Hands-On: Piaget Andy Warhol Watch
Photos by Jake Witkin
Andy Warhol was known to own a number of Piaget timepieces, but the one most closely associated with him was originally referred to as the “Black Tie.” That gold watch from the 1970s (reference 15101, introduced in 1972) was equipped with a Beta 21 quartz movement and served as the inspiration for the modern Piaget Warhol, which was launched in 2015. Since then, the brand has sporadically introduced new dials in a range of case materials, including a slate of new variants that debuted this year at Watches and Wonders. Among that batch, yet surprisingly not the most outré, was this new Piaget Andy Warhol watch with a green meteorite dial.
We went hands-on when Piaget reintroduced the Black Tie in 2015, and again when it released an uncolored meteorite dial version in 2017. Frankly, all that’s changed is the movement and the dial. The 18k white gold squircle case still measures 45mm across and 43mm lug-to-lug — I guess that makes it a circtangle. As seen here on Jake’s wrist, it’s broad in all directions and dominates the wrist. However, despite the dinner plate dimensions, the slim 8.08mm profile makes it easier to wear, and the stepped gadroons (a Piaget signature that frames the dial with tiered, architectural ridges) cinch the shape much like a corset at the waist. Gadroons are a decorative flourish the brand has long favored, seen across several models including the Polo 79 and Sixtie.
The green meteorite dial is the obvious talking point, cut and finished to show off the natural crystalline structure of the stone. Depending on the lighting, the green color reads anywhere from olive to lime, pairing well with the rhodium-finished, applied stick markers and sharp dauphine-style hands at the center. A color-matched green alligator strap keeps the sleek monochrome style intact, finished with a rhodium-finished gold buckle.
Honestly, this colorway isn’t my favorite — it leans a little too drab camouflage-adjacent for me, and Piaget offers plenty of more vibrant options. If you’re going the Andy Warhol route, you might as well go all in with wilder palettes. That said, muted green watches are everywhere right now, and the use of meteorite adds some much-needed depth and dimension to an otherwise subdued hue.
Unlike the original 1970s quartz-powered variants, the modern Andy Warhol watches run on automatic movements — specifically, the in-house Caliber 501P1. While the 3.63mm-thick movement is hidden behind a solid caseback engraved with the Piaget coat of arms, it’s decorated with circular Côtes de Genève, beveled bridges, and circular graining on the plates. Housed inside a case rated to 30 meters of water resistance, the 501P1 beats at 28,800 vph and offers a 40-hour power reserve.
In addition to this model, Piaget also debuted a stunning blue and green opal dial with a gem-set bezel (my personal pick if I had to choose), a tiger’s eye dial in a gold case, and a white meteorite dial in a gold case. They all radiate a vintage charm that goes beyond the case shape, with dials that feel like something Warhol might have actually worn in the ’70s. Yet the watches are unique and stylish enough that they carry into the modern day, wearing well and looking fabulous. Forget go-anywhere, do-anything — this is a GADA that’s Got Attitude, Demands Attention. The Piaget Andy Warhol in white gold with a green meteorite dial (ref. G0A50241) is priced at $61,000USD, which is in line with other models from the collection. For more information, please visit the Piaget website.
