Piaget Polo Skeleton Diamond Paved Challenging Perceptions

When Piaget created the Polo in 1979, the aim was everyday sophistication. But the new Piaget Polo Skeleton Diamond Paved is anything but an everyday watch. Could I wear this delectable Piaget? That is the question of the day. I am a 6’2 Norwegian with a beard, just back from hacking big lumps of ice and snow from my car (feel free to stereotype me). I'm not a big fan of the term “metrosexual”, which is what came to mind when I saw the first images of this new Piaget in white gold. Could I pull it off?While writing this, I am wearing a Seiko Marinemaster 300, one of only two 44mm+ watches left in my collection. Did I put it on today to saw a hole in the ice and go diving with my speargun? No, I put it on because I love it despite its massive size, and it matches my blue shirt rather well. On my right wrist, I have a matching beaded bracelet (well, two), so yes, I am very vain. And to be honest, I do tend to gravitate towards the slimmer 38-40mm watches in my collection. Does that make me a prospective customer, or are diamonds just a step too far?The Piaget Polo Skeleton Diamond PavedDiamonds are a girl's best friend, or so the very politically incorrect saying goes. So what about us men? After this b*stard pandemic, I long for dressing up again and attending a meeting with a nice dress shirt and a slim suit jacket on. And under those slim cuffs, maybe there could actually be a twinkle of diamonds… What do you think? I do think so, but the thing is, the new Piaget Polo Skeleton is a lot more than a mere twinkle. This wafer-thin 42mm case has a mind-bending total of 1,746 brilliant-cut diamonds. This light show does its best to distract us from what is an equally stunning movement. The suave gray tone of the 1200S1 caliber is a stark monochrome contrast to the blinding light of nearly 2,000 diamonds.Am I man enough for a gem-set watch?This watch begs for this kind of question, but seriously, consider it. From a craftsmanship perspective, the new Piaget Polo Skeleton is a tour de force. No matter whether I think I can pull it off or not, there is no denying its value as a halo watch for Piaget. Some of you will find the glitz overpowering, and the emphasis too far into the world of jewelry - so be it. It only takes one look at the movement within the recognizable cushion-like case and you'll respect it. Add the 7.35mm slimness to that, and you might even find yourself desiring this piece. Is the new Piaget Polo Skeleton the ultimate guilty-pleasure watch?Dress up and feel the vibeThe best designs in the world would be nothing without contrasts. An Eames chair set within the frame of a New York loft apartment's rough brick walls, or a bearded Viking with a gem-set Piaget… Just imagine a client meeting I'll attend at my day job, wearing a dark blue linen-mix shirt and a wool blazer with some Neuw jeans. Out of my cuff slides the Piaget Polo Skeleton, glinting like mad in the showroom lighting. I would actually enjoy that a lot, but there’s a flip side to the coin. How can I deny my dealer the extra discount on a big project when the watch says I make too much off their sales? Diamonds can send the wrong signals, but not at a cocktail party in the right setting. Wearing this watch with a toned-down suit and a beard would be absolutely priceless. And that is the customer Piaget wants - the one who simply appreciates the oft-misused term “art for the wrist” and doesn’t care about the connotations or signals it may send. Perhaps this laissez-faire attitude is what we need more of in a post-pandemic 2022.A caliber worth a glimmering introductionYes, the Piaget Polo Skeleton might blind you with its reflections, but this is equally about the new 1200S1 caliber, a reworked version of the 1200S. Inside this 30m depth-rated case, the impossibly thin micro-rotor movement has a 44-hour power reserve. The off-center oscillating rotor at 8 o'clock sits within an intricate web of gray bridgework. The visible purple of the caliber's jewels cheers up a monochrome-cool scene of constant movement. A black rehaut brings a sporty focus to the life within, with slanted spearhead indices overhanging the open-worked heart. Even the recognizable Piaget Polo form of the broad sword hands are cut-out, accentuating an airy look of mechanical prowess.Thin and rather brilliantThe magic trick will become most apparent should you look at the watch head-on, trying to avoid the glittery distraction of 1746 gem-cut stones. Turning the 42mm case around will repeatedly make you respect the research that went into reducing this to less than 8mm. I know, by actually admitting to a touch of diamond desire, you might think me a fool. Me, I simply see past the shallow connotations of the world of light refractions and see the work within. I will never possess this watch, but that is not the point.The 61 hours it takes the Atelier Extraordinaire to complete the gem-setting of each case and bracelet inspires deep respect. The final touch of a reversed diamond in the crown of the Piaget Polo Skeleton says it all. Yes, I'll happily do a “Week On The Wrist” and suit up every damn day. This Piaget Polo Skeleton, my friends, is worth it, if only for the sliver-thin feel of opulence. The price? Well, that’s to be determined, but I think you can guess that it won’t come cheap.Could you pull it off?So, did the new Piaget Polo Skeleton Diamond Paved give you a taste for glimmering gems? If it did, just admit it, or tell us that it awakened your lust for ultra-thin, even if manifested in a more toned-down fashion.Find me and follow me at @thorsvaboe