Footballer Jules Koundé spotted wearing a Piaget

Jules Koundé, Barcelona's French right-back, made a striking statement during a national team fixture at Clairefontaine by layering two Piaget pieces that draw directly from the brand's 1970s design archive. On his wrist sat a vintage Piaget Ref. 9066 D 23 in 18k yellow gold—a refined integrated-bracelet dress watch that exemplifies Piaget's expertise in ultra-thin mechanical watchmaking.

The Ref. 9066 D 23 is a handwound specimen from the seventies equipped with Piaget's signature integrated bracelet, characterized by a distinctive basketweave motif that married case and bracelet into a cohesive whole. The dial is paved with diamonds and framed by an exquisite onyx hour track, a design flourish that balanced precious metal with gemstone restraint. The case diameter measures approximately 30 mm—typical of dress watches from this era—and the integrated construction emphasizes Piaget's philosophy of proportional elegance. Water resistance remains modest, as befits a dress watch of its generation, though the yellow-gold construction and handwound movement calibre ensure longevity for regular collectors who understand vintage care.

What distinguishes the Piaget Ref. 9066 D 23 among vintage enthusiasts is its marriage of integrated-bracelet construction with high jewelry finishing. Piaget's integrated bracelets of the 1970s remain sought after for their refined engineering and the seamlessness between case and bracelet—a technical achievement that prefigured modern sports watches by decades. The diamond-and-onyx dial variant is particularly desirable, as it showcases Piaget's commitment to dial artistry beyond simple decoration.

Koundé's pairing of the vintage Ref. 9066 D 23 with the new Piaget Swinging Pebble Sautoir "Tiger Eye" underscores the brand's cyclical design language. Both pieces trace lineage to Piaget's 1974 "Kimono" pocket watch, a seminal design that married stone carving with ultra-thin horology. The sautoir houses Piaget's cal. 355P quartz movement and hangs from an 18k yellow-gold rope-link chain, creating a cohesive aesthetic across wrist and neck.

Vintage Piaget integrated dress watches of this calibre trade on the secondary market between $8,000 and $15,000 USD, depending on dial condition and movement service history. Original retail prices for 18k yellow-gold Piaget dress watches of the 1970s ranged from $2,000 to $4,500—substantial sums at the time that reflect the brand's position as a haute horlogerie manufacturer. Today, the Ref. 9066 D 23 attracts serious vintage collectors who prioritize dial artistry and integrated-bracelet construction, making Koundé's sighting a reminder that Piaget's 1970s output remains undervalued relative to contemporary luxury sports watches.