Parmigiani Fleurier is one of these rare hidden jewels of the watch industry. It’s probably a watch brand many reading this likely have never heard of before. And if you go to your local RedBar Group or other local watch meetup, you’d be hard press to see in person. However, as I have written before, I believe it is a sleeper brand with some incredible models for men and women, that you should explore if you are in the market for a certain type of watch.
Parmigiani Fleurier boutique at the Miami Design District
In this post I want to explore my favorite ladies watches from the Fleurier brand. During a couple of visits to Miami Beach, FL which coincided with ArtBasel and Watches & Wonders last year, I took my beautiful model friend Leila Depina, to see the watches. In the process we also captured some photographs of Leila wearing the watches. I also went back to the boutique to take close up pictures of the watches.
Tonda 1950 full pavée in full rosé gold
I will summarize four ladies models Leila modeled in two of Parmigiani’s five watch families (Tonda and Kalpa) as well as attempt to frame why you should consider this boutique brand if you are in the market for a special ladies watch. One that is impeccably finished, will not be seen in places you visit, and will give you a lifetime of enjoyment and glamour.
Tonda 1950
Perhaps my favorite model in the Parmigiani line is the Tonda 1950. Named after the year the founder of the brand, Michel Parmigiani, was born, this is elegance materialized. The Tonda is also Parmigiani’s most successful family of watches. While there exists many variations, the rose gold models with white opaline and mother of pearl dials are the most representative models.
Inside each of these classically shaped watches is an in house automatic movement PF702 automatic movement that includes an off centered micro rotor. Like all Parmigiani’s movements, this one is finished with intricate beveling and Geneva strips and ribbing. Offering 42 hours of power reserve it is still razor thin 2.6 mm high, it is a thing of beauty. And to think that Parmigiani offers this movement in all variations, including a recent stainless steel model, this is an engine worth having. Let’s explore the three models for ladies we got to see.
Ladies Mother of Pearl (CHF 24,600)
The first variation of the Tonda 1950 for ladies is the one with mother of pearl dial and diamond bezel. You can get both one with white or black Tahitian mother of pearl dial. The resulting watch is elegant and perfectly balanced with the patented lozenge-shaped hands. Like all Tonda models, the hands also include Super-Luminescent. And at 6 o’clock the running small seconds subdial help balance the overall slightly oval shaped watch..
At 39 mm wide and and 8.4 mm high, the ladies Tonda is the perfect dress watch. And with 84 diamonds for total of 0.646 carat on the bezel this is a dressy watch that is also perfect for day-to-day work as well as a night in the town. And with a variety of Hermès alligator straps in different colors, you can get the combination that will work perfectly for your personal style.
Ladies Full Pavée (CHF 51,000 and 74,000)
The most elegant Tonda, without being extravagant, is the full pavée model. With over 600 diamonds on the dial in a circular pattern for close to 2.5 carats, this is a watch clearly made for dressy occasions. You can get this model in either rose gold or white gold. The former includes an option for a full rosé gold bracelet, and in white gold a variety of colorful Hermès strap, like the red one shown here.
Ladies 1950 Lune (CHF 37,000)
The most poetic of the ladies Tonda 1950 is the one with the moon phase complication. With a mother of peal dial that includes asymmetric cut outs off centered subdials for moon phase and date, the resulting watch is well balanced without being too complicated. The PF708 movement also includes the off balanced platinum rotor which barely adds any more height to the basic movement. The dimensions remain the same as the basic non-complicated model but is now just one millimeter higher.
Ladies Kalpa KALPARISMA (CHF 24,900)
The second model for ladies is a smaller version of the Parmigiani Kalpa watch. With its unique tonneau shape case and unique lugs, this is a watch that stands apart from the too many common round dial watches. Parmigiani offers many variations with white dial, black dial, and one with a special dial (shown here). And like all Parmigiani watches, the Hermès strap options give you a way to customize the watch to your liking.
Included in the Kalpa Karisma ladies watch is the manufacture’s first mechanical movement, the calibre PF331, which includes the high hand-finishing you’d expect from the manufacture from Fleurier. The model here, the Galaxy, includes a unique adventuring glass dial that make it stand out from a crowded field of diamond encrusted bezel ladies watch. The result is a unique watch for those wanting something different, out of ordinary, and special.
Kalpa Kalparisma with adventurine dial and rosé gold case encrusted with diamonds
As mentioned before, I think brands like Parmigiani Fleurier are attractive to those wanting a special watch. A watch that is not seen at every event you will be going. For ladies, I think the glamor and incredible finishing from the Parmigiani watches should appeal for those wanting a rare timepieces that provides all the blings of jewelry brands but that comes with a history of watchmaking chops. Perhaps for the lady whose significant other is also into watch collecting, assuming that she is not herself.
No matter the situation, my plea to the reader is to visit your local Parmigiani boutique, like the one at the Miami Design District, or an authorized dealer, and get a tour of the models. You should be able to try on all models and see how well that Tonda 1950 fits and shimmers. My hope is that, like me, Parmigiani will become one of these uncommon watchmaking brands that you place in your list when the times come to get a glamorous and blingy watch. In doing so you will have elevated your taste beyond the crowd and you will be marching to your own sense of style and value. parmigiani.com
Editor’s note: thank you to my gorgeous friend Leila Depina for graciously modeling these watches. Follow Leila on Instagram @LeilaDepina.
For 2019, Audemars Piguet (AP), with the help of sound artist Jana Winderen, is turning to the oceans and specifically to the sound pollution that we are creating (knowingly or unknowingly) on the oceans and inflicting on its inhabitants. With an exhibition at the Rotunda in the heart of Miami Beach, AP showed us the results of this work and it’s nothing short of breathtaking, sad, while also joyful.