Toric Takes Centre Stage: Parmigiani Fleurier Redefines the Essence of Men's Dress Watches at W&W 2024
In 1996, Michel Parmigiani introduced the Toric, marking the inception of the Parmigiani Fleurier brand. It was his inaugural wristwatch, embodying meticulous craftsmanship and inspired by the golden ratio. Crafted with knurling and gadroons reminiscent of Greek columns, its round case exudes timeless elegance. At this year’s Watches and Wonders, Parmigiani Fleurier has unveiled the latest iterations of the Toric: the Toric Petite Seconde (two variants) and the Toric Chronograph Rattrapante.
Revamped Cases
The new collection's cases, topped with its signature, have been radically modernised. They signal a departure from the founding generation, opening a new chapter in Toric's history. With sleek, minimalist lines, they blend seamlessly into a fluid whole from any perspective, devoid of protrusions or aggressive angles.
Exquisite Dials
The Toric's "chevé" dials have a unique mattified texture, reminiscent of vintage aesthetics. Inspired by ancient techniques, these dials gently drop to rest against the case, creating a subtle difference in levels. This technique, coupled with bevelled glasses, highlights Parmigiani Fleurier's dedication to innovation and heritage.
The Toric Petite Seconde
The Toric Petite Seconde introduces a fresh take on the classic dress watch, featuring Grey Celadon and Sand Gold dial variants housed in platinum and rose gold cases respectively. With a diameter of 40.6 mm, these watches boast water resistance of up to 30 metres.
Crafted in rose gold, the Toric Petite Seconde is run by the discreetly designed PF780 movement. This manual-winding caliber combines traditional watchmaking with minimalist contemporary aesthetics. Its architecture showcases three large surfaces as bridges, highlighting the brand's movement decoration prowess. It also includes a small seconds function and offers a 60-hour power reserve.
The Toric Chronographe Rattrapante
The Toric Chronograph Rattrapante reconciles movement complexity with case finesse in a limited edition of 30 watches. The 18 ct rose gold case, measuring 42.5 mm in diameter, exudes a remarkable elegance. Its hand-grained dial features natural umber colouring and 18 ct rose gold appliques for indices. The integrated movement, more complex than a tourbillon, maintains its finesse while addressing complications. With discreet pushers flush with the caseband, the design looks graceful from any viewing angle.
The Toric Chronograph Rattrapante boasts the PF361 movement, a rare manual winding manufacture movement in 18 ct rose gold with an integrated split-seconds chronograph, showcasing exclusivity in high-end watchmaking. This high-frequency (5Hz) movement incorporates a double column wheel and skeletonised structural elements for visual appreciation of its components. With 285 components, 35 jewels, and a 65-hour power reserve, the movement offers tenth-of-a-second precision, highlighting the challenge of shaping gold.
An alligator strap, finished in Nubuck and adorned with the sartorial stitch known as "punto a mano", a signature design element of the finest Neapolitan tailors, complements the luxurious appeal of the Toric watches.
In addition to the Toric, Parmigiani Fleurier has also introduced notable additions to the Tonda PF Collection. The Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date in 40 mm with a Golden Siena dial is the first among them. It upholds the tradition of displaying hours and minutes while opting out of the date feature for a cleaner appearance, reflecting the brand's commitment to simplicity and sophistication.
Another remarkable addition is the Tonda PF Skeleton Platinum, which showcases the mesmerising intricacy of its skeletonised movement against a Milano Blue dial. The platinum hue spells elegance, complemented by satin-finished open bridges. Noteworthy is the platinum oscillating weight, featuring the brand's emblem set within sapphire crystal, combining performance with elegance. With 187 distinct components, the watch's intricate workings are revealed through a clear sapphire crystal caseback, seamlessly integrated into its design.
Image Credits: Parmigiani Fleurier