Six Parmigiani watches that exemplify the superior design values of founder Michel Parmigiani

Parmigiani’s watches underline the founder’s superior design and technical sensibilities. Watchmaking auteur Michel Parmigiani’s six wonderful creations Discover how the golden ratio informs Parmigiani's design principles, and the refined intricacies of the manufacture’s technically-superior offerings At a time when people were being dissuaded from joining the mechanical watch industry—as it was entering some of its darkest hours—Michel Parmigiani, well-renowned horologist and founder of Parmigiani, decided to nurture his curiosity towards discovering the art of restoring luxury watches. With an initial desire to be an architect, Michel leaned towards horology by enrolling into a watchmaking school 15 minutes away from his home in Fleurier, Switzerland. In 1976, Michel opened his traditional watch workshop in Couvet in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. In 1980, he had a tryst with the Sandoz Family Foundation. Established by sculptor and painter Edouard-Marcel Sandoz, the foundation’s goal was to encourage entrepreneurial commitment through long-term holdings in companies in various sectors. With immense support and encouragement from the foundation, he went on to launch his own brand in May 1996, while investing in a strong staff who have truly mastered the tourbillon and chronograph. Throughout his quest towards the discovery of the heritage of traditional watchmaking, Michel produced unique, beautiful mechanical objects and small series for a few brands and collectors. Three years later, the Toric QP Retrograde—the brand’s first wristwatch—was unveiled. This historic timepiece adorned a bezel with knurling, thereby introducing Parmigiani’s now idiosyncratic style of watch design to the world. What’s fascinating is that through his creations, Michel has maintained his association with the same artisan who applies the knurling to every single Toric watch by hand. Unknown to many, the vision of the Toric collection—as nurtured by Michel Parmigiani—rests heavily on the concept of the ‘golden ratio’. The golden ratio is a general design language, deeply rooted in mathematics and geometry, which describes the perfectly symmetrical relationship between two proportions. It finds expression in various forms of art, music architecture, and design in general. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in the architecture of the pyramids, by the Greeks for the pillars of the Parthenon, and far more recently, by Michel Parmigiani in designing the manufacture’s watches. In fact, as an atelier, Parmigiani’s entire design language is inspired by the golden ratio, which explains the subtle biomorphism, wherein rounded and elongated forms are naturally preferred to completely straight lines. These principles of design inform Parmigiani’s creations, which are developed in a big way at the Vaucher manufacture in Fleurier, Parmigiani’s watchmaking powerhouse. When Hermès—the luxury label known significantly for their leather goods—acquired a stake in this manufacturing centre, it eventually led to the use of leather straps by Hermès on Parmigiani watches. Each Parmigiani creation is a reflection of the calibre of Michel, who is quite involved in the development of the timepieces. Known for their ergonomically designed watches, and an illustrious past in the restoration of historical timepieces, which drives their innovative approach to fine watchmaking, Parmigiani offers horological pieces with a distinct visual and technical identity. Here we bring you six watches from the Swiss manufacture that reflect a harmony of form and function. Have a look. [Discover all Parmigiani watches]( Parmigiani Toric Hemisphères Rétrograde A GPHG-winning calendar watch, featuring two time zone displays that can be adjusted independently to accommodate India's half-hour time zone The Toric collection, which boasts some of the most prestigious horological complications ever offered by Parmigiani, stands apart due to its distinctive case, featuring a bezel that has alternating gadroons and knurling—an aesthetic based on the golden ratio. Designed by Michel Parmigiani for his first wristwatch, this aesthetic creates tangibly harmonious proportions. Each knurl is produced by hand, using a toothed wheel that makes the metal flow from its regular pitch. Besides, each of the 20 flutes around the circumference of the timepiece also adheres to the golden ratio in their own way, while the elegantly curved lugs also follow suit. The knurling even reflects a direct inspiration from the pillars of the Parthenon in Athens. Packed with one of the most prestigious horological complications, the PF317 automatic calibre powering this watch allows for two time indications to be read simultaneously, each adjustable independently, down to the minute. This is particularly useful to us in India, with our half-hour time difference. The delicately designed black dial with an instant retrograde date, day-night display, and small seconds sub-dial captures one’s fancy in tandem with the 42.8mm stainless steel case. The rose-gold plated appliques, opaline, and snailed counters, and the javelin-shaped hands with luminescent coating add to the appeal. This highly poetic rendition of timekeeping is fitted with a black Hermès alligator leather strap. MRP: ₹17,33,000 Offer price: ₹10,39,800 For any other information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890), [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( Parmigiani Kalpa Hebdomadaire Offering a whopping eight-day power reserve, the Hebdomaire (French for ‘weekly’) features a tonneau-shaped movement, made precisely for the ergonomic Kalpa case The Kalpa case is arguably the most identifiable watch form from Parmigiani. It was first created by Michel Parmigiani, back in 1998, in an endeavour to create a watch in a shape that would be ideal for any human wrist. The result was this ergonomically designed watch with balanced proportions, including the curved-teardrop lugs. Seen here is the tonneau-shaped Kalpa in 18-karat rose gold, housing the PF110 manual-winding movement, which offers an incredible power reserve of eight days. In