waterproof, shockproof, and only available in gold, the Piaget Polo was the turn-of-the-decade sports watch that brought elegance to Polo Clubs around the country at a time when stainless steel was the norm.
It might’ve been slightly late to the party – the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was released in 1972 – but the Piaget Polo served up glamourous gold to the sports watch table and everyone wanted a taste.
Seamless bracelet integration, alternating brushed block links with polished gadroon, and unmatched wrist comfort were hallmarks of this timepiece when it arrived in 1979. On the Maison’s 150th Anniversary, the watch returns under the ‘Polo’ name to include all design highlights with improvements to performance.
RELATED: Audemars Piguet Claims ‘World’s Best’ Honours at 2023 GPHG Awards.
Under its new name, the Piaget Polo ’79 (from €81,500 ($135,000 AUD)) has replaced the original quartz movement in favour of the ultra-thin 1200P1 in-house self-winding calibre backed by an exhibition crystal case back. It’s also slightly larger now at 38mm, but we prefer the look.
In fact, the idea of a simple, elegant, unisex gold watch has never been more appealing to the team here at Man of Many. We’re amid a 1980s fashion resurgence and that’s brought attention to elite and exclusive sports like golf and polo. Sam would argue that this culture has become unbearable, but with brands like Sporty and Rich leading the charge and ‘quiet luxury’ becoming the norm we think it’s here to stay.
Other than those few changes it’s still the same 18K gold watch that caught the eyes of fans in the 1980s and with current trends, we’re predicting it will do the same today.
When Yves Piaget answered the needs of his customers at the time, we doubt he was thinking 45 years down the line, but he’s successfully recaptured that audience again today. “We really had to answer to this particular demand of our customers who are used to getting just dress watches.’ said Yves Piaget at the time. ‘But now our customers like to do more and more sports. That’s part of the evolution of our lives today. They want to be exquisite, even in sports. They want to wear a better watch, even in their sports.”
Join Our Exclusive Community!
Keep up with the latest trends, best stories, and crucial updates from Man of Many direct to your inbox.
You’ll also like:
