PIAGET CELEBRATES POLO AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL PIAGET HAMPTONS CUP

Piaget returned to the Equuleus Polo Club for the fourth consecutive year as the presenting sponsor of the Piaget Hamptons Cup. Partnering with polo superstar Nacho Figueras and polo enthusiasts Joe and Diana DiMenna, the Maison hosted an exhibition match benefiting Robin Hood, one of New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organizations. The event brought out families and guests including Piaget CEO, Philippe Léopold-Metzger, who was joined by social media stars and friends of the brand, Hanneli Mustaparta, Harley Viera-Newton, Pari Ehsan of Pari Dust, Athena Calderone of Eye Swoon as well as model Eric Rutherford, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman, Figueras’ wife Delfina Blaquier, fashion designer Donna Karan, her daughter Gabby Karan De Felice and son-in law, Gianpaolo De Felice, to celebrate the sport of kings and support New Yorkers in need. 

In addition to the day’s polo action, Piaget’s spectacular high jewelry collection ‘Extremely Piaget,’ all inspired by the archival designs of the 60s and 70s was on display in the dedicated Piaget lounge. At the center of the presentation was a silver life-sized polo pony and rider filled with hundreds of pink roses as well as four female models adorned in pieces from the ‘Extremely Piaget’ collection.  An exciting highlight of the day was the purchase of the Piaget Altiplano Date timepiece. After trying on the model, an enthusiastic guest bought the piece on the spot. 

Fans watched a thrilling match between Team St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, featuring co-captain Joe DiMenna and Michael Carrazza, Nacho Figueras, Mariano Gonzalez and Andres Weisz and Team Credit Suisse, featuring co-captains Stefano Natella and Alainn Bailey, Magoo Laprida, Francisco Ayala and Martin Pepa. Team St. Regis ultimately emerged victorious with a 9 – 7 win.  President of Piaget North America, Thomas Bouillonnec, presented the winning team with Piaget engraved plates while Philippe Léopold-Metzger presented the Piaget perpetual trophy. The Most Valuable Player award went to Michael Carrazza, while Best Playing Pony award went to Magoo Laprida’s horse, Seaside. 

The biggest winner of the day was certainly Robin Hood, raising $1 million, every penny of which will go to the most effective poverty-fighting programs in New York City. This is the largest amount of funds ever raised at the Piaget Hamptons Cup. Following the match, guests gathered under a sprawling white tent to enjoy a traditional Argentine asado.

Piaget has a long history with polo, dating back to the 1970s. Originally founded by Georges Édouard Piaget on his family farm in 1874, solely to make ‘movements’ which were sold to the most famous Swiss brands, the Piaget name was subsequently registered by his grandsons Gérald and Valentin Piaget in 1943, when the company also started signing its own watches.  Due to the success of the brand a manufacturing operation was built in Côte-aux-Fées in 1945, which still continues to manufacture the ultra-thin ‘movements’ that are such a celebrated part of any Piaget watch. Launching the Piaget Polo Watch designed by Yves G. Piaget in 1979 to meet demands of the time for a luxury sports watch, the watch became an icon which was later remodelled in 2001.  To this day the company continues to live up to the belief of its founder (as he sought the perfection of movement and the ultimate thinness in his watches) that one should ‘Always do better than necessary.’ 

Originally founded by Georges Édouard Piaget on his family farm in 1874, solely to make ‘movements’ which were sold to the most famous Swiss brands, the Piaget name was subsequently registered by his grandsons Gérald and Valentin Piaget in 1943, when the company also started signing its own watches.  Due to the success of the brand a manufacturing operation was built in Côte-aux-Fées in 1945, which still continues to manufacture the ultra-thin ‘movements’ that are such a celebrated part of any Piaget watch. Launching the Piaget Polo Watch designed by Yves G. Piaget in 1979 to meet demands of the time for a luxury sports watch, the watch became an icon which was later remodelled in 2001.  To this day the company continues to live up to the belief of its founder (as he sought the perfection of movement and the ultimate thinness in his watches) that one should ‘Always do better than necessary.’ 

Piaget’s connection to polo does not however end with the naming of a watch and brand ambassadors, as major sponsors around the world the Piaget name is linked to many charity matches and top polo tournaments.  From the USPA Piaget Gold Cup held at The International Polo Club Palm Beach (which in 2015 featured three of the brand ambassadors in the finals), to the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen and the Piaget Hamptons Cup in New York, the brand also act as official timekeepers to the Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club, the Goldin Group Charity Polo at Beaufort Polo Club, Polo Zurich Park, Switzerland and Sao Paulo do Brazil.

Ultimately it is movement, precision, excellence in the field, results and timing that are so crucial both to top polo players on the pitch, and the watchmakers whose masterpieces are such perfect timekeepers on the wrists of many a discerning spectator.