Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Review
The Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept is one of the most groundbreaking achievements in modern watchmaking. Officially launched during Watches & Wonders 2020, it remains the world’s slimmest mechanical watch, powered by the remarkable 900P-UC movement. By integrating the components directly into the case structure, Piaget achieved an extraordinary thickness of just 2 mm—as thin as a single coin.
The 41 mm cobalt alloy case plays a crucial role in this engineering feat. Traditional materials such as gold or stainless steel were too soft and risked bending under daily stress. Cobalt alloy, however, provides the necessary rigidity while allowing the case to maintain its near-impossible thinness. The curved, trapezoid-shaped crown is fully recessed into the caseband, ensuring the watch remains perfectly flat on the wrist. The sapphire crystal is only 0.2 mm thick—one-fifth the thickness of a standard crystal—and even the strap measures just 1.5 mm.
The time display is intentionally minimalistic to maximize space for the movement architecture. The 900P-UC hand-wound calibre integrates the main plate directly with the caseback. The balance wheel at 9 o’clock, gear train, and barrel at 6 o’clock are exposed on the dial side, showcasing the mechanical layers that allow the watch to remain ultra-thin. The thinnest gear measures just 0.12 mm—thinner than a sheet of paper.
To eliminate height wherever possible, Piaget replaced traditional bridges with ball bearings, creating an entirely new movement structure. The floating cantilever balance wheel sits inside a recessed cavity, while the barrel uses a coverless construction to reduce thickness further. Despite this, the movement still delivers a respectable 40-hour power reserve. The usual sliding pinion and crown wheel were redesigned into a constant-moving screw system, ensuring smooth winding without adding height.
In addition to its technical accomplishments, the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept offers extensive personalization. Nearly every component—bridges, wheels, screws, dials and plates—can be customized in finishes such as brushed, matte, polished, or treated with blue or black PVD coatings. This makes every piece uniquely tailored to its owner. The official starting price is 410,000 CHF, reflecting both its rarity and engineering complexity.
Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Ultra-Thin Watch
Cobalt alloy case, 41 mm diameter, 2 mm thickness, sapphire crystal, solid caseback, recessed crown, black PVD-treated dial, 900P-UC ultra-thin movement, 13 jewels, 28,800 vph, 40-hour power reserve, black fabric strap, pin buckle, 20 m water resistance.
For complete specifications and customization options, visit the Piaget Official Website.
