As a style icon, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is known for her simple yet unconventional personal aesthetic. From the short couture suits she wore as First Lady in the 1960s to the effortlessly elegant white jeans and oversized sunglasses she sported as a book editor in the 1970s and ’80s, Kennedy Onassis’ wardrobe was full of pieces that were considered daring at the time, but would soon become classics.
One of these bold pieces was a 1967 Piaget diamond, emerald, and jade watch that featured a sideways, oval-shaped yellow gold case fitted with a hand-hammered, textured bracelet. Piaget reacquired this timepiece in 1996; and now, in 2018, it is the inspiration for the brand's new Extremely Lady watch collection.
Launched in January at the Salon International de la Haute Horologie in Geneva, this time-only wristwatch honors Piaget’s history of timekeeping innovation with ultra-thin, high-precision calibers (in this case, a 56P Piaget quartz movement).
The Extremely Lady is also a testament to the brand's rich history of creating fine jewelry: While it features an oval mother-of-pearl dial lined by 24 brilliant diamonds, it more so showcases the goldsmith’s art. The supple 18-karat pink gold case and integrated bracelet are embellished using a chiseling technique that leaves a soft, curling, “fur-like” finish. Like frost crystals on a window, this technique ensures that no two pieces are exactly the same. (Yellow and white gold versions, with turquoise or black dials and bezels set with 44 marquise cut diamonds and a texture that Piaget is calling a “Palace” decoration, are also available.)
Lastly, The new Extremely Lady is slightly bigger (and even more refined) than the original, capturing the spirit of 20th century modernist design while fitting the modern 21st century woman.
The Piaget Extremely Lady watch is priced at $50,500 and will be available exclusively at Piaget boutiques. Visit piaget.com for more information.