fact, the word hebdomaire is French for ‘weekly’, thus highlighting its guarantee of this watch running for at least an entire week (and then some) without needing to be wound! The black dial features ‘tresse’ guilloche finishing, with an opaline centre, rose gold-plated indices, and delta-shaped hands with luminescent coating. At 12, you see the power reserve scale, with the date window positioned right below it. The small seconds counter at six o’clock completes the dial. Protected by a sapphire crystal glass and caseback, the decently-sized case, measuring 42.3mm by 32.1mm, is water resistant up to 30m. The timepiece is worn on a black Hermès alligator leather strap, accompanied by an 18-karat rose gold buckle. Awarded for innovation in 1999, thanks to its blend of modern shapes and horological precision, this timepiece stands apart owing to its streamlined mechanism. MRP: ₹30,45,000 Offer price: ₹18,27,000 For any other information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890), [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( Parmigiani Tonda Qualité Fleurier The ‘Qualité Fleurier’ certification is awarded to a watch that is 100-percent Swiss-made, and has a COSC-certified chronometer movement, among other qualifications The term ‘Qualité Fleurier’ has a significance that goes beyond the fact that Fleirier is the hometown of Parmigiani. It refers to a certification bestowed upon a watch that is 100-percent Swiss-made, has a chronometer certification of accuracy from the COSC, has passed the Chronofiable test that vouches for its longevity, and presents finishing that matches haute horlogerie standards. The Qualité Fleurier foundation was established in 2004, initiated by watchmaking companies including Chopard, Bovet, Parmigiani and Vaucher, and enjoys the support of the Swiss government and other objective bodies. This Tonda stunner in rose gold comes with that Qualité Fleurier stamp of approval. The three-hand watch features a clutter-free white dial, with lacquered finishing for a refined appearance, and sports the signature Parmigiani wide date aperture, at six o’clock. The delta-shaped hour and minute hands have a luminescent coating for better visibility in the dark. Beating within this elegant timepiece is the PF331 automatic movement that offers a power reserve of 55 hours. The movement comprises 220 components, including 32 jewels, and beats at 28,800vph. The 18-karat rose gold case measures 39mm in diameter and 8.5mm in thickness, and comes fitted with a black alligator leather strap by Hermès, with a buckle in solid gold as well. MRP: ₹17,07,000 Offer price: ₹10,24,200 For any other information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890), [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Steel Abyss An ultra-thin automatic watch presenting clean lines, with a stunning abyss blue dial featuring fine, applied indices and a small seconds sub-dial The Tonda 1950 was named after Michel Parmigiani’s year of birth, as its design marked a return to the brand's fundamental visual identity, which it highlights with its pure lines. This ultra-thin watch flaunts an abyss blue dial with an opaline finish. It is perfectly complemented by the rhodium-plated appliques as hour markers and delta-shaped hands with luminescent coating for easy legibility. There is also a small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock. At just 2.6mm thick, the PF702 calibre, housed within the 40mm stainless steel case, promises autonomy of 42 hours. The timepiece is worn on an abyss blue alligator leather strap. MRP: ₹10,42,000 Offer price: ₹6,25,200 For any other information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890), [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Lune Steel Abyss An elegant dress watch with a ‘double-window’ moon phase indicator that displays the phases of the moon in both, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres Parmigiani’s classical watch is seen here in a beautiful complication version. Often called poetic, the moon phase display is presented here at 12 o’clock and even has an indication of the phases in each hemisphere. In contrast to this display, the hour indexes are lean and minimal, complementing the delta-shaped hour and minute hands. The date window is at six o’clock here. All this runs on the PF708 automatic calibre that is powered by the movement of the oscillating micro-rotor that is integrated into the main plate—visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. This helps keep the thickness of the watch down to a mere 9.6mm. The steel case of this ultra-thin piece is 39.1mm in diameter, and is water resistant to 30m. The timepiece is completed with an alligator leather strap, attached to the case via the signature Parmigiani lugs. MRP: ₹12,08,000 Offer price: ₹7,24,800 For any other information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890), [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Squelette Steel Sapphire An ultra-thin dress watch sporting a captivating skeletonised dial, accompanied by an impeccably finished movement and a visible micro-rotor The ‘skeleton’ edition of the Tonda 1950, this ultra-thin timepiece reveals the incredibly complex mechanism. The open-worked dial features rose gold-plated indexes, and luminescent Delta-shaped hands. Within the 40mm steel case of the timepiece is the calibre PF707 with an off-centre micro-rotor that is incorporated directly into the main plate—as seen in the Tondas above—thus ensuring 42 hours of power reserve. The movement is only 2.6mm thick and beats at 3Hz. The hand-machined main plate, which also features bevelling and brushing, leaves a smooth grained finish on its grey arterial form. It intertwines with the bridge and reveals the working parts along with the constant play of the escapement and balance. The black Hermès alligator strap just adds to its overall appeal as a thoroughbred dress watch, that celebrates fine mechanical watchmaking. MRP: ₹21,10,000 Offer price: ₹12,66,000 For any other information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890), [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889). 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