The Toric was the very first wristwatch designed by Michel Parmigiani. Launched in 1996, it was also the first timepiece of the Parmigiani Fleurier brand that the master watchmaker and expert restorer. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and the aesthetic of the golden ratio in mind, its round case is characterized by knurling and gadroons inspired by Greek columns. The collection spans some of the most sought-after complications, such as a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar and the stunning Toric Hemspheres Retrograde, which won the “Travel Time Watch Prize” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2017.
At this year’s Watches and Wonders, the Swiss luxury brand is presenting a new generation of the Toric with two new models on display: The Toric Petite Seconde, available in two versions, and the Toric Chronograph Rattrapante. The latter is limited to 30 pieces. According to Guido Terreni, Parmigiani Fleurier’s CEO, the new generation of the Toric”…redefines the essence of the men’s dress watch.” As such, it is presented in slim platinum 950 and pink gold cases, and, this is quite stunning, with 18-carat gold movements. As befits the dress watch, the calibers are manually wound and a sight to behold thanks to their top-notch finishing quality and intricate details. The icing on the cake are the hand-stitched alligator leather straps with a nubuck finish and a traditional “punto a mano” stitch, a specialty of Neapolitan tailors.
The Toric Petite Seconde has a diameter of 40.6mm and a slender height of 8.8mm. Water-resistant to 50 meters, the polished case features a knurled bezel that it shares with Parmigiani’s Tonda PF collection. Two versions are on display in Geneva: the platinum variant with an almond-green dial and the pink-gold version with a sandy-gold dial. Both are adorned with a stunning graining technique, which involves the application of a special mixture composed of cream of tartar, crushed sea salt, and silver, which is applied onto the base dials made from gold. The paste is then polished off with special brushes, creating an exceptionally regular and soft surface and characterized by a dispersion of light that visually softens the dial. It makes for a magnificent backdrop for the short hour markers and the hands that match the case material.
Inspired by the “vintage” aesthetics of the 1960s, the Toric dials are not uniformly flat, but beveled. Their edges slope slightly to rest against the inner face of the case, creating a difference in height. This “beveled” technique is inspired by the manufacture of watch crystals, another ancient and traditional technique. The crystal is shaped in a specific way so that it can adapt to the particular shape of the watch case. Unlike flat or slightly domed crystals, beveled crystals are curved or rounded to perfectly match the contour of the watch case.
The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Petite Seconde is powered by a newly developed movement, with 60 hours of power reserve and an operating frequency of 4Hz. Three large surfaces in 18-carat rose gold, decorated with Côtes de Fleurier, serve as bridges. Only the two barrels and the regulating organ are visible within this beautiful mechanical “landscape.”
The Toric Petite Seconde in pink gold retails for CHF 49,500, the platinum execution has a sticker price of CHF 56,500.
To learn more, visit Parmigiani Fleurier, here.
