From breaking records of slenderness with breathtakingly thin movements to evolving its appearance with new materials and colours, Altiplano is always an original. Limited to just 26 pieces, the new Altiplano 60^th Anniversary Pocket Watch demonstrates this icon’s ability to reinvent itself without every straying too far from the design codes that have made it the epitome of elegance for the past six decades.

Piaget started its “Year of the Altiplano” at SIHH, introducing a selection of new models including limited edition with the dark blue dials, the first Altiplano tourbillon and brightly colored women’s and men’s variations. These days the brand has added to its line –up with the Altiplano 60^th Anniversary Pocket Watch, featuring its “Piaget Automatique” moniker at the 12 o-clock – the original inscription in the first ultra-thin Altiplano.

The new pocket watch is limited to 26 pieces, and is geared largely towards collectors. With this in mind, there’s specially designed marquetry stand allowing for the piece to be displayed as a table clock. The main difference of Altiplano and previous model of 1957 – that the new one is included a sunburst dial, white gold slim single hour-markers and the slim baton-type hands now typical of the entire range. Then there’s the thin, lighter blue cross – used in the earliest versions of the Altiplano – that adds an ever-so-slight bullseye effect to the center of the dial.

Inside the 50mm case is the ultra-slim self-winding mechanical 1200P movement that’s just 2.35mm thick. Visible through the sapphire crystal case black, you can see the circular Côtes de Genève finish, beveled bridges, circular-grained main plate and blued screws, plus 25 jewels. It also boasts a 44 hours power reserve.

Overall, the 60^th Anniversary Altiplano Pocket Watch is a neat reinvention of the traditional Altiplano, albeit a safe one. Although, with the famously irreverent Ryan Reynolds as brand ambassador, there’s the hint that mingled with Piaget’s haute horlogerie is a sense of humour. Making this balance work for another 60-year would be an anniversary worth celebrating.