You could say it is an icon for an icon. Piaget’s Black Tie timepiece was first brought out in 1972 and remains one of those timeless icons still today with its large dial bordered by its signature gadroons (highly decorative convex edging). It would go on to catch the eye of another icon, revolutionary artist Andy Warhol in 1973 when he purchased the yellow gold piece with its anthracite grey galvanic dial powered by the Beta 21 quartz movement.  The Black Tie joined the ranks of Andy Warhol’s six other Piaget watches, four of which are now kept in Piaget’s Private Collection. 

The watch was brought out in a limited series of white or yellow gold until 1977. Meanwhile Yves Piaget and Andy Warhol met in 1979 through Gerry Grinberg’s company, the exclusive distributor of Piaget’s luxury watches in the United States. Developing a close friendship with Piaget, Andy Warhol became a full member of the Piaget Society, travelling with Yves Piaget to events held in New York and Palm Beach, and joining him for long nights at Studio 54 or Chez Régine. 

Left: Black Tie Vintage timepiece in platinum and lapis lazuli from Piaget. Right: Black Tie Vintage timepiece in malachite from Piaget. Photos courtesy Piaget. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

Reissued as part of the Extremely Piaget High Jewellery Collection, the Black Tie made its dazzling comeback onto the watchmaking scene in 2014 and has remained there ever since, becoming a favorite with collectors the world over. And now through an official new collaboration under license with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the timepiece is formally renamed as the Andy Warhol watch. The watch. outfitted with its 45mm dial, has been brought out over the years in the house’s signature ornamental stones notably turquoise, jasper, cornaline, malachite and lapis lazuli. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette

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