A New Trilogy of Precious Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Automatic 36mm

Parmigiani Fleurier, the upscale watch brand founded by master restorer and watchmaker Michel Parmigiani in 1996, changed management in 2021 with the appointment of Guido Terreni. Since Terreni’s arrival, the collections have been streamlined, and all efforts have been focused on developing the Tonda PF Collection (and the Toric recently). This collection, derived from Michel Parmigiani’s Tonda watch, is a reinterpretation of the watch’s essential traits, resulting in a collection of elegant, highly refined luxury sports watches. Available in three different case diameters, the sweet spot 36mm unisex model materialised in 2022. The three new 36mm references, two in rose gold and a two-tone rose gold and steel model, enhance the collection with their subtle mix of sophistication and minimalism.

The Tonda 36mm features characteristic Tonda PF family traits like the teardrop-shaped lugs, the knurled bezels and integrated bracelets. Other common denominators of the Tonda PF are the hand-guilloché barleycorn pattern on the dial, the delta-shaped openworked hands, the gold oval PF cartouche at noon and the short, applied indices.

The Tonda PF Automatic 36mm is the most straightforward model in the lineup, not to be confused with the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor, which has a 40mm case, a lean 7.8mm profile and a date window. With a thickness of just 8.6mm and beautiful finishings, the case’s 100m water-resistance lives up to its luxury sports watch classification. All three models are powered by the in-house automatic calibre PF770, specifically tailored to fit inside the case. Fitted with a 22k gold skeletonised rotor, the slim 3.9mm movement delivers a power reserve of 60 hours.

The most feminine of the three is this 18k rose gold model with an integrated gold bracelet. While there are several gold models in the collection, this is the first Tonda PF 36mm with 232 diamonds set in the bezel and on the outermost links of the bracelet. Uniform in size, the brilliant-cut diamonds in the bezel are set between the knurled area of the bezel and the brightly polished ring framing the dial. Highlighting the fluid and tapering lines of the bracelet, the diamonds are set on the edge of the outermost polished link. To adapt to the contours of the teardrop lugs, different size diamonds have been used. The oval cartouche hiding the clasp is also set with diamonds and the letters PF are in relief and polished. The sand gold barleycorn hand-guilloché dial also features 12 baguette-cut diamonds as indices.

Next up is the Tonda PF Automatic, which has a rose gold case combined with a warm grey dial. Enhanced with 84 brilliant-cut diamonds in the bezel and baguette-cut diamond indices, the integrated rose gold bracelet is not set, revealing its elaborately constructed and articulated links.

The third model swings it both ways and has a more contemporary two-tone suit. Combining a stainless steel case and bracelet with rose gold accents, the rose gold highlights signature features like the knurled bezel, the striated crown and is incorporated on the second link of the 5-link bracelet. Flanked by the bracelet’s outermost polished link and the wider brushed central link, the vertically brushed gold link tapers in size as it reaches the clasp. The subtle white citrine hand-guilloché dial works well in this context and features diamond hour indices, the gold PF cartouche at noon and delta-shaped hands.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda in rose gold with 242 diamonds retails for EUR 88,600; the rose gold model with a warm grey dial for EUR 71,800; and the two-tone steel and gold for EUR 35,900. For more information, please consult parmigiani.com.