Jewellery & Watch News
Since 1996, Parmigiani Fleurier has mastered the art of luxury watches capturing the wrists of collectors everywhere. During the last quarter-century, the Swiss watch brand has remained entirely independent, still led by founder Michel Parmigiani, and has made home to a series of incredible in-house movements - just one of many examples of their cutting-edge manufacture. In celebration of their 25th anniversary, Parmigiani Fleurier introduces a whole new collection of timepieces, the Tonda PF collection, showcasing some of the brand’s most distinctive complications.
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF collection is home to four sub-collections: the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor, Tonda PF Chronograph, Tonda PF Annual Calendar and the Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph. Before we go into each of these models in more detail, let’s take a look at the collection as a whole and what it brings to the wrists of luxury sports watch wearers. First of all, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF collection dedicates its design to a new brand signature with a “PF” logo appearing at 12 o’clock surrounded by an oval, double-framed applique. To match, the indexes of each watch are dressed in silver or rose gold and set across two levels of the dial which in itself inaugurates a new grain d’orge guilloche finish. The cases also showcase some handsome new touches including tear-drop shaped lugs, a fluted bezel and integrated bracelets. The overall architecture does look somewhat similar to the Tonda GT collection but in fact feels very different in person. The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF collection is thinner in profile and its overall execution is more discerning.
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor
Arguably the simplest and most classic addition to the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF collection is a duo of PF Tonda Micro-Rotor watches. Measuring to 40mm in diameter and engineered from a choice of stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold, these watches deliver a traditional time-and-date display on a warm grey guilloche dial. Its overall aesthetic is purely that of a luxury sports watch and within it holds one of Parmigiani Fleurier’s new in-house movements, the PF703. Automatic winding, the movement is incredibly thin at only 3mm thinks thanks to a full platinum micro rotor. The oscillating rotor is also integrated into the movement’s structure rather than lying on top of it, allowing the Parmigiani Fleurier PF Tonda Micro-Rotor watches to sit at only 7.8mm in height. The movement is displayed through the sapphire crystal case back and offers a 48 hour power reserve, 3Hz frequency and is water resistant to 100 metres.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Movement: Calibre PF703 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, date
- Power Reserve: 48 hours
- Jewels: 29
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Dial: Grey guilloche
- Strap: Bracelet with folding buckle
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronograph
Chronograph complication is a precedent on a luxury sports watch so it’s no surprise one of our favourite pieces is the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronograph. Offering a slightly sportier aesthetic than the Micro-Rotor above, the chronograph models are once again available in either stainless steel or rose gold but sit slightly larger on the wrist at 42mm in diameter and 12.4mm in height. The cases still retain a 100 metre water resistant rating, guilloche dials, just this time in a deep blue tone, and two integrated push pieces to control the chronograph function. The small seconds, 12 hours and 30 minutes counters are all placed on matching blue subsidiary dials. Powering them, the date and the central hands for hours, minutes and chronograph seconds is the automatic winding Calibre PF070 with an impressive 62 hour power reserve and high frequency of 5Hz. The movement is again displayed through the case back and equipped with a handsome 22k rose gold oscillating rotor.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Movement: Calibre PF070 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central chronograph seconds, small seconds, 12 hours, 30 minutes, date
- Power Reserve: 62 hours
- Jewels: 42
- Frequency: 36,000vph
- Dial: Blue guilloche
- Strap: Bracelet with folding buckle
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar
Another complex but deserving movement for a luxury sports watch is the annual calendar and for the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar duo, the brand harnesses the power of their automatic calibre PF339. The 50-hour movement welcomes a whole host of complications including a four central hands, three for the hours, minutes and seconds and the fourth for a unique retrograde date display noted by its crescent moon-shaped pointer hand. Next, three subsidiary dials display the day and month and 122-year moonphase visible in both the north and southern hemispheres. Other than its annual calendar movement the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar watches follow suit to the specs of the chronographs above with a 42mm case in steel or rose gold, a 100 metre water resistance, a guilloche dial – this time in grey – and anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass on both the front and case back.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Movement: Calibre PF339 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, retrograde date, day, month, moonphase
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Jewels: 32
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Grey guilloche
- Strap: Bracelet with folding buckle
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph
While the rest of the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF collection remains a permanent addition to the brand’s portfolio, the Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph is a limited edition of only 25 pieces – and rightly so – as this work of art is a must for any serious luxury watch collector. Engineered from opulent platinum, the design represents the very best of Parmigiani Fleurier’s manufacture with a new version of their high-end calibre PF361 at its centre. This incredible manual winding movement features a mainplate and bridges crafted entirely from solid rose gold which are then extensively displayed through the case back with satin-finished and bevelled finishing. It is also an integrated, high-frequency split-seconds chronograph which allows you to track two events starting simultaneously for up to 65 hours before needing to be wound. The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph measures to 42mm in diameter, has a 100 metre water resistant rating, sapphire crystal glass and a stunning combination of white and yellow gold hardware on the crisp silver “Sablé fin” finished dial.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Platinum
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Movement: Calibre PF361 manual winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, split chronograph seconds, 30 minutes, 12 hours
- Power Reserve: 65 hours
- Jewels: 35
- Frequency: 36,000vph
- Dial: Silver
- Strap: Bracelet with folding buckle
