How Piaget Made the World’s Thinnest Watch | Watchfinder & Co.

It all started at SIHH in 2014, after the successful release of the Altiplano 900P, then the world’s thinnest watch, when one of the marketing team joked with the technical team that they “should make a thinner one for next year.” The comment, in passing, did its intended job of winding up the people who’d worked so hard to make the 900P-but it also did something else, sowing a seed of thought in their minds. What if they could make a watch even thinner?
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Piaget Altiplano Ultimate 900P
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Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept
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[@watchfinder]

We know you want more watches…. click here: linktr.ee/watchfinder

[@DoctorJ1337]

Watchmaker: I wonder if we could make a watch with a 3D printer. Piaget: I wonder if we could make a watch with a regular printer.

[@JasperJanssen]

If you make a watch a foot in diameter or so, to hang on a rapper’s chest, then sure, 3D print it.

[@hankelvisimpersonator2832]

I see what you did there. Best ever comment!

[@CadillacDriver]

Underrated comment. I feel it's over most people's heads.

[@tivrobobo]

bravo!

[@humorss]

@Osw719 its got a low beat movement, 1/12 beat per hour.

[@Tp681]

I'd buy it if my wallet weren't as thin as the watch...

[@mosasako4679]

As long as there is a black amex in it....

[@JayJay-jv2wd]

Just get the most expensive credit card and no wallet. It might work😁

[@cakraparindra4659]

oh your wallet will be that thin after buying this watch, so no problem

[@Atombender]

You could put the watch into your wallet.

[@mexicofly]

Haha

[@sandippaul468]

If I drop this watch, the thing that will stop functioning is my heart.

[@aldwinjasperjoniega8973]

Oof

[@davidhunternyc1]

Look on the bright side. You wouldn't have to fix the watch.

[@jacob1121]

The watch is so light that it may as well be an ant falling from a tree, it will be fine if it survived a friggin hammerblow.

[@casualbydefault]

@@jacob1121 Just gotta worry about a light breeze when it happens though.

[@laughingman4236]

So this is one of those “Price available upon request” watches...

[@andrewcalvarese]

Actually yeah, just looked up the price yesterday

[@loaded2820]

400K.

[@rajrishiparmar1362]

@@loaded2820 Jacob and Co makes like a million dollar ubsurd watches, 400k for something this labour intense is actually very and i mean VERY understandable, infact borderline underpriced.

[@jayn8392]

@@rajrishiparmar1362 jacob and co. has to be my most dislike watchmaker. Their stuff is just gaudy and ridiculous.

[@rajrishiparmar1362]

@@jayn8392 I'd say 2nd most disliked. We still have a hublot around, don't we?

[@DesertTriDad]

Once I pay off my house, I may sell it and move into this watch.

[@bazadam6635]

I feel you

[@blakris9382]

where will you sleep??

[@andrew66769]

Of all videos to comment this on, its on the video with the thinnest watch lmfao.

[@bazadam6635]

@@andrew66769 that's what makes it brillant

[@afarhan21]

Oh tiny you.

[@TheJzai]

“I reckon they could make it even thinner” Ooooo the engineers and craftsmen are gonna hate you for saying that 😂

[@nunyabizness199]

I heard they are chasing him with tiny hammers to this day...

[@faisalingalong]

@@nunyabizness199 Maybe not so tiny...

[@robertjusic9097]

@@nunyabizness199 thats hilarious

[@japd7897]

You can make it thinner if you draw a watch on your wrist with a ball pen 😉😎.

[@LlyleHunter]

When I heard him say that I thought something similar.

[@PayMe888]

2 minutes into the video and I'm like "show how thin it is already !" lol

[@daledoesmtb7402]

2mm says it all. 😳

[@dr.asishmathewjoseph9678]

Dude seriously. That dude just kept saying the 900P ova and ova again

[@Martin-pb7ts]

Watchfinder, you don't "make videos", you are storytellers of the highest order. I am married to a gifted storyteller so I know how much talent and creativity goes into telling a story just "so". I have only the greatest respect and appreciation of your work.

