A pop art performance from Piaget: introducing the Andy Warhol “Collage”
Tom Austin- Piaget has unveiled a special edition Andy Warhol watch, limited to just 50 pieces, featuring a dial based upon one of his most famous self-portraits.
- The stunning pop art-inspired dial showcases specially selected stones, including black onyx, yellow Namibian serpentine, pink opal, and green chrysoprase.
- Crafted from 18-carat yellow gold, its stepped 45mm case is based on the original Piaget Black Tie worn by the pioneer of pop art himself.
From Marilyn Monroe to bananas and Campbell’s soup cans, American artist Andy Warhol’s influence as a founding father of the pop art movement was widely felt throughout the 1960s and beyond. But interestingly, another fact about Warhol was that he was a prolific and dedicated watch collector, owning no fewer than 300 watches, including a particular penchant for Piaget. So much so, in fact, that in 2024, Piaget partnered with the Andy Warhol Foundation to rename its iconic Black Tie to the “Andy Warhol”. It was a bold, but significant move for the brand, recognising Warhol’s influential sense of style and celebrating it in such a direct way.
Two fresh Andy Warhol models debuted at this year’s Watches and Wonders, extending the range to include now a soirée of colourful meteorite, tiger’s eye and malachite dials. And now, Piaget has unveiled its latest Andy Warhol creation, a limited-edition release with a much more unequivocal reference to the pioneer of Pop Art.
Piaget as a brand never left us, but it has indeed regained popularity among wider collectors and enthusiast circles in recent times. This is thanks in part to the interesting shift towards enthusiasts wearing dressier watches more regularly, a revived interest in shaped watches, and the overall trend of larger watches being overtaken by pieces with more subtle, restrained proportions. That said, the Piaget Andy Warhol isn’t actually that small of a watch. The 18-carat gold, cushion-shaped case steps down from the dial aperture and finishes at a relatively chunky 45mm in diameter.
Its lugless shape and shallow-set crown make for a seamless design, and the overall proportions are brought back down thanks to a gorgeously thin 8mm overall thickness. This is not really an everyday watch, obviously, so the water resistance is minimal at 30 meters, mainly due to the crown construction and the screwed-down caseback, which features a special Andy Warhol signature, plus a motif of the famous self-portrait the watch is inspired by.
Andy Warhol’s artwork was best known for his exceptional use of colour, often employing vibrant, specific tones that helped shape the pop art movement in the 60s. They were colours which, on the whole, had never really been used that prominently; so boldly, and so formed a recognisable signature palette for which Warhol became so famous. Naturally, this watch wouldn’t be a Piaget without a stone dial—four different stones in this particular case—and each stone has been carefully selected to accurately replicate that Warhol look and feel.
The dial is comprised of black onyx, yellow Namibian serpentine, pink opal, and green chrysoprase, shaped, cut and arranged using the ancient métier d’art of marquetry. The black onyx base was specifically selected because it was the same colour that adorned Warhol’s own watch from 1973. The other stone slices are laid on top to form a stunning, dimensional, layered effect that serves as an excellent reference to Warhol without being too obvious.
The watch is driven by the in-house automatic Piaget 501P1 calibre, a time-only movement that lacks the date window of Warhol’s original piece, but I agree with Piaget’s choice here; this watch doesn’t need a date window muddying up the dial. The ultra-thin calibre features intricate circular côtes de Genève decoration (although with a closed caseback, you’ll just have to take my word for it) along with a 40-hour power reserve while beating at 21,600 Vph. Finally, the watch is finished with a green alligator leather strap, which both contrasts beautifully with the dial and complements the bright yellow gold case.
Piaget Andy Warhol Watch “Collage” pricing and availability
The Piaget Andy Warhol Watch “Collage” is limited to 50 pieces and is available from Piaget boutiques. Price: A$128,000
| Brand | Piaget |
| Model | Andy Warhol Watch “Collage” |
| Reference Number | G0A50243 |
| Case Dimensions | 45mm (D) x 8mm (T) x 43mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black onyx, yellow Namibian serpentine, pink opal and green chrysoprase marquetry |
| Strap | Green alligator leather strap, case-matching pin buckle |
| Movement | Calibre 501P1, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 40 hours |
| Functions | Hours and minutes |
| Availability | Limited to 50 pieces |
| Price | A$128,000 |