Piaget assigned six engineers for a full three years to the task of developing its first Minute Repeater calibre. The 1290P is a (naturally ultra-thin) self-winding model housed in an Emperador Coussin shape that is also especially slim. Their respective 4.8 and 9.4 mm-thin sizes represent a double record in this category. Achieving such slenderness without jeopardising the technical quality of a major complication implied making some careful choices. The micro-rotor in platinum thus features a weight that optimises winding ; the hammers are placed on the bridge side; the repeater slide is pushed downwards rather than upwards; and the “surprise” mechanism ensures an optimal hour jump at the end of the 59^th minute as well as perfect coordination with the striking mechanism. The latter features exceptional acoustics thanks to steel hammers, an all-of-a-piece gong construction and an ideally hollowed case connected to the calibre by four braces. An inertia flywheel regulates the rhythm from start to finish. Finally, the Emperador Coussin Minute Repeater Automatic chimes with an intensity of 64 decibels – compared to an average 65 dB for a normal conversation – with the hours pitched at G sharp and the minutes at A sharp. Its finishes are the most sophisticated ever performed by Piaget to date.