[@TheSupertecnology]

The thumbnail made me think you were actually holding the strap's deploying clasp. Holy shit...

[@andrewnibbi]

I saw it and thought it was a faulty wire pulled from some electrical harness. Clearly too thin to safely conduct electricity.

[@lumibrite]

i thought it was a really thin link of a bracelet

[@TheAverageTargaryen]

Same here😳 I was thinking “what a strange choice” then I read the title

[@blakris9382]

wait wat

[@appalachiangunman9589]

Andrew Nibbi same here, I thought he had gutted the F.P. Jorne quartz that I watched a video on yesterday.

[@chrisb9360]

That's literally breathtaking - I gasped when the watch was turned to its side profile. Incredible engineering.

[@mitchellintrieri]

I would like to take this watch and give it a good old fashion bend test with my thumb lol

[@Camelotsmoon]

It really is amazing lol. Now, how about we get that in a women's watch size?😂

[@CanISpoonYou]

Wait so you didn't look at the Thumbnail? Lol

[@network735]

Amazing

[@apocalypsepow]

I'd be afraid of snapping it in two

[@rohanjoshi40]

Any more thin and this watch would disappear...this is a marvel..

[@sadeeshck]

Hahaha.. Good

[@goldcd]

This makes Rolex, PP and the other big-brands seem like 'fashion watches' I can never afford this, but makes me happy it exists even on somebody else's wrist. Not even sure there's an adjective to describe this - but the happiness you feel just in a fellow human achieving something amazing. Like the Apollo missions.

[@nukembear2345]

Essentially all watches are fashion watches, no matter how complex! To the end user its all about getting noticed! To the watchmaker its challenge in design and engineering but it's still just a watch!

[@sylversyrfer6894]

@@nukembear2345 - wrong. It’s a piece of art, a technological and engineering marvel that is extraordinarily beautiful in its complexity and diminutive dimensions. Stick with your Samsung Watch cuz you just wouldn’t understand.

[@nukembear2345]

@@sylversyrfer6894 you actually just reaffirmed my statement.

[@TetrixJ]

Watchfinder: "And I bet they can make it even thinner" Piaget: "Are you fucking kidding me"

[@martinsaunders7925]

The Chinese are trying as part of their millenium project. They're worried there's not enough time

[@ronochow]

Engineers: "Ah 💩, here we go again..."

[@guitargeorge6423]

Just sandpaper away a few hundreths of mm from the back

[@largol33t1]

@@guitargeorge6423 Careful, you might go right through and hit a few parts inside!

[@pippipster6767]

If you can do 2mm you can do 1mm, no probs.

[@b.2221]

This piece of human engineering borders on the insane , long live insanity.

[@bigboiganiga8356]

All was fine until a riot of insanity came protesting to your existence and burn down whatever you had built and worked for.

[@madhukarjonathanminj2772]

@@bigboiganiga8356 Hey,nothing is perfect.

[@largol33t1]

Hearing about the problems the popped up during production is shocking such as when they closed the body and the glue spread everywhere, stopping the movement. Holy shit, that's THIN.

[@HFZ916]

Imagine the cost of servicing it 😂

[@darkshadowsx5949]

what service? when its dead its dead. unless the crystal adhesive can be softened with heat.

[@Ben.N]

Yo my Seiko has scratches that are prolly thicker than 0.2mm that's crazy

[@r.o.1330]

.......at a water cooler discussion at the latest board meeting, one of the directors joked that it should include a perpetual calendar as well.

[@glasmannschaefer]

And what about a minute repeater? or a tourbillon? Come on Piaget...

[@memesfromdeepspace1075]

The craftman :"say sike right now"

[@dylantosta4218]

And a minute repeater function too.

[@rahuljosephp8603]

And 12 zones too..

[@theaussiewhinger]

The director was then promptly murdered by the engineer.

