Subtle elegance is the overarching theme of Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda 1950 Diamond-Set Mother of Pearl design. The latest extra-flat stone-set model from the contemporary Swiss watchmaker finds a new dimension of horlogerie refinement. The rose or white gold 39-millimeter case falls nowhere short of grandeur in its bezel’s 84 brilliant cut diamonds and sleek feminine profile. The dial is an even more stunning display. Two optional shades of mother pearl provide a rare and sophisticated backdrop to the watch’s restrained delta hands and appliqué indexes. Whether it is the Tahitian grey or the white mother of pearl, the dial’s iridescent sheen breathes vitality into the whole timepiece. All the watch’s 145 components, including the PF 7 automatic movement driven by a micro-oscillating weight in intricately decorated platinum, are masterfully crafted and pieced together in Parmigiani Fleurier’s independent, verticalized watchmaking center. Check out this deliberately scaled-down and highly functional timepiece from the maker of elegance itself.

 

Visit Shreve & Co. In Portland, Oregon – authorized dealer for Parmigiani Fleurier luxury watches.

 

 

Reference: http://blog.parmigiani.ch/content/tonda-1950-diamond-set-mother-pearl

The quaint, Swiss town of Fleurier, which is now a part of the new Val-de-Travers region, is the cradle of Nobel laureates Charles Edouard Guillaume and Daniel Bovet, and the seat of the high-end watch designer and manufactory Parmigiani Fleurier. Inspired by the rich history of this small town, watchmaker Michel Parmigiani and the Sandoz Family Foundation built the brand with passion to restore the Swiss heritage of fine watch making. Undeterred by the challenges of the quartz movement, the determined heads and hands behind the now world-famous brand produced original in-house calibers with outstanding mechanisms that honor the traditions of good old Swiss watchmaking. The grand complications and the persistent success of the Toric watches, the Tonda, Kalpa and Bugatti watch models are tangible evidences of Switzerland’s unsurpassed heritage of haute horlogerie that remains vibrant under the name of Parmigiani Fleurier.

 

Find these valuable collections in selected authorized dealers such as Shreve & Co., with store location in Palo Alto.

 

 

Reference: http://www.parmigiani.ch/brand/history

Parmigiani Fleurier is dedicated to uphold the traditional arts and crafts of Swiss watch making. However, its adherence to the ancient and celebrated Swiss heritage of excellence and precision is the only thing conventional about the brand. Everything else about Parmigiani Fleurier is revolutionary. The latest addition to its creative feats is a collection of musical pieces in wood and marquetry. The artful wooden dial of the iconic Tonda Tourbillion model comprises more than fifty pieces of dyed wood. Ingenious Parmigiani Fleurier turned the turbillion into a guitar sound box backdropped by the famous Union Jack and Stars and Stripes. The choice of design is a tribute to the two most influential countries in rock and roll history. Parmigiani's Tonda Woodrock (with the British Union Jack) and Tonda Woodstock (with the U.S. banner) display the Swiss watch maker's acumen in horlogerie design and calibre. Check out these fresh designs that celebrate music, arts and Swiss watches at Shreve & Co. in Portland Oregon  - authorized dealer of Parmigiani Fleurier.

 

 

Reference: http://blog.parmigiani.ch/content/tonda-woodrock-and-tonda-woodstock

Michel Parmigiani is an extraordinarily talented and headstrong man. He was just about to start his career in horonology in the 1970’s at Couvet, Switzerland when the wave of quarts movement in Japan cruelly crippled the trade of Swiss traditional watchmaking. Despite gloomy prospects and a flood of advices from well-meaning friends, Michel opened his own workshop and dedicated himself to restoring valuable timepieces and assembling unique ones for collectors the way Swiss watchmakers of old always have, and built a reputation for himself. His obstinate persistence to hold on to the trade of his passion  flourished over time and gave birth to Parmigiani Fleurier – the premier Swiss watch brand that holds on to the values of restoring old masterpieces and creating new ones. Each piece lovingly put together by Parmigiani Fleurer is a tangible reminder that adversity cannot win over passion and excellence. For more of Parmigiani’s timepieces, visit Shreve & Co. at Post Street. San Francisco. 

