Wristwatches · Wristwatch
18ct yellow gold Piaget ref. 12101 Automatic bracelet watch, 1980
- Maker / attribution
- Piaget (maker)
- Date
- 1980
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- yellow gold
- Dimensions
- Case 33.5 mm
- Stock no.
- G3328
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Somlo Antiques (G3328)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 18ct yellow gold Piaget ref. 12101 Automatic bracelet watch. Made 1980 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Somlo Antiques (dealer), London (stock number G3328), this is a wristwatch by Piaget, made in Switzerland, dated 1980. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: yellow gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 33.5 mm. The record is illustrated with 5 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Somlo Antiques
Although best known for their haute joaillerie timepieces, the history of the House of Piaget lies in fine watchmaking with an emphasis on ultra-thin mechanical movements, the most famous being the Calibre 9P. Released in 1957, the 9P was only 2mm thick and allowed Piaget to create watches where the size of the movement was negligible and the focus could be solely on design. This was most famously the demonstrated in the 21st Century collection from 1969 which included a host of integrated bracelet watches, elaborate precious metal cuff watches and pieces with wafer thin stone dials. These stone dials became a signature of Piaget and were of unparalleled beauty and quality. Brand: Piaget Made: 1980 Model: Bracelet watch Reference: 12101 Calibre: 12P Movement: Automatic Material: 18ct yellow gold Features/complications: - Dial: 18ct yellow gold cross-haired dial with applied yellow gold baton hour markers with yellow gold dauphine hands Case dimensions: 33.5mm Bracelet/strap: 18ct yellow gold intergrated bracelet with adjustment Accessories: N/A SKU: 3328
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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