It is hard to believe that the high-end luxury watchmaker has only been in existence for eighteen years. In 1996 the visionary Michel Parmigiani established the company in the idyllic location of Fleurier, Switzerland. His incredible passion for restoration and his enormous expertise have given the brand a solid foothold within the industry. The name Parmigiani Fleurier is an amalgamation of the founders surname and the place of origin.
In the world of horology Parmigiani Fleurier are widely associated with the development of highly intricate complications. Within the company’s first nine years they devised numerous in house calibres. This led to a range of wonderful collections especially the sublime Bugatti series of watches. I have featured this exquisite timepiece in many articles for international magazines. On that basis I was excited to be offered the opportunity of reviewing the magnificent Tonda Tourbillon.
My initial impression of the Tonda Tourbillon was how beautiful and well made the watch appears. With measurements of 42mm x 11.5mm the timepiece has adopted elegant proportions. For the short time I got to wear the watch I found it comfortable and fairly lightweight. Primarily this is down to the sleek design of the case and choice of luxurious 18-carat rose gold used in production. Due to the exclusive nature of this amazing watch I suspect it will attract the attention of serious collectors. I can clearly picture this delectable timepiece looking great with formal attire.
In contrast to the contemporary styling of the Bugatti watch the Tonda Tourbillon exudes classical charm. The silver dial is decorated with a sublime Côtes de Genève pattern on the outer ring and a delicate Velvet finish in the centre. This works in graceful harmony with the Rose gold plated indexes and sophisticated delta-shaped hour/minute hands. Overall the composition is understated which perfectly suits the style of the watch. Other key design elements are the power reserve indicator and the imposing tourbillon positioned at 6 o’clock.
Beneath the refined exterior lays the highly accomplished Calibre: PF510 measuring 33.84 mm. This mechanical manual winding 30-second tourbillon movement comprises 30 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Each of the individual 237 components has been hand decorated and assembled at the company’s headquarters in Switzerland. Functionally the watch features hours, minutes, seconds, 30-second tourbillon and a phenomenal seven-day power reserve. The glorious Tonda Tourbillon is also water resistant to a depth of 30 metres.
Within the Tonda range there is another equally impressive model with a platinum case and graphite dial. Both of these opulent watches are presented with hand stitched Hermès alligator straps and are limited to 100 pieces. The suggested retail price is: $269,700.
http://www.parmigiani.ch