Parmigiani’s role in watchmaking — and Michel Parmigiani’s own career in the industry — both as a restorer and a watchmaker have kept the brand as a stoic custodian of traditional watchmaking. And to celebrate the Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie’s venture into the digital realm with this year’s Watches & Wonders Geneva platform, the brand has released a new Toric model, featuring a tourbillon on a slate gray guilloché à main dial.
The watch is of particular significance this year because, in 2020, Mr Parmigiani turns 70 (at the end of the year, but we can start celebrating). The Toric is the first watch case that was designed by Michel Parmigiani in 1966 when the brand was launched, and the Toric collection has had many other haute horlogerie models across time.
The movement that drives this watch is the ultra-thin, automatic PF517 tourbillon caliber with a platinum micro-rotor and flying tourbillon. The automatic tourbillon is one of the slimmest in the world, at 3.4mm, thanks to its design, which sees the tourbillon integrated into the main plate of the movement, which cuts its profile significantly.
The one-minute tourbillon at 7 is a nod to Michel Parmigiani’s birth hour, at 7am, and its design sits beautifully with the guilloche dial, with the case inspired by classic Doric columns of Greek architecture and javelin hands in rose gold. It’s a brilliant example in classic watch design, limited to just 25 examples and available at just CHF 130,000 each.
Technical Specifications
Movement
Self-winding PF717 caliber; hours and minutes; small seconds; tourbillon; ultra-thin; 48-hour power reserve
Case
42.8mm case in 18K red gold; slate gray guilloche dial; water resistant to 30m; limited to 25 pieces
Strap
Hermès Havana alligator leather strap with red gold pin buckle
Price
CHF 130,000
