Piaget Unveils Shapes of Extraleganza in Barcelona
Piaget revealed its latest High Jewellery collection, Shapes of Extraleganza, at an event in Barcelona. The presentation showcased how the brand combines precious gemstones with architectural forms inspired by the city’s design language. (See the official PIAGET site.)
Piaget’s Heritage
Founded in 1874, Piaget has built its reputation on precision watchmaking and high jewellery. The brand emerged from the La Côte-aux-Fées valley in Switzerland, where founder Alfred Piaget began crafting movements by hand. Over 150 years, Piaget has evolved from a manufacture specializing in ultra-thin calibres to a global luxury house known for integrating fine watchmaking with precious stone-setting techniques. The High Jewellery collection represents the summit of this dual expertise.
The Shapes of Extraleganza Collection
Design and Inspiration
Shapes of Extraleganza translates Barcelona’s architectural vocabulary into jewellery form. The collection draws from modernist geometry and the city’s iconic structures, applying them to necklaces, bracelets, and brooches set with diamonds, sapphires, and coloured gemstones. Each piece uses contrasting stone cuts—brilliant rounds paired with step cuts, or baguettes arranged to emphasize negative space—creating visual rhythm across the design.
The Barcelona Unveiling
The event itself took place against a backdrop of Barcelona’s cultural landmarks. Guests examined the collection’s technical aspects: the precision of stone-setting across complex geometric forms, the weight distribution in large statement pieces, and the durability engineering required for jewellery intended for significant occasions. Piaget’s atelier craftspeople discussed the 200+ hours required to complete a single major necklace, from initial stone selection through final polishing.
Why Piaget Watches and Jewellery Matter
Piaget timepieces combine mechanical precision with decorative refinement. A Piaget watch movement operates at frequencies between 28,800 and 36,000 vibrations per hour—standard for luxury watchmaking—but Piaget distinguishes itself through case finishing and integrated jewellery design. Many Piaget models feature hand-guillochéd dials, applied gold markers, and bezels set with precious stones that serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. This approach positions Piaget distinct from brands that treat watchmaking and jewellery as separate disciplines. Collectors value Piaget for this integration: a 40mm chronograph might feature a bezel of baguette-cut sapphires alongside a rhodium-plated dial and chronograph counters rendered in 18k white gold.
Conclusion
The Barcelona event showcased Piaget’s technical capabilities at the intersection of horology and high jewellery. Shapes of Extraleganza demonstrates how architectural reference points can inform contemporary jewellery design while maintaining the precision standards that define the Piaget brand across 150 years of manufacture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shapes of Extraleganza collection by Piaget?
Shapes of Extraleganza is Piaget’s High Jewellery collection unveiled in Barcelona, interpreting the city’s modernist architectural forms into jewellery pieces. Each design uses contrasting stone cuts and geometric precision to create statement necklaces, bracelets, and brooches set with diamonds, sapphires, and coloured gemstones.
When was Piaget founded and what is the brand known for?
Piaget was founded in 1874 in La Côte-aux-Fées, Switzerland. The brand developed its reputation through ultra-thin mechanical movements and later integrated this watchmaking expertise with fine jewellery craftsmanship. Piaget is recognised for combining precision horology with high-level gemstone-setting across watches and standalone jewellery pieces.
What makes Piaget watches special compared to other luxury timepieces?
Piaget watches merge mechanical innovation with decorative refinement. The brand applies techniques such as hand-guillochéing and integrated precious stone-setting to watch cases and bezels. Many Piaget timepieces operate at 36,000 vibrations per hour and feature applied gold markers, rhodium-plated dials, and baguette-cut sapphire bezels—distinguishing them through the integration of jewellery design principles into watchmaking.
