Parmigiani Fleurier releases a new platinum Tonda PF Micro-Rotor with a stunning Stone Blue dial
Nina Scally- Parmigiani has released a new Stone Blue dial colour for its Tonda PF Micro-Rotor.
- The release marks the brand’s first use of platinum for a no-date Tonda PF model.
- Just 25 pieces of this limited edition are available.
Some would argue that Parmigiani Fleurier watches have been a little samey over recent years. To switch things up a bit, the Swiss brand revised the Toric last year, helping to break up an otherwise steady flow of Tonda PF releases. The revival, the Toric Chronographe Rattrapante, upheld the same minimalism permeating the current collections with its matte dial, new alpha hands, and attractive full-gold case. Although the Toric tastefully preserves the brand’s identity – to restore and protect high horology – the Tonda PF is arguably the brand’s most important design.
It’s true that the brand went through somewhat of an identity crisis some years ago. Seeing heavily discounted Parmigiani Fleuriers on the grey market was no rare occurrence – a common side-effect of a brand that produces too many designs and cannot find its core consumer. However, the welcoming of CEO Guido Terreni in 2021 brought about the need for change, accelerated by the post-pandemic climate and a calling for anti-mainstream designs. The Tonda PF was the saving grace the brand needed at the time, communicating refined, understated luxury and attracting a clientele different from the first-time buyer.
Indeed, Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF wearers are not the one-watch-and-done type. They are the kind who seek discreteness and something pure in aesthetics. Despite their unassuming simplicity, the craft behind these models, including the Minute Rattrapante and Flying Tourbillon versions, is far from simple. The same goes for the no-date iteration – a deliberate and organised minimalism that appeals to purists and fans of stealth wealth designs.
The decision to strip away the date function of the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor last year and adorn the dial with Golden Siena tones sent the Tonda PF into dress watch territory. These simple, no-fuss sensibilities worked to prompt the wearer to look beyond the functional layers of the dial and focus on the wealth of detail found in features like the brand’s barleycorn dial and the neat arrangement of the ultra-thin Calibre PF703 behind a sapphire caseback. That same simplicity has been applied to the new Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Platinum Stone Blue.
One of Parmigiani Fleurier’s biggest gambits was venturing into the integrated bracelet sports watch sector whilst retaining a dressy style by experimenting with luxurious materials. There’s no question that crafting a watch case from platinum requires a lengthier production process than other materials like stainless steel. The 40mm Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Platinum Stone Blue case marks the first time the brand has used the material in such a straightforward execution – though platinum has been previously used in skeleton and tourbillon versions of the Tonda PF). Its case boasts juxtaposed satin surfaces and polished elements, while the semi-knurled, almost coin-edge bezel remains one of the most recognisable features of this line.
As this is a limited edition of just 25 pieces, a special reference to the limited edition number features on the back, alongside a sapphire crystal exhibition window to watch the movement at work. The gently tapering lugs meld into an integrated bracelet made from matching platinum, complete with a signed folding clasp.
Of course, the date function on a dial brings no chronometric benefit, but some enthusiasts argue that the absence of one can leave a watch with a stale and empty feeling. That said, there are just as many, if not more, collectors who despise date windows and believe they ruin the purity of a watch’s dial. The Tonda PF is perhaps one of the few watches that doesn’t give me that feeling. The watches from this collection are all about the clever use of negative space on the dial – a surface free from extraneous features and one that breaks convention with a sumptuous 950 platinum case.
The craftspeople at Parmigiani Fleurier have chosen to use the collection’s openworked delta-shaped hands, which reach out to kiss a set of shortened faceted indexes, treated with a touch of Super-LumiNova. These features are all rhodium-plated and affixed to the sandblasted dial in an attractive hue that the Val de Travers company calls “Stone Blue”. There’s something a little bit Tiffany blue about this hue – although the sandblasted texture helps it subtly stand out.
Without undue fuss, a discreet minute track borders the dial, surrounding the Parmigiani Fleurier logo nestled underneath the 12 o’clock location and abbreviated to the brand’s initials inside an oval-shaped frame. The dial tastefully sidesteps any unnecessary clutter and instead imparts a clarity and pureness that many collectors will happily welcome in a dress watch.
I can only imagine that the emphasis on the finissage in any Parmigiani Fleurier attests to the company’s history and the background of company founder Michel Parmigiani in restoring clocks and watches. The attention to detail in the finishes across the case removes any signs of machining, simultaneously enhancing the appearance and finesse of the movement. Its Calibre PF703 is a remarkably thin movement that allows for an equally impressive case slimness of 7.8mm, has been finished with côtes de Genève and perlage, and has a 48-hour power reserve. The grain d’orge guilloché micro-rotor, crafted from 950 platinum – a highlight of the movement – can also be admired through the caseback.
The concept of the modern-day Tonda is all about repurposing and repeating what worked 25 years ago. Today, it is an informal but impeccable stealth wealth watch with a quiet confidence and noble dial material that continues to resonate with collectors who want to enjoy what the brand refers to as a sense of private luxury.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Platinum Stone Blue pricing and availability
As mentioned above, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Platinum Stone Blue is a limited edition of 25 pieces. Price: US$91,400, CHF 85,000
| Brand | Parmigiani Fleurier |
| Model | Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Platinum Stone Blue |
| Reference Number | PFC914-2020022-200182 |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 7.8mm (T) x 45.6mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | 950 platinum |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Stone blue |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Strap | 950 platinum bracelet, 18ct white gold folding clasp |
| Movement | PF703, in-house, micro-rotor automatic, Qualité Fleurier |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours and minutes |
| Availability | Limited edition of 25 pieces |
| Price | US$91,400 CHF 85,000 |