The 1970s and ’80s were an era of extravagance and elegance, a time when art, music, and high society fused into a heady cultural cocktail. It was the age of disco and punk rock, of conceptual and performance art, of Warhol’s Factory and Studio 54, and of a new kind of glamour. In the orbit of these “beautiful people” was Yves Piaget, the fourth-generation scion of the Maison, a virtuoso of both horology and high society. A polo aficionado and a fixture at glittering soirées, he counted Gina Lollobrigida, Miles Davis, and Cary Grant among his circle.
It was this world of polo tournaments in Palm Beach, midnight parties in Paris, the blurred line between sport and spectacle that inspired Yves Piaget to create something unprecedented. In 1979, he unveiled the Piaget Polo, the Maison’s first watch to bear a name rather than just a reference number. A full-gold, integrated bracelet watch that blurred the distinction between jewelry and horology. It was immediately embraced by icons of the era, Andy Warhol, Roger Moore, Nancy Sinatra, and Ursula Andress, who famously presented the Polo World Cup trophy wearing hers in 1980.
This particular Vintage Piaget Polo, crafted in the 1980s, embodies the height of that golden era. Executed in 18k yellow and white gold, it features the signature godroons—bold, sculptural horizontal lines that flow seamlessly across the case and bracelet, creating the illusion of fluid metal. The dial, an exquisite interplay of onyx and diamonds, is pure Piaget—high contrast, high drama. The inky blackness of the onyx absorbs light, while brilliant diamonds scatter it in return, a dynamic tension that echoes the energy of the time.
Beneath this artistry lies Piaget’s own in-house quartz movement, an innovation that, in Piaget’s hands, was not merely about accuracy but about elevating the very concept of a luxury timepiece. Unlike conventional quartz calibers, Piaget’s ultra-thin movements were engineered to maintain the Maison’s legacy of elegance, ensuring that even the hum of modernity felt refined.
Yves Piaget famously declared that the Polo was “not a watch, but a watch bracelet,” designed to move effortlessly from polo field to penthouse. Like the man behind the vision, the Polo exists in a category unto itself. A true collector's treasure.
Maker: Piaget
Model: Polo 8131 C701
Year: 1980s
Material: 18k Yellow, White Gold, Onyx and Diamonds
Dial: Onyx and Diamond
Case Measurement: 20mm
Movement: Quartz
Condition: Very Good
Weight: 107.5 Grams
Size: Adjustable, Fits Up to 6.2" Wrist
Includes: Piaget Box
Made in Switzerland
All vintage and pre-owned watches sold by Stephanie Windsor are guaranteed to be genuine and authentic. We also guarantee the proper functioning of your watch’s mechanical movement for one (1) year from the date of purchase. Our warranty does not cover damage resulting from accidents, misuse, neglect, water damage or normal wear and tear. Please note that we do not guarantee waterproofing on vintage or pre-owned timepieces. We therefore do not recommend submerging your timepiece in water or any liquid.
