Parmigiani Fleurier

In 2021, to celebrate the quarter-century of the Parmigiani Fleurier brand, the collection was relaunched to make the offering more attractive and relevant to connoisseurs and to open up new dimensions of the brand’s design message. The new collection was named Tonda PF, in reference to the previous Tonda collection, which included round, classic watches, and the name was given the addition PF, reflecting the new style with a logo in the shape of initials in a vertical oval (the previous logo included ‘Parmigiani Fleurier’ also in an oval, but horizontally). In general, the design of the new Tonda PF collection has retained the classic character and general style of the brand’s previous collections, but has received important updates to make the watches more modern and therefore more attractive. These include integrated bracelets, a clear outline and a more defined character: the watches have been given the stiffer, less smooth and less soft and rounded contours that characterized the watches of the previous period. By dispensing with unnecessary scales and reducing the size of the indices, the dial of the Tonda PF has been given more space. This design is further enhanced by the grain d’orge guilloché pattern, which extends across the entire dial, with the sole exception of the outer thin, recessed ring with the minute track at the very edge. The elaborate guilloché pattern is complemented by rhodium-plated solid gold indices, a harmonious PF logo in an oval and no inscriptions other than ‘Swiss Made’. The rare combination of baroque richness of fine guilloché details and laconic layout undoubtedly contributes to the attractiveness of the dial and the watch as a whole. In addition, the dial is framed by a fluted 950 platinum bezel – an extremely rare option for a steel watch. This watch also deserves special attention because it has a very rare function. The relaunch of the Parmigiani Fleurier collection was accompanied by the introduction of new complications invented by the brand. The Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante Steel Platinum is a classic version of the GMT function, but with an unusual ‘secret’ function. By pressing a gold button coaxially mounted on the crown, this mechanism hides the second rose gold hour hand under the first hour hand at the request of the watch owner, while retaining the time zone setting. This means that when the gold button is pressed again, the gold hour hand appears and displays the GMT time again – this is similar to the function of the split seconds hand (rattrapante in French), hence the name of the watch. The gold hour hand is set to the desired second time zone by pressing the button at 8 o’clock.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante Ref. PFC905-1020001-100182, an unusual and refined watch, seems to be a good buy for the collector or fine watch enthusiast who wants to acquire an exquisite, sporty and elegant wristwatch from a world-renowned watch brand that is considered a master of collector’s watches with a museum touch. The combination of the elegant 40 mm stainless steel case, the solid platinum bezel, the ‘Milano Blue’ dial with the brand’s characteristic ‘grain d’orge’ guilloché motif and the outstanding technical features of the PF051 caliber, one of the finest self-winding movements on the market with a solid 22k gold mini rotor, is what makes this watch so appealing, while the hidden complication which allows you to use a useful function and enjoy a sleek, minimalist, purist design, gives this watch a very special character.