[@j.p.9522]

The finest watch channel on KZbin.

[@simplygame5530]

Not just on KZbin,the best u can find.

[@j.p.9522]

@@simplygame5530 So true.

[@silverstorm6973]

Facts!!

[@aversusa1]

No being owned by Piaget's owner)

[@masandoshin7620]

Check out pride and pinion...

[@Emilmarch]

Regular wallet, turns into the world's thinnest wallet after buying the world's thinnest watch...

[@CoyotePark]

Ahahahh underrated comment 😂

[@adamczyzewski7357]

Hilarious, how much is it though?

[@saboss]

@@adamczyzewski7357 410.000 CHF (460.000 USD)

[@lazyguycooks6244]

6:52 I hope it's a prototype or a salesman unit you have there. The mechanical mark & rough finish on the left opening next to the polished gears is a bit no no. However they have really made a good breakthrough & a masterpiece

[@dominicrusho]

Still too thick

[@hugedickerinokripperino5299]

Like ur mom ;)

[@ziplepingouin1186]

Yeah, I'm just gonna draw a watch face on my wrist, just like Patrick...

[@DampZombieNugget]

Don't.

[@Justtellmetheanswer6910]

You’ve just sent a team of engineers to suicide

[@ChapelTandel]

that's what she said ;-)

[@sadteeto]

Can't wait for the part 3 where they use photolithography to make watch parts

[@AlessandroGenTLe]

And part 4, molecular-sized components (yes, they exists www.nature.com/subjects/molecular-machines-and-motors)

[@edward5759]

Stop giving them ideas

[@netsch20]

@@AlessandroGenTLe Was gonna say something like this. Piaget should get in touch with IBM to make a watch from literally singular atoms

[@afarhan21]

Or print one using an inkjet printer.

[@Brainman_2331]

@@afarhan21 damn bro not everyone can afford the ink cartridges. Stop flexing on us, we'll stick to Piaget.

[@ABCDEFGHIJKELA...]

I can't imagine a watch that thin would keep time very well, it may, but I immediately think of problems that could arise from wearing it, and the transfer of body heat, and outdoor elements changing the accuracy of very thin materials used. certainly incredible, and massively interesting to see work, I don't think I'd complain about the price, regardless of what they ask for it.

[@ryzenryne8747]

It would collect moisture, ceasing the watch to work.

[@rrcaniglia]

I’ve worked in R&D for decades and it is always gratifying to see engineers solve problems.

[@FF-qc8kw]

Such a good video, not 50-70% percent talking about history/hypothetical stories/or comparison to other watches like lots of this channels vids but actually informative and interesting beginning to end with such an important watch. Happy to see Watchfinder & Co grow!

[@oskarwroniewicz]

I keep watching your videos for a good year, and I still can't believe their quality. Not only the macro shots and B-rolls, but the way you tell the watch's story. Mindblowing stuff

[@Casey87_]

I wonder if they were to use some composite materials rather than alloys if it could be made even thinner? Also, just imagine the heart sinking moment the movement stopped after adhering the glass when the solution seems soo obvious?! Still, it's an absolute masterpiece.

[@rodrigogutierrezreyes4702]

There's just no words for the amazing prowess of the watchmakers at Piaget. A watch that is almost as thin as your credit card is just mind blowing

[@xi_ips_1_mochammadirfanazm402]

The strap is thicker than the watch itself. Masterpiece!

[@afarhan21]

They have to kevlar coat it for strength. Just amazing thinness

[@noelmcdonagh3905]

Piaget is brilliant. They have been the leader in thinnest, a complication in itself. Which then aloud them to excel at hard stone dial and high-jewellery timepieces. Love this brand. I would take a Piaget over a Patek any day!

[@dylanlamb8710]

Loved this two part video series. What an incredible piece! Is a combination of minimalism and complexity at the same time.

[@mrgrey91]

Brilliant video pointing out the actual challenges. Very informative! Stunning watch!

[@angusmcintosh1857]

That’s a proper watch video. Amazing work Watchfinder.

