Andy Warhol and Piaget: a deep bond of friendship, between avant-garde, glamour and watchmaking. The new Andy Warhol Clou de Paris version of the most emblematic watch that belonged to the American artist, renamed after him, transforms the identity of a timepiece that holds a special place in the history of the brand's models.
Andy Warhol, leading artist of pop art, he was a collector of watches and a great lover of unique and provocative pieces. Piaget perfectly represented his eccentric lifestyle and passion for luxury, as well as his desire to stand out. When he bought the Black Tie watch in 1973, he already owned six Piaget watches (four of which are currently held in the Manufacture's Private Collection).
It was a yellow gold model with coussin case with gadroon motif, anthracite grey galvanic dial, animated by Beta 21, the first quartz movement to go into regular production in Switzerland, which Piaget had developed in consortium with Rolex, Patek, Omega and 16 other manufacturers.
It was only in 1979, however, that the artist would meet Yves Piaget and a great friendship would be born. Warhol became a key figure in the Piaget Societyalways present at the most glamorous events in New York, Palm Beach and Paris, and at the legendary glamorous evenings at Studio 54 or Chez Régine.
Piaget Andy Warhol: the new identity of the Black Tie
An unusual reinterpretation of the design, characterised by the Clou de Paris motif on the case.
To close the year of its 150th anniversary in style, at the end of 2024 Piaget proposed a new edition of the 1970s Black Tie, officially renamed from now on after the artist: Andy Warhol. The watch is the result of a new licensed partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, one of the leading funders of contemporary art in the United States.
Ihe first example of the new chapter in this long saga is the Andy Warhol Clou de Paris. Characterising it, as its name suggests, is the guilloché decoration with its distinctive geometrically squared pattern. The challenge, which involved a good 10 months of work, was to make it on the characteristic gadroon: it had to be hand-finished on a curved, not flat surface and still reflect the same suggestion and play of light as the original motif.
Piaget Andy Warhol Clou de Paris: white gold and blue meteorite dial
Piaget Made to Order: an ever-increasing customisation offer.
Andy Warhol re-proposes the typical coussin case in the same 45 mm size sculpted in white gold, a shade that enhances to the full the beautiful blue meteorite dial with dauphine hands, together with the clou de Paris frame, which echoes Piaget's tradition of ornamental stone dials that exploded in the 1970s. Animating it is the automatic 501P1 calibre (3.63 mm thick). Price67,500 euro.
Continuing the customisation offer of Piaget's Made to Order service, collectors will be able to tailor-make their own Andy Warhol. Starting with the dial, which features the option of ten different stones, including hawk's eye, turquoise and malachite. It can be combined with a white or rose gold case and up to five different strap colours. You can also choose between dauphine and original baton hands.