 

 

Reference: http://blog.parmigiani.ch/content/workshop-brand-%E2%80%93-story-encounter

All the best stories started out with a crisis. Parmigiani Fleurier’s isn’t any different. In 1974, Michel Parmigiani had just graduated college to face an unprecedented fall of the Swiss watch industry. Thanks to the influx of quartz movements coming in from Japan. Swiss watchmakers were oblivious and didn’t see it coming. The quartz crisis came to full effect and wiped out 90,000 jobs. But despite of the situation and the seemingly impendent doom, Michel Parmigiani moved forward with his plans against the views of many; against the odds. With a passion for restoration, he started a company to do such that. It was called the Mesure et Art du Temps. On the side, in his small workshop, he manufactures unique pieces for collectors. He was playful with his mastery of mechanical complications. It took people, important people, to notice his brilliance and skill. It was then that he was pushed to create his own brand and make his vision a reality. From then on, Michel Parmigiani and the Parmigiani Fleurier brand took form and began putting wings into their dreams of creating mechanical feats of beauty and art. Just after a few years, Parmigiani Fleurier has created seventeen calibers in-house, produced six collections, and four world-firsts. And staying true to its restoration passion, Parmigiani Fleurier helped brought back the love for traditionally Swiss-made mechanical watches. For your Parmigiani Fleurier timepiece, visit Shreve & Co. – authorized dealer for Parmigiani Fleurier. 

 

 

Reference: http://blog.parmigiani.ch/content/workshop-brand-%E2%80%93-story-encounter

Parmigiani Fleurier is synonymous to state-of-the-art technology wrapped in beauty. And everything that come out of from Parmigiani Fleurier is handcrafted by expert artisans in Switzerland. To equal the talent of the craftsmen, Parmigiani Fleurier only uses the best materials for their creations. Each watch reportedly takes 400 hours to complete. This creates exclusivity resulting in the production of only a few thousand pieces each year. In 2006, Parmigiani Fleurier watch Bugatti 370 garnered the praise of the Japanese Press by winning the “Watch of the Year” title. The watch was made to be a driving watch based on the supercar made by Bugatti, the Veyron. Since its founding in 1996, Parmigiani Fleurier rose to be a high-end watch manufacturer known for their iconic modern Kalpa, Tonda, the grand complications of Toric models and the Watch of the Year winner: Bugatti 370. This success is strongly attributed to the independence of Parmigiani Fleurier; the freedom of the creation that’s breathing life into concepts of mixing the gems of the past with the dreams of the future. A brand that’s truly a class in itself. To be one of the privileged few, visit Shreve & Co. – authorized dealer for Parmigiani Fleurier.

 

 

References: http://www.parmigiani.ch/brand/history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmigiani_Fleurier

http://www.luxurybazaar.com/categories/catid_21_Parmigiani_Fleurier.html

Amidst the crowd of age-old signature timepieces, a young upstart stands out, confident in its elegance and workmanship.  Parmigiani Fleurier, inspired by its “ancestors” and driven by its youthful passion started when a young Swiss watchmaker opened a shop in the mid-seventies to restore luxurious watches. Founder Michel Parmigiani grew up in a remote town in Switzerland, where he was introduced to the traditional Swiss watch craftsmanship and creativity. He got hooked in the mastery of the watchmaking, and soon, would find himself restoring world-renowned watch brands. Aware of the exceptional quality in these watches honed by traditional craftsmanship throughout the ages in his home country, Michel was inspired to develop the Parmigiani Fleurier line in the mid-nineties as a trademark for high-quality but contemporary timepieces. Combining the expertise of craftsmen and industrial ingenuity, he created a perfect balance of beauty and function in every Parmigiani Fleurier watch. From the balance spring, to the dial, casing to the complications, Parmigiani Fleurier’s manufacture follows a precisely engineered link that makes each watch function seamlessly. Today, Parmigiani Fleurier is a masterpiece inspired by traditional elegance, yet it exudes a modern aura that reflects a classy urban lifestyle

 

Shreve is an authorized dealer for Parmigiani Fleurier.

 

 

Image: Parmigiani Bugatti Faubourg watch

References: http://www.parmigiani.ch/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmigiani_Fleurier