[@spektrograf]

Every moment of pain was palpable. What story well told! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@jackallread]

Thanks guys, this is a great two part series! Very enjoyable and informative!!

[@japudjuha]

Simply amazing, that’s one reason I love this channel, we get to see such amazing pieces that often we didn’t know existed. My favourite watch channel 👍👍👍

[@diongteckshen8830]

I've had the pleasure of personally trying on the Altiplano 910p myself last year. Client happened to be Piaget looking to do a mini launch! I can now say that I've worn the world's thinnest watch on my wrist. Once.

[@protexusa]

3:46 there is a dent at 8 o clock! I am returning it!

[@gurudayalsingh1993]

7 o clock *

[@Michel-ql1ng]

Love this video! And especially the Piaget! What a beautiful piece of art! I am proud to own an Altiplano myself (not this one by the way..). Well done Watchfinder &Co.

[@dinargindulin8581]

The whole premise of the video is that noone has ever tried to make a watch that thin. While appreciating the craftsmanship and the beauty of that masterpiece I can not agree that it's the first of its kind. There was a soviet manufacturer "Raketa" (rocket) that is known for manufacturing the watch called "Rekord" (record) somewhere around early 60's. It had a thickness of 2,7 mm while also having a second hand. The Rekord that is still unbeaten today.

[@jonasthemovie]

The movement of the Raketa Rekord was 2.7mm. Not the watch. This watch is 2mm in total to celebrate their own old movement that was 2mm.

[@sreekargurijala]

Hats off to every one involved in making this watch possible 🙂

[@NoeDactyl]

Incredible how they had so many unexpected issues and they still managed to make this beauty!

[@chiphungerford]

Great job both on the watch and the production of this video

[@larryscott3982]

I had skipped over part 1. This is interesting to almost anyone. The dimensions are mind blowing. So of course I watched both 1&2. Nice videos.

[@varunu4176]

Kudos to the team coming up with concepts for these videos, I love the new direction of the Watchfinder videos that are coming up in 2020. Please make a video on A. LANGE & SÖHNE CABARET, not many know of its existence and to me, it is on par with a Reverso, Cellini prince, and a Tank.

[@dimman77]

Glorious. Absolutely glorious.

[@alext8828]

Remarkable how man dings, dents, and machine marks could be seen at high magnification. Even the reflex camera next to the watch had a massive dent on it. What craziness ensues?

[@mckennymcgowan5480]

👏 👏 👏 Bravo. I applaud the team who engineered this time piece. They have experienced engineering and stuck to it. I would like to be part of the next watch you will make which is even thinner. Cheers.

[@ssglive1297]

I feel like 500k is a fair price for such a marvel of engineering as art, let alone something you can wear and enjoy so much.

[@marion_roberts]

Thank you Piaget for proving that a zulu-like strap can be used on a dress watch.

[@garyggarner7738]

Awesome Video! Thank You so Much! The engineering is amazing!!

[@sureshobhan]

Making the impossible possible.....wow.....superb watch and equally amazing narration.....

[@IFELL100]

so much added value in this video. Not only we can see the macro shots from all angles, but the development stories (and other details) shared here are just what makes this channel so good.

[@JogieGlenMait]

I’m afraid only Piaget can break this record in the future.

[@Immortal__]

Bulgari ;) 6world records in thinness in 6years. They could do it

[@bena9495]

@@Immortal__ what about citizen eco drive one?

[@HudsonGTV]

@@bena9495 Quartz movements don't count as they are not mechanical.

[@hoping67]

Even a regular watch is a complete masterpiece,this is just absolutely incredible

[@mkoldewijn]

That sly laugh when saying "make it even thinner" was gold

[@mrcheese725]

This guy can literally talk himself out of prison!!!

[@Neildo430ci]

Should run on next Election.

[@TheBoomsonic]

And depression.

[@hydorah]

The amazing thing is, it's not just a technical marvel, it's also beautiful. What a way to pass the time!

