For Watches and Wonders, Piaget unveils a new version of its iconic Swinging Sautoirs, carved from ornamental stones and suspended from gold chains—an encounter of jewellery, time, and movement which embodies the Maison’s free-spirited artistry.
The spirit of the 21st Century Collection
When Piaget introduced its 21st Century Collection in 1969, composed of cuff watches and sautoirs, it redefined what a watch could be. These were not mere timepieces, but wearable works of art. A watch transformed into a swinging expression of time, blending Piaget’s heritage of gold craftsmanship, ornamental stones, and daring design into a revolution which has since changed the face of watchmaking.
Throughout the 1970s, Valentin Piaget worked closely with visionary designers such as Jean-Claude Gueit to bring this artistry to life in a spontaneous way. Piaget crafted extraordinary, one-of-a-kind pieces for a clientele that valued this distinction, joyful creativity and audacity. Watches were not only to be seen, but also to be felt, with shapes, colors and textures forming an emotional connection with their wearer. These Swinging Sautoirs were the perfect embodiment of Piaget’s free spirit, infused with the energy and optimism of the 1970s. Time became movement, flowing gracefully across ornamental stone dials, suspended from luminous gold chains that draped, twisted, and danced with every gesture. With these fluid gold chains, ornamental stone dials, and tactile design, the Swinging Sautoir became a Piaget signature. As Yves Piaget used to say : “A watch is first and foremost a piece of jewellery”.
In this same spirit, Piaget’s artisans explored new forms throughout the decade, crafting for instance some Kimono pocket watches in 1974, sculpted from malachite and defined by their soft, asymmetrical shapes. Smooth and organic, this pebble shape fit naturally in the hand, a sensorial expression of Piaget’s organic, yet forward-looking design language. Piaget continued to explore other shapes and expressions—coins, ingots, envelopes—transforming everyday motifs into precious creations.
A new generation of Swinging Sautoirs
Today for Watches and Wonders 2026, Piaget channels that same creative energy into a new collection of modern Swinging Sautoirs, named Swinging Pebbles, seamlessly carved from a trio of ornamental stones: tiger’s eye, verdite, or pietersite. Each pendant watch is sculpted from a single slice of stone, delicately hollowed out to house a Manufacture movement before being closed to form a smooth, pebble case. Each pendant hangs from a sinuous, twisted gold chain, tribute to Piaget’s expertise in goldsmithing and chainmaking for the daily life. Reinterpreted with a modern sensibility, these new Swinging Sautoirs offer a refined entry into Piaget’s world of artistry and movement. Together, they represent the continuation of Piaget’s legacy of innovation: bold, tactile, and joyfully unconventional.
Mastery igniting artistry
For Piaget, time has always been more than a measure, it’s also a movement, a rhythm, a dance. The Swinging Pebbles embody this philosophy once again : watches which celebrate shapes, craftsmanship, and freedom. The seamless harmony of gold, ornamental stones, and timekeeping reflects Piaget’s unrivaled mastery of each.
Across jewellery, cuffs, and sautoirs, Piaget’s signature spirit remains unmistakable. Bold yet refined, playful yet precise. Always unusual. Always unexpected. The new pebble-shaped Swinging Sautoirs capture this spirit in a contemporary timepiece. True to its heritage yet resolutely contemporary, Piaget continues to blur the boundaries between jewellery and watchmaking—honoring its past while shaping the art of time for today.
