The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda chronograph is the essence of sporty luxury
Borna BošnjakParmigiani Fleurier’s approach to design has taken a minimalist turn of late, most notably with the Tonda PF collection. Nevertheless, as a maker of luxury sports watches, they’re still striving to find ways to implement that athletic aesthetic into their pieces, and the ones we had the pleasure of looking at here give a great insight into their design strategy. A three-register chronograph is the quintessential sports watch, seen here in both Tonda PF and Tonda GT iterations. They seem the logical next step for the now discontinued Tondagraph line, which incorporated design elements found in both the PF and GT. For a video overview of the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda chronograph collection, check out the link below.
Legible luxury
The Tonda GT, being the sportier of the two, offers panda configurations that bring a legible side to an intricate dial. A grande date display nestles above the Parmigiani Fleurier script for added functionality and daily wearability. In true Parmigiani fashion, there is intricate guilloché on the dial, this time in the clou triangulaire pattern.
Contrary to the GT, the Tonda PF takes a pared-back approach to a chronograph. With the sub-dial chapter rings sunken into the grain d’orge guilloché dial, the backdrop to the skeletonised delta hands is given additional depth. In line with the rest of the Tonda PF collection, the logo at 12 o’clock takes on an intensely minimal form.
Opulent wrist presence
These chronographs, regardless of GT or PF flavour, are the true definition of luxurious. Large cases hewn of noble metals, complete with a chronograph feature that is likely to remain unused even by the sportiest of wearers. With a diameter of 41.8mm, lug-to-lug of 48mm, and a thickness of 12.6mm, the case of the Tonda PF brings a well-proportioned proposition to the table.
Should you wish for a decidedly sportier feel, the Tonda GT ups the size to 41.9mm in diameter, 48.4mm lug-to-lug and a notable 14mm in height. The hefty proportions are especially exacerbated in the rose-gold variant, weighing in at 152 grams on the rubber strap. Regardless of dimensions, the curvaceous lugs and compact lug-to-lug dimensions make them suitable for a variety of wrist sizes.
Highly decorated calibres
The movement powering the Tonda GT Chronograph is Parmigiani’s PF071 automatic chronograph movement. Apart from the lovely anglage and 22ct gold rotor, it ticks at 5Hz, ensuring a pleasantly smooth sweep of the chronograph seconds hand. There’s sportiness in mind when it comes to its architecture as well, as the vertical clutch and column wheel calibre uses a full balance bridge. At 8mm in height and with 65 hours of power reserve, it’s an impressively specced movement.
Not to be outdone by the Tonda GT, the Tonda PF Chronograph features the same movement, minus the grande date display. The fully integrated calibre is named the PF070-COSC, and carries the same specifications and similar decoration, with a slight deviation in rotor design. Owing to its different date position, Parmigiani Fleurier were able to slim it down to 6.95mm in height.
The verdict
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Chronograph offers excellent propositions in the highly competitive luxury chrono space. While all of these models are larger and less inconspicuous than their time-only brethren, they perfectly encompass the specifications a buyer in this category would look for.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda GT Chronograph and Tonda PF Chronograph pricing and availability:
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda GT Chronograph is available now. Price: CHF 28,000 (steel/platinum), CHF 63,000 (rose gold)
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronograph Rose Gold is available now. Price: CHF 43,100
| Brand | Parmigiani Fleurier |
| Model | Tonda PF Chronograph Tonda GT Chronograph |
| Case Dimensions | 41.8mm x 48mm x 12.6mm (Tonda PF Chronograph) 41.9mm x 48.4mm x 14mm (Tonda GT Chronograph) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel and platinum 18ct rose gold |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | Grain d’orge guilloché (Tonda PF Chronograph) Clou triangulaire (Tonda GT Chronograph) |
| Strap | Integrated bracelet in stainless steel or 18ct rose gold, or integrated rubber strap |
| Movement | Parmigiani Fleurier PF070-COSC (Tonda PF Chronograph) Parmigiani Fleurier PF071 (Tonda GT Chronograph) |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | Starting from CHF43,100 (Tonda PF Chronograph) Starting from CHF 28,000 (Tonda GT Chronograph) |