Introducing The Piaget Limelight Secret Watch: Tribute To Samarkand

By Adrienne Faurote November 11, 2015

When it was unveiled at Watches & Wonders last month, I instantly fell in love with the Limelight Secret High Jewellery model, which is part of the “Secrets & Lights – A Mythical Journey by Piaget” new Haute Joillerie and Haute Horlogerie collection by Piaget. This extraordinary collection comprises 93 jewellery creations and 38 watchmaking works of art, including the Protocole XXL Micro-Mosaic.

Emblematic of the excellence of the Piaget Ateliers, the new collection is inspired by two legendary cities, Venice and Samarkand. In this case of the Limelight Secret watch, it is the Palace of Samarkand that plays muse. In fact, the case-back even shows-off the engraved Mythical Journey logo.

Even though the time can be hidden from view at the wish of the wearer, it is no secret that Piaget remains at the forefront of goldsmithing techniques. As far back as the 1950s, the Swiss brand’s jewellery watches have been in included in the prestigious identity codes of La-Côte-aux-Fées in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Fitted directly to the case so as to form a single entity, the bracelet transforms into an iridescent ribbon, while extending into a mother-of-pearl and engraved gold star marquetry picking up the iconic décor. Passed on within the Manufacture for the past three generations, this technique that has become a distinctive Piaget aesthetic signature transforms the precious metal into gold fabric.

Inspired by the architecture of Samarkand, the Palace décor adorns the Limelight Secret watch (G0A40616). With a case diameter of 30 mm, the Limelight Secret watch sits delicately on the wrist looking simply exquisite with the hand-engraved pink gold bracelet with an integrated buckle. The in-house Manufacture Piaget 57P quartz movement powers the Limelight Secret timepiece providing the hours and minutes functions. The 18-carat pink gold case is set with 449 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approximately 2.30 carats, while the dial is crafted out of mother-of-pearl dial.

When you see the watch, an image comes to mind: of a city of infinites where the immensity of the desert meets the precision of ancestral crafts. Such a masterpiece of haute jewellery craftsmanship in a watch, is of course limited in production to only 18 pieces worldwide.