You’re in for a real treat today, folks. Here’s an exclusive first-hand look at the world’s thinnest mechanical chronograph watch, the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph to be officially unveiled during SIHH 2015. 

The word “ultra-thin” is pretty much synonymous with Piaget, a brand that has held and broken just about every record when it comes to mind-bogglingly slim watches and movements. Now I have to say, with last year’s Altiplano 900P, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, Piaget had once again set the bar pretty high for themselves in their everlasting pursuit of producing the thinnest mechanical watches known to man, and I just didn’t think this year would bring another game-changer from Piaget. I was wrong.

Amongst a handful of journalists, I had the privilege of attending a Piaget press conference in Geneva last month, where the brand showcased their latest creations including the Black Tie “vintage inspiration” I review a few weeks back, and more importantly the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph, the world’s thinnest mechanical chronograph wristwatch housing the world’s thinnest chronograph movement, the 883P.

Now just how slim are we talking? the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph comes in at a mere 8.24mm in total thickness. That’s really, REALLY thin, especially when you consider that the watch features a sapphire exhibition back which generally tends to add a bit of bulk. Measuring 41mm in diameter, the round Altiplano case is done in polished rose or white gold with a diamond set bezel, though I’m sure we can expect one or two more versions at SIHH 2015 next month.

For Piaget, the Altiplano Chronograph isn’t just another ultra-thin watch, but Piaget’s first ever manual winding chronograph movement, as well as the first Altiplano to feature a complication besides a date function. And not just your average chronograph, the Altiplano features a flyback function, column-wheel and vertical clutch system, as well as a second timezone or GMT indications. That’s a whole lot of horology to fit into one wafer-thin watch.

Needless to say, achieving such a technical feat requires not only state-of-the-art tools, but also a specific kind of expertise in both movement design and construction as well as case design and manufacturing techniques. It’s the kind of know-how that Piaget possesses without equal, thanks to two separate but synergetic manufacturing facilities optimising every aspect of watch design, inside and out.

Keeping with the dial’s elegant and perfectly symmetrical tri-compax layout, Piaget sought to include a second timezone complication in the 9 o’clock sub-dial in lieu of an hours totalizer for the chronograph. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a second timezone blend so seamlessly into a chronograph. The chronograph can measure events up to 30 minutes long, and features a constant seconds indication at 6 o’clock.

The dial itself is done in a very subtle silvery-white opaline finish, with black and grey painted markers paired with thin anthracite hands that are fairly legible from any angle. All in all it’s exactly the kind of dial you’d expect to find in a Piaget Altiplano: clean, sophisticated and timeless.

Measuring only 4.65mm in height, the manual-winding 883P movement boasts several groundbreaking features besides being the slimmest chronograph movement there is. For one thing, it provides a power reserve of 50 hours, and that’s regardless of whether the chronograph is running or not. Of its 240 components, several were manufactured in record-breaking, mind-boggling proportions, such as the cannon-pinion measuring 0.12 mm in thickness, the barrel staff at 0.115mm and the chronograph gear finger at 0.06 mm.

Circular Côte-de-Genève stripes, beveled and polished edges, and blued screws, as well as the signature engraved and gilded Piaget coat-of-arms. Slimness aside, this is a handsome chronograph movement with an atypical construction.

On the wrist, the proportions feel just right. If there was ever a chronograph that could qualify as a “dress watch”, it’s the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph. It’s classical without being dated and subtle without being plain. It doesn’t really feel like an ultra-thin watch, and yet seems to be tailor-made to slide right under the tightest of shirt cuffs.

The suggested retail price is 26’800 CHF (Swiss Francs), though this could change between now and the official announcement during SIHH in January.

More information on www.piaget.com