Piaget 9150 White Gold and lacquered dial mechanical 23 x 28 mm circa 1970

The story

Piaget is a multigenerational watch and jewelry House founded in 1874 in La Côte-aux-Fées. Sometimes wrongly described as a jeweller who makes watches, history shows us, quite indisputably, that Piaget can rival the best brands with as much engineering prowess as design. To take it a step further: it's precisely because the Maison has taken up the challenge of ultra-thin watchmaking with such feverishness that its creations have followed such an elegant trajectory.

At its origins, Piaget was known in the industry as a supplier of complete mechanical movements for several other well-known brands, such as Cartier, Rolex, Vulcain and Ulysse Nardin. But it was really in 1945, when second-generation patriarch Timothée Piaget established the brand, with a new factory in La Côte-aux-Fées, centralizing 150 employees. This expansion enabled Timothée's sons, Gérald and Valentin, to develop the brand's expertise in extra-thin movements over the next two decades, the latter playing a key role in the creation of the 9P and 12P calibers, two iconic ultra-thin movements!

When it was unveiled in 1957, the 9P measured 2 mm, a thickness barely greater than that of most 10-cent coins. The arrival of this caliber marked the beginning of a new era for the brand: it was aware of the creative possibilities these ultra-thin movements could create, and decided to reserve them exclusively for its own watches. And because she considered these calibers precious, she only used them in watches made of precious metals!

A very classic vintage

Vintage, this Piaget reference 9150 certainly is. It was made in the brand's manufacture in the 1970s, which means it has already seen half a century of history pass by. What's perhaps most surprising is that it doesn't look like one, or in fact, maybe it does. It possesses a sense of refinement rare in today's watches. This starts with the modest dimensions of its white gold case: 23 x 28 mm. Its Tank-inspired design makes it totally timeless. As are its white lacquered dial and white gold hands.

Its fully polished finish means that the slightest reflection of light highlights the watch's pronounced profile and naturally draws the eye to it. There's even a sapphire cabochon on the crown!

For Piaget, slimness wasn't the only criterion. Appropriate decoration of the movement was just as important. Although it remains carefully hidden behind the white gold caseback, the 9P caliber is decorated with côtes de Genève, a circular-grained plate and hand-drawn and beveled bridges. While it's regrettable that it's a watchmaker's privilege to enjoy such decorations, there's also a lovely sense of sobriety.

A 2mm-thick movement in a vintage watch seems fragile. While we have to respect the age of this reference 9150, nothing makes it happier than exploring the world once more. One of the reasons the calibre 9P has been so successful is that the movement is surprisingly robust. Apart from water, since the watch is not water-resistant, there are no special circumstances to avoid when wearing this Piaget.

The package

This vintage Piaget offers us a very successful interpretation of the "Tank" style. In our opinion, this 9150 is one of the most seductive models produced by the Manufacture. It has a simple style, a far cry from the opulence of the brand's creations in the 1970s, which featured many very jewel-like models and numerous models with stone dials!

This reference has all the elements worthy of a very fine dress watch: a hand-lacquered dial, a sublime white gold case and a caliber as exceptional as it is iconic. Last but not least: its slimness of just 5 mm!"

This 9150 is in excellent condition and comes complete. It is dressed in a black leather strap with a vintage Piaget white gold pin buckle. Like all watches featured on 10h10, this Piaget has been tested and authenticated by our watchmakers. It was also serviced in 2023. As such, it benefits from Lepage 10h10's one-year warranty.