Piaget revives its iconic Limelight Gala timepiece

This is a watch to be passed on to future generations, and the sliding clasp mechanism, engraved with the Piaget “P”, ensures that it can accommodate any wrist size.

For 2016, Piaget’s Limelight Gala watch has been given a refresh and is now offered with a Milanese mesh bracelet, in either 18K white or rose gold. Courtesy Piaget
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The 1970s are not generally regarded as a golden age of style – but with the resurrection of its Limelight Gala timepiece, Piaget reminds us that the decade did yield some notable exceptions.

Launched in 1973, the Limelight Gala is named for Salvador Dalí’s wife, Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, who went by the moniker Gala. This is a small nod to the relationship that the house of Piaget shared with the famed surrealist artist, which resulted in them collaborating on the fittingly outlandish Dali d’Or Private Collection, also in the 1970s.

Created entirely in-house at Piaget – from initial sketch to finished product – the Limelight Gala was first relaunched in 2013, when the unconventional watch face was paired with a pretty satin strap. For 2016, it has been given a further refresh and is now offered with a Milanese mesh bracelet, in either 18K white or rose gold.

This latest iteration stays true to the 2013 version when it comes to the case, which is defined by asymmetrical lugs that swirl around the 32-millimetre dial in a blaze of gently graduating diamonds. The face is striking in its simplicity, with elongated Roman numerals. But it is the strap that truly sets this timepiece apart. A mesh of gently woven metal pays tribute to Piaget’s goldsmithing abilities and in-house expertise, while an ingenious sliding clasp ensures that the strap fits to the nearest millimetre. This is a watch to be passed on to future generations, and the sliding clasp mechanism, engraved with the Piaget “P”, ensures that it can accommodate any wrist size.

The strap is smooth, supple, sensuous and sits lightly on the skin. And in spite of the diamonds, the Limelight Gala, which is powered by a Piaget 690P quartz movement, is a timepiece that can comfortably move from day to night. Who doesn’t love a thoughtfully updated classic?

To celebrate the official launch of the timepiece in the UAE, Piaget is currently hosting an exhibition at its store in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. Further underlining the brand’s commitment to the world of art, suspended in the mall’s voluminous Fashion Dome is a Piaget-themed installation by the French artist Piergil Fourquié. The installation was first shown at Art Dubai earlier this year, but has been significantly enlarged for its Mall of the Emirates outing.

“Through this installation, I wished to express the radiance inherent in all Piaget creations – this supreme brilliance that embellishes those who wear each piece, and also the different shapes that appear when light is reflected off them,” Fourquié explains.

In situ until November 15, the installation is complemented by an in-store showcase of some of Piaget’s high-jewellery creations. The travelling exhibition includes pieces from the 2015 Mediterranean Garden collection, which takes its inspiration from the fascinating lifestyle of the French Riviera. A highlight is an amulet-like cuff crafted from twisted gold and topped with a single stunning black opal surrounded by tourmalines, emeralds and diamonds. It’s a further reminder that Piaget is a brand committed to artistry in all its forms.

Read this and other stories in Luxury magazine, out with The National on Thursday, November 3.

sdenman@thenational.ae