INTRODUCING: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF 36MM
A discreet, elegant integrated bracelet watch for the discerning, now in a 36mm case.
This week, Parmigiani Fleurier released a new version of the Tonda PF in a unisex-sized 36mm case. The Tonda PF is the independent watchmaker’s icon, and this new version scores top marks in its design.
If you’re unfamiliar with Parmigiani Fleurier, it’s an independent watchmaker based in Fleurier. It’s named for Michel Parmigiani, the founder and a brilliant watch restorer whose career started in 1976 restoring important timepieces from the Patek Philippe Museum.
In 1996, with the support of the Sandoz Family Foundation, Parmigiani Fleurier was established. The brand’s aesthetic signatures include the alternating gadroons and knurled patterns. It’s one of a few brands with a completely verticalised production, making everything from cases to movement components and complex calibres in-house.
From partnerships with Bugatti to more recent creations, the brand retains a strong classical approach to watchmaking. The Tonda collection, in particular, exemplifies this style. Now with Guido Terreni (formerly of Bulgari fame) at the helm, the brand is creating incredible modern classics.
The Tonda PF’s beauty lies in its details. The dial bears the brand’s signature barleycorn-style pattern on the dial, while the bezel is knurled with a mirror-polished inner ring. The hour markers are angled and polished, then applied to the dial. The lugs are rounded and stepped, on a five-link bracelet that has three different types of finishing to bring out the allure of the watch. And the two skeletonised hands with arrow-style edges (no seconds display) are a nice finishing touch to the watch. The clean dial gives the watch ample breathing room while bringing out all the details as it plays against the light.
But for some, such a simple dial on a 40mm case feels excessive. So, to cater to the growing trend of smaller timepieces, the brand has released two new models in a 36mm size. The smaller dial makes a significant difference in the balance of the watch.
The Tonda PF Automatic Steel Silver Sand is the brand’s most affordable model in steel with a 950 platinum knurled bezel and is powered by the PF770. The in-house automatic movement runs at 4Hz and has a 60-hour power reserve, with an exhibition caseback for you to view the smooth-running calibre. The dial is in light silver with a barleycorn guilloché pattern, and the tapered integrated bracelet is comfortable to wear.
However, it’s the Tonda PF Automatic Rose Gold Deep Ruby that’s outstanding. The case and bracelet are in 18K rose gold, and it bears a deep red dial with the same barleycorn pattern. Instead of regular indexes, Parmigiani has used 12 VVS-quality baguette diamonds totalling 0.36 carats to mark the hours. The diamond indexes are compact and, therefore, very discreet, making it a watch that both men and women can wear without any hesitation.
If you find rose gold too much to wear on a regular basis, a steel model with baguette diamond indexes and a grey anthracite dial is available. It otherwise has the same specs as the Silver Sand.
All three will soon be available at retailers (Sincere Fine Watches or Cortina Watch in the SEA region), and prices are CHF18,500 for the Silver Sand, CHF24,900 for the steel model with diamond indexes, and CHF49,500 for the Deep Ruby. Local prices have yet to be released.
