A HYMN TO HAUTE HORLOGERIE
The stylistic modernity of this tourbillon chronograph boasting ever-so harmonious colors and finishes infuses the timepiece with quite a distinguished personality.
A great scenario starts off with an original concept coupled by personal know-how. Once the important details have been laid out, the finalized narrative structure is in place. With its Tondagraph Slate, Parmigiani reproduces these key steps and center stages an exquisitely-refined, state-of-the-art engineered chronograph. As such, the leading players of this composition hit the limelight on a slate-gray-colored “rice-grain” guilloché dial. An opening at 6 o’clock offers the tourbillon all the space it needs to express itself. The symmetric, inseparable small seconds at 9 o’clock perfectly balances the 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock. As for the power reserve at 12 o’clock, it doesn’t just look fantastic… At a given moment in time, it provides the energy available. Unlike the first Tondagraph Tourbillon chronographs revealed in 2009, this timepiece embraces a minute tracker instead of an hour chapter. The ensemble is more understated and elegant, in particular with its pair of skeletonized hour and minute hands.
The 43 mm-diameter rose-gold case, waterproof to a depth of 10 meters, hosts a hand-wound movement. The PF354 caliber orchestrates the time data and short-cycle time measurements whilst delivering a power reserve of some 65 hours. The sapphire-crystal caseback invites to discover most of the 295 components and their traditional finishes crafted ever-so delicately by the master watchmakers of the Fleurier manufacture.
A Havana-colored Hermès alligator strap, clasped by an ardillon buckle, embraces the teardrop-shaped lugs which are characteristic of the brand.
Price: CHF199,000
By Dan Diaconu