[@bijankumar2922]

Lovely discover. I love it !

[@pranabroy8218]

These videos make us work harder so that one day we don't have to watch it but to experience it. Great video. Great watch.

[@fredleonard1547]

Absolutely a brilliant video. Be interesting to know things like how the balance wheel was supported with no balance cock. Maby jeweled and running on a fixed pin??

[@5amH45lam]

Glancing at the thumbnail, I thought to myself, _'cor blimey, they've even made the clasp super-thin!'_ ... That's not the _clasp,_ it's the the _CASE!_ 😲

[@abcdefghi9]

A masterpiece of human ingenuity, engineering and craftsmanship.

[@mi626]

Thanks for another marvellous video.

[@christopherliang6879]

Wow, don't know if this is marketing or just me appreciating horology and craftsmanship but given all these, the current price is a bargain

[@christopherliang6879]

never mind, did not know the watch price was on request

[@Diepvries11]

The engineers sound like a bunch of incompetent screw ups.

[@kugagaming7401]

this is most amazing stuff that i have ever seen, so many tiny stuff inside is just wow and when he said that they test it with hammer it just blows me away lol. ill prolly never be abe to afford somthing like this but still i love to look videos like this

[@UnitSe7en]

Not a watch nerd but I do appreciate micro mechanics and to see the thickness of that machine is quite amazing. I stared quite a bit.

[@the_mlg_pizza2985]

im real glad this video is out! ive been waiting for it for a few days now, awesome ;)

[@yungdadi]

This watch is a metaphor for the endless problems one encounters to achieve perfection

[@vrudelta]

"Reckon they can make it even thinner" as engineers that spent years suffering just to make this one cry

[@silver965]

"and I reckon they could make it even thinner" If we listen closely, we can hear the sound of the engineering team behind that Watch have a collective aneurysm.

[@Pulsonar]

2:15 ‘secret Skunkworks project’ 😂 Our learned friend here never ceases to amaze. Skunkworks was a dept within Lockheed Corp.that created the legendary Mach 3 Blackbird spy planes in the 1960s for the USAF and CIA for Cold War black ops missions. A 2mm thin watch would be no more than a crossword puzzle for those guys.

[@GuyVanderAa]

Impressive. Undeniably an engineering marvel

[@ghostindamachine]

It is an engineering art piece, just mind blowing!

[@lancehunter3821]

WOW! Just WOW! THIS video is why I consider your channel to be the pinnacle of watch channels on KZbin. Thank you for enlightening us on this GRAIL watch. The 'Holy Trinity' should be revised to include Piaget and kick out AP. Any idea on price and quantities to be produced? I'll never be able to afford it, but it's nice to know something like this exists for us amateur horologists.

[@IcyBrown]

I was watching it already with widely opened eyes. But the moment I saw one of the screws it reminded me of my Festina watch clasp, out of which I got a little screw out - its like 2 mm's long - I tried for a long time and multiple times, didnt get this damn screw back in ever again. It just lays there waiting for the day I go to a watch repair. I just lost my entire cool and gave in. At this moment I realized what the heck they went through when assembling it, not to mention, planning and manufacturing it. Godda..., Id loose my ish a thousand times and lose my mind completely. Bravo to Piaget!!!

[@dor-si9145]

The real question: How's the Lume?

[@donaldvincent]

Wow! I have always been impressed by my "old" Pulsar from back in the 1990's. Moon Phase, Full Chrono, not really expensive, ($150 I think) and less than half the thickness of any of my other watches. Now I am really impressed with the engineering but with a budget that large it is not so impressive. I'll stick with my old Pulsar, quartz and all.

[@finished6267]

Meh.

[@geralt8394]

As unnecessary as it is, the sheer brilliance of engineering that has been put into this watch is just amazing

[@cent1989]

Incredible craftsmanship!

[@IIXII]

Constantly boasts about how thin the watch is yet takes 2 minutes and 55 seconds to finally show side view of the watch . . . infuriating

[@laughingman4236]

You must be joking...

