he theme of the 2026 edition of the Piaget Young Talents Prize at HEAD was watch design, centred around the flamboyant Piaget Cocktail rings. Originally born in the 1920s during Prohibition, the cocktail ring was revived in the 1960s in jewellery design, nearly disappeared, and then re-emerged, notably in 2009 with the now-iconic Limelight Inspiration Cocktail collection.

Bold, voluminous and colourful, the cocktail ring embodies a free-spirited, rebellious attitude that breaks conventions and proudly embraces it. Hence Piaget’s invitation to participants to “re-examine these emblematic pieces by creating a tension between aesthetic requirements and the technical constraints specific to watchmaking, in order to propose conceptual yet applicable solutions that reveal the potential of a dialogue between jewellery and watchmaking.” A brief that clearly inspired the candidates.

A flourishing of creativity

Inspired by Piaget’s rich heritage, jewellery and watchmaking expertise, and signature palette of vivid colours, the aspiring designers fully embraced the challenge. A profusion of coloured gemstones and fresh ideas emerged from their sketches. Extravagant forms, techniques and concepts blossomed in a playful celebration of creativity, paying tribute to the very DNA of the Maison Piaget.

Here, a modular cuff watch adorned with colourful champagne bubbles (Emilie Rau); there, a Passion Fruit Mojito that combines cuff, ring and watch in a flowing composition of onyx, citrine and gold (Nicolas Ulrich); elsewhere, an olive-shaped trompe-l’oeil wristwatch set with jade, peridots and rubies (Alexia Gotz); or even an Espresso Mojito transformed into a mechanical watch-brooch (Mikael Correira). Each project successfully captured the Piaget Cocktail spirit.

The winner

Choosing among so many daring creations was no easy task. Ultimately, Frédérique Faucher, a second-year student in the Bachelor programme in Product, Jewellery and Accessories Design, won the Prize along with the opportunity to undertake a three-month internship at the Piaget Creative Studio starting this summer.

Her creation was inspired by the iconic Dirty Martini: a satin-finished gold cuff watch set with jade, green opal, peridot, orange sapphire, enamel and diamond. Clearly moved, the young designer explained that she sought to reinterpret the olive, the condensation and the play of light on the glass. The result is both precious and organic, and was even conceived with future variations in mind.

Two other projects received special recognition: in second place, a lemon-and-lime slice sautoir concealing a miniature pendant watch (Delphine Gretillat); and in third place, a skeletonised Polo watch with tangy accents, as precious as it is joyful (Tanguy Ris).

Piaget Artistic Director Stéphanie Sivrière concluded the event with a few words celebrating the ever-renewed collaboration with HEAD – Geneva, the surprising and original ideas that so accurately captured the Piaget spirit and craftsmanship, and reminding the audience that, in her view, “at a time when artificial intelligence is rising inexorably, human creativity will always prevail.”