At 150, Piaget proves it still knows how to party in style. In honor of its 150th anniversary, the Swiss fine jeweler and watchmaker held a glamorous exhibition and gala in Abu Dhabi last week. The evening unfolded at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, but the story behind it started over a century ago in a quiet Swiss village called La Côte-aux-Fées.
Back in 1874, Georges-Édouard Piaget began crafting precision watch movements in his family workshop, tucked into the Jura Mountains. He couldn’t have imagined that his name would become synonymous with luxury and artistry, nor that his legacy would one day be celebrated on the golden shores of the Arabian Gulf. Yet here we were, standing among glittering jewels that challenged traditional ideas of what fine jewelry and watchmaking could be. That spirit of experimentation has always been at the heart of the brand, and you could see it in the pieces showcased in Abu Dhabi.
The event wasn’t your typical exhibition. Sure, there was the glitz and glamour—Aditi Rao Hydari, Padmanabh Singh, and Ayça Ayşin Turan wearing Piaget’s High Jewellery, and a lively performance by Kool & the Gang. But what stood out was how Piaget leaned into collaboration, not just showing off their work, but connecting it to the region.
Their partnership with Abu Dhabi Retail under the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) brought an added layer of significance. Here was a Swiss Maison collaborating with the heart of the Middle East, not just to celebrate its own milestone, but to reflect on how culture and craftsmanship intersect. The Maison even worked with the Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative to incorporate traditional Emirati crafts like Al-Sadu, Talli, and Khoos into the event. It was a subtle but powerful nod to the idea that luxury isn’t always just about what shines the brightest, but also about remembering and honoring your roots.
Piaget’s CEO, Benjamin Comar, spoke of the “rare privilege” of hosting this event in Abu Dhabi, but the privilege was mutual. I thought about Georges-Édouard Piaget in his workshop over a century ago. Would he have imagined his name on an event like this? Probably not. But then again, he wasn’t in it for the flash. Piaget has always been about doing things well and doing them differently. And after 150 years, that’s exactly what they’re still doing.