[@nahyanrajee198]

This isn't the type of channel that just delivers facts. If you want to see how thin it is, Google it. This channel is about the art of watchmaking.

[@iamafutsalplayer1429]

So... the A. Lange and Sohne Triple Split is next?

[@ericweis9771]

Incredible engineering! Thanks for sharing that.

[@theexchipmunk]

You know, I am a bit surprised they close that material. I would have expected them to go for tungsten. But then again, the cobalt alloy might be resilient enough and not as much of a nightmare to machine.

[@junito1008]

2:55 What you came to see !!

[@sunilshetty5510]

You thought you will get likes on this comment? Expectations huh😒!

[@junito1008]

@@sunilshetty5510 What I didn’t expected was some random ignorant writing in my comment !! 😁 What a surprise !!

[@varunsatheesh4730]

Hey! Can you make a video on Seiko 5 sports? Like those high value ones! Thanks!

[@chrisbluma7942]

That last line was golden. Nice touch.

[@cobrasvt347]

There's no way I'm going to service that unit. Lol

[@ahmedsalek976]

That is mind boggling!

[@GP-nn9to]

0:24 "U L T I M A T E" letters are all over the place

[@thecornedbeefcouncil9792]

G P indeed, I even wondered if that was done on purpose? For the life of me though I can’t imagine why the letters (especially the M) would be so uneven and spaced so poorly?

[@DanielChar]

Good eye

[@ryzenryne8747]

@@thecornedbeefcouncil9792 it's handcrafted. Anything can be unaligned.

[@thecornedbeefcouncil9792]

@@ryzenryne8747 for these prices there’s no excuse

[@manoelfelipe2977]

10:30 "you know what? They can make it even thinner" oh no, here we go again...

[@luiscasique1995]

Amazing watch ! I just concern about the crystal resistance for impacts , can you comment something about this engineers consideration ?

[@TOM-C.]

I love this watch, and had I the cash, I'd own one @ $410,000! Yeah right, in my dreams, come on lotto! lol

[@RakeshKumar-sx7ob]

This is an engineering marvel, an epitome 🔥

[@Khiladi_99]

Ekdum sahi

[@Ashfielder]

It’s fascinating that the movement is as old as it is, being from 1957, and yet is still at the forefront of watchmaking innovation.

[@moconnell663]

Many technologies, particularly mechanical ones, reach a 'pinnacle' where further technical advancement may be possible, but simply isn't necessary either because it wouldn't serve one of the functions which drives advancement (greater precision, longer life, lower maintenance, reduced cost, etc.). Its like a pipe wrench, that design had been a constant for 140 years or so, with virtually no changes because it is an optimal design. This watch movement is also an optimal design, in that no further refinement seems necessary.

[@velchuck]

Absolutely amazing and beautiful! This watch just blows me away.

[@rudyflores6805]

There will soon be watches foil thin the way this technology is progressing

[@CyberDroneII]

I really wonder if this watch does bend when you actually wear it. It seems so fragile. I can barely imagine it to be suitable for every day use.

[@KoolKyurem25]

Considering they smacked it with a hammer, I'd say they thought about it. But I understand where you're coming from. 2mm anything is exceptionally thin.

[@bellcranel0889]

While the Jean Lassale cal. 1200 bends with its case. The piaget is manufactured with strength of modern materials in mind so the chances of it bending is low.

[@emilchandran546]

I don’t really think this is an everyday use kinda watch. That form comes with compromises, the winding mechanism was mentioned. And although they found a solution to the excessive wear, I’m sure I probably still wears faster than your average watch. It’s engineered to be robust enough. But in relative terms I guess. I’d probably keep it for occasional use.

[@bellcranel0889]

@@emilchandran546 True. I think it would only come out of the house if there was a collector's meet.

[@lospermatozio7611]

..just the idea is not for everyday use..

[@Tyler-sl6vg]

500m water resistant - the most impressive feature