The Parmigiani Kalpa Chronor
Let’s start with the fact that this watch has been six years in the making. The Kalpa Chronograph features a brand new in-house self-winding chronograph movement made almost entirely of gold (which is no small undertaking for any watchmaker). In fact, there are several major companies that you’d think would have an in-house self-winding chronograph but don’t, not even in a more responsive metal. Gold, by nature, is incredibly malleable, so creating a movement from the material is an amazing feat on its own. The watch’s movement, the PF365, features a 65 hour power reserve, rose gold plates and bridges, 84 individually hand-finished internal angles all inside a 48mm x 40mm hand polished rose-gold case. Oh, and it’s also certified by COSC and water resistant for up to 30 meters…
So, why spend so much time on making the inside look so incredible? Because you can see it from the outside, through the tonneau-shaped sapphire window. The Kalpa Chronor features a black bipartitie dial, also made of gold, with an opaline center surrounded by a tachymeter scale and a hand-worked braid-effect guilloché motif. You’ll also notice subdials at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions with a snailed finish and gold coloring. The watch’s delta-shaped hands are luminous-coated and the rose-gold numbers are faceted. For one more final dramatic touch, the black alligator strap culminates in a rose-gold folding clasp that is made by Hermès.