Hands-On Debut: Piaget Polo 79 Watch In White Gold
Photos by Ed Rhee
Following the revival of the Polo 79 in yellow gold last year, Piaget is back with a fresh white-gold iteration of its integrated bracelet icon. Unveiled quietly alongside the usual Watches & Wonders noise, the new Piaget Polo 79 watch in 18k white gold is essentially the same watch as the 2024 yellow gold version — same 38mm case shape, same polished gadroons, and same slim micro-rotor movement — but in a cooler, more muted package. We went hands-on with the latest Polo 79, and while it may be the understated sibling of the two, there’s plenty of white metal flash on offer here.
As expected, the new white gold Polo 79 feels more subdued than its yellow-gold counterpart. But spend a few moments with it, and that tone-on-tone texture play becomes the star of the show. The alternating pattern of flat brushed surfaces and rounded mirror-polished gadroons is still just as bold — maybe even more so now that your eyes aren’t competing with a gold-on-gold color palette. Tying everything together is the thin, polished chamfer running along the edges of the brushed slats. The contrast in finish comes into focus, especially in changing light — the watch was always about rhythm and flow, and that’s especially clear here.
Like the yellow-gold version, the white gold Polo 79 weighs in at around 200 grams. It’s hefty but certainly wonderfully wearable thanks to its drapey silhouette and versatile proportions. The watch measures 38mm in diameter and comes in at just 7.45mm thick. This is truly where Piaget can show off two of its strengths: gold-smithing and ultra-thin watch movements. The bracelet tapers beautifully toward a triple folding clasp, seamlessly hidden to preserve the visual continuity of the gadroons. The relatively short links and curvature of the bracelet give it an almost fluid articulation, allowing it to conform to the wrist in a way that feels natural despite the weight. As you can see on Ed’s 6.6-inch wrist, it’s sleek, sculptural, and stylish. Yves Piaget once famously said of the original, “It’s a watch bracelet rather than a mere wristwatch,” and the modern Polo 79 continues to embody that idea, not only in silhouette, but in the way it feels and moves on the wrist.
And in case someone gets pushy at a pool party, the Polo 79’s 50 meters of water resistance means it’ll survive a splash or two — though let’s be honest, this isn’t the watch you’re cannonballing in.
The dial is made from the same white gold as the case and bracelet, complete with the gadroon motif and minimal ornamentation. There are no hour markers, just a subtle circular minute track, a pair of polished hands, and the PIAGET inscription. The look is pure Polo: a unified surface from end to end. Inside is the finely decorated Piaget Caliber 1200P1 — an ultra-thin automatic movement with a 44-hour power reserve, 2.75mm thickness, and a gray-coated 22k gold micro-rotor — of course, visible through the sapphire caseback. While it’s not the newest or thinnest movement in Piaget’s arsenal, it’s a fitting choice for a watch that’s more about design legacy than horological pedigree. Remember, the original ones were quartz-powered, so this is certainly a step up if mechanical movements are your thing.
Speaking of legacy, yes, the yellow gold model still feels like the definitive Piaget Polo to me. It’s the metal most people associate with the original 1979 watch (and the slew of models that came the following decade), and frankly, yellow gold is almost always my go-to choice. That said, this white gold version is undeniably handsome. It’s cooler in tone, a bit stealthier, and a touch sportier — at least as much as a 200-gram white gold bracelet watch can be. Where the yellow gold version is the life of the party, this one’s the one slipping in through the side door with quiet confidence. What isn’t quiet, however, is the price tag. In fact, it’s more expensive than the $75,000 yellow gold version, priced at $82,000 USD. That’s a serious price hike for a metal most people associate with being “less flashy.” For more information about the white gold Polo 79, please visit Piaget’s website.
