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The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is clean, serene and wears like a dream The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is clean, serene and wears like a dream

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is clean, serene and wears like a dream

Borna Bošnjak

A luxury, integrated-bracelet sports watch is nothing new. The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor – a luxury, integrated-bracelet sports watch that’s executed oh-so well, however, is damn near unique. Zach already waxed lyrical about the charms of the Parmigiani in his tour of NYC while sporting the rose-gold variant, but we couldn’t quite get enough. Watch Andrew’s take on this truly special watch below, or read on for an in-depth review.

Just the right amount of everything

Zooming right in onto the dial, we’re presented by all the tiny details that you may miss at first glance. Note the grain d’orge rose engine-engraved guilloché dial, and the small, polished indices that intersect it at its outmost edges. Their highly polished and faceted nature offers excellent contrast despite the tonal similarity of the dial elements, matched by the newly revamped Parmigiani Fleurier logo above the pinion. Keeping things balanced, the chamfered date window at 6 o’clock is colour-matched, blending in with the rest of the dial neatly.

parmigiani fleurier tonda pf

Zooming back out, the intricate pattern of the dial is still visible, but by no means overbearing. With the rose-gold model in particular, the interplay of cool grey and warm gold tones works surprisingly well. This also gives us a look at the minimal chapter ring that serves as an edge to the grain d’orge backdrop, helping the large, uninterrupted dial portion appear less plain.

Fantabulous case

parmigiani fleurier tonda pf

On-wrist, however, the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is in a world of its own. This won’t be the first nor last time I repeat that it is one of the best-wearing watches I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Everything from the way the lugs melt into the sides of the case to the wonderful articulation of the bracelet is manufactured with the utmost precision, admittedly, as one would expect from a watch at this price. The Tonda PF Micro-Rotor measures in at 40mm in diameter and 45.6mm lug-to-lug, with a thickness of 7.8mm, though any mention of dimensions seems somewhat irrelevant, as it perfectly suits a wide variety of wrists.

parmigiani fleurier tonda pf

A detail that is certainly worthy of note, however, is the finely knurled bezel which is crafted either from platinum for the steel model, or alternatively matched to Micro-Rotor’s 18ct rose gold case. The excellent finishing can also be seen in the lugs and bracelet. To continue the combination of highly polished and softly brushed, the first couple of outer bracelet links combine the two finishes on a single link, something I’ve never seen before. The edge between the two surfaces is perfect, by the way, because of course it is. Finally, a screw-down crown offers the wearer 100 metres of water resistance, should you be mad enough to take this one swimming.

Micro-rotor movement

parmigiani fleurier tonda pf

I will always profess my eternal love for micro-rotor movements, as they combine the slimness of manually-wound movements and do not obscure lovely finishing with large rotors, while offering the practicality of automatic winding. The PF703 movement found in the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is 3.07mm in height, with a platinum micro-rotor, razor-sharp chamfering and striping, providing a somewhat pedestrian 48-hour power reserve.

The verdict

parmigiani fleurier tonda pf

The Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is, without a doubt, an incredible watch. The low-key nature of the brand combined with the supreme finishing is gunning for the hardcore, cashed-up enthusiast who’s sick and tired of the hype associated with certain other watches in this category, while suffering no compromises whatsoever.

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor pricing and availability:

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is available now in steel and platinum or 18ct rose gold. Price: CHF 21,000 and CHF 49,000, respectively.

Brand Parmigiani Fleurier
Model Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Steel Platinum (PFC914-1020001-100182)
Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Rose Gold (PFC914-2020001-200182)
Reference Number PFC914-1020001-100182
PFC914-2020001-200182
Case Dimensions 40mm x 45.6mm x 7.8mm
Case Material Stainless steel with platinum bezel (PFC914-1020001-100182)
18ct rose gold (PFC914-2020001-200182)
Water Resistance 100 metres
Crystal(s) Sapphire crystal, front and back
Dial Grain d’orge guilloché pattern
Strap Integrated stainless steel or 18ct rose gold bracelet
Movement PF703, micro-rotor, 3.07mm thickness, 48-hour power reserve
Availability Available now
Price CHF 21,000 (PFC914-1020001-100182)
CHF 49,000 (PFC914-2020001-200182)