Mario Canonizado 
An old-fashioned yet modern play on shapes, the jeweller-watchmakers of Piaget have introduced another retro wonder into the permanent catalogue! This time, it’s for the ladies, as the brand unveils the new Sixtie collection!
It’s hard to stand out in the modern fashion industry, especially when it comes to design. Over the last few years, it feels like everyone’s cultures, styles, and preferences have become so homogenised that it’s difficult to create something truly unique. That’s not to say I’m against homogenisation — far from it. It allows us all to connect as human beings through universal languages like fashion. However, the degree of sameness makes for relatively unexciting future prospects in aesthetics and innovation.
However, a new trend seems to be emerging: the return to vintage appeal. Regardless of how it materialises — whether it’s the conservative styles of the late 19th century or the hyper-saturated, outrageous looks of the 2000s—there’s an increasing interest in looking back to move forward in fashion.
In the world of watches, no other brand seems to have embraced this concept quite like Piaget. The La Côte-aux-Fées brand has taken it upon themselves to champion the vintage revival within the watch industry. They’ve carefully examined their archives to uncover inspirations worth bringing back. Naturally, there were some clear choices, like the Piaget Polo ’79, but the brand understood that to truly honour their directional shift, they had to go much deeper than simply reintroducing a few iconic relics from the past.
Related Reading: (Re)-Introducing The Piaget Polo ’79: Bringing Back An Icon
This is where the story of the Piaget Sixtie begins to take shape. As the Richemont brand sifted through their storied archives, it became clear that the sixties (get it?) era of watch design was full of unconventional cues and disruptive aesthetics. Unlike many other heritage-inspired designs in the modern watch landscape, this period had remained relatively unexplored. So, Piaget got to work, crafting a carefully designed set of timepieces that perfectly captured the countercultural spirit of the time.
Standing at a petite 29mm wide, 25.3mm long, and just 6.5mm thin, the new Piaget Sixtie collection achieves exactly that. Four new releases make up the debuting lineup. Given the overlap in design periods, you might already notice that the Sixtie draws inspiration from the Piaget Andy Warhol collection. However, there are several key changes that give the Sixtie its own distinct identity, firmly rooted in its unique time period.
Related Reading: Piaget Remasters (& Renames!) A Vintage Icon
While it possesses the same gold gadrooning that made the Andy Warhol line so beloved, the Piaget Sixtie stands out with its unconventional trapezoidal shape. This unique case design, combined with the gadrooning, makes the Sixtie incredibly eye-catching without the need for any other extravagant features. It perfectly embodies the concept of ‘extrelegance’ (a blend of extravagance and elegance), a philosophy often championed by CEO Benjamin Comar.
The sunray-brushed silver dial adds a layer of restraint to the otherwise bold design, while the rose gold hands, Roman numerals at twelve and six, and indexes bring a touch of warmth and elegance to the timepiece. As for different styles, the wearer has the option to choose between four different references, depending on just how flamboyant they wish to be.
The first reference of the Piaget Sixtie comes in stainless steel, featuring a decadent diamond-set bezel in place of the gadrooned design. Across the trapezoidal case, 51 diamonds, totalling approximately 0.52 carats, have been meticulously cut to fit perfectly within the unique form of the Sixtie. This diamond-set bezel is also available in the more extravagant 18k rose gold case. However, if you prefer a more classic approach, a gadrooned version of the rose gold Sixtie is also an option.
Lastly, the Sixtie achieves the perfect balance between sporty retro looks and luxurious formality with a two-tone version, combining stainless steel and rose gold, while still featuring the signature gadrooned bezel. All Sixtie references are fitted with beautifully comfortable five-link bracelets that mould well to the wrist. Powered by Piaget’s in-house quartz movement, the 57P, each model ensures both practical and precise timekeeping whilst offering that perfect blend of ‘extrelegance’ on the side.
My Thoughts
I’m such a sucker for dress watches, seriously. With the hysteria over sport and dive watches now behind us, both subgenres have become bloated and practically unable to innovate. It feels like every passing day brings another brand trying its hardest to hype up a design that has long since passed its groundbreaking glory days. In a way, the romanticised idea of the sports/dive watch itself is starting to feel like a relic of the past, especially with the incredible technological innovations the watch world have created. These innovations have effectively nullified the effect of most of what a sports/dive watch was supposed to protect you from, and now there begins a call for more design inspirations than just pure functionality.
Related Reading:
With Casual More The Norm These Days, Is The Dress Watch Dead?
In an ironic twist of fate, it seems that watches like the Piaget Sixties are becoming more and more common in the modern watch world. Meanwhile, plain and modern aesthetics are beginning to fade away. While I don’t believe the sports/dive watch will die off anytime soon, I do believe trends are not permanently set in stone. Instead, they tend to swing on a pendulum, with the dress watch on the rise.
As Watches and Wonders 2025 slowly comes to a close, I truly believe the stage has been set for the dress watch to make a comeback as a lucrative force in the industry. I’m just glad to know that the Piaget Sixtie, alongside the Warhol, Polo ’79, and countless other revivals from various brands, will be part of this first wave of hype that’s been building up on the horizon for years now.
References: G0A50300 (Steel & Diamonds) / G0A50301 (Two-Tone) / G0A50302 (Pink Gold) / G0A50304 (Pink Gold & Diamonds)
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 29mm case diameter x 25.3mm lug-to-lug x 6.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel with 51 diamond-set bezel (0.52ct) / Two-tone steel & 18k pink gold /18k pink gold with 51 diamond-set bezel (0.52ct)
- Dial: Sunray-brushed silver
- Movement: Quartz Cal. 57P
- Water Resistance: 50m (5bar)
- Strap: Material-matched five-link bracelet with butterfly clasp
