Piaget’s mechanical-quartz hybrid

We thought the Swiss had abandoned that avenue forever. But no, the mechanical-quartz hybrid is back, right where you’d least expect it. And its performance is exceptional.

Its hybrid nature is perfectly reflected in the construction of the ultra-thin movement (5.5mm, 42 hour power reserve), whose main elements are visible through the cutout dial. The oscillating weight of the micro-rotor and the generator can be seen side by side at the front of the watch, forming an offset figure of 8. The absence of a dial means the meticulous traditional finishes of the movement’s principal elements are given pride of place: the guilloché micro-rotor decorated with the Piaget coat of arms; sunburst and chamfered bridges; circular satin-brushed gears; silvered screws; and a white gold fillet to define the generator. Above the deep black movement, two off-centre hands sweep over finely tapered hour markers. The 46.5mm black ADLC-coated rounded gold bezel contrasts with the cushion-shaped detailing in white gold, clearly proclaiming its membership of the Black Tie collection. The exceptional Emperador Coussin XL 700P is available in a limited series of 118, fitted with a black alligator strap, at the price of CHF 70,000. But this is just the beginning.