The Emirati designer’s touch can be seen throughout, where the mother-of-pearl dial hosts intricate gold arabesque Token motifs in a symmetrical pattern (All photos: Piaget)
This Ramadan, Swiss watchmaker Piaget has teamed up with Shamsa Alabbar, a prominent figure in the world of contemporary Arab jewellery, for a dazzling iteration of its Limelight Gala line. The limited-edition timepiece has been decked out in exquisite materials that the maison is famed for working with.
The Emirati designer’s touch can be seen throughout, where the mother-of-pearl dial hosts intricate gold arabesque Token motifs in a symmetrical pattern. The nacre serves as a homage to not only the UAE’s maritime heritage, but also Alabbar’s grandfathers — one was a pearl diver and the other, a dhow captain. This rendition retains all the hallmarks of a Limelight Gala creation, possessing a bezel and asymmetrical lugs wreathed in diamonds, while the 18-carat pink gold bracelet is engraved with Piaget’s iconic Decor Palace technique.
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The house further showcases its expertise with two other watches that revive a hand-engraved motif from Piaget’s archives, resulting in a wavy pattern reminiscent of rippling silk. One is a handsome medley of gold and white diamonds, while the other has a burst of burgundy thrown into the mix. The dial on the latter is finished with Grand Feu enamelling to achieve its vibrant shade, and pink sapphires, deep red rubies and diamonds are used to form the perfect gradient on the lugs.
Powering the Shamsa Alabbar variant is the in-house 690P quartz calibre. The other timepieces accommodate the compact 501P1 self-winding mechanical calibre, ensuring up to 40 hours of power reserve. One can count on Piaget to forge the perfect bond between horology and high jewellery.
This article first appeared on Mar 17, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
