In the Val-de-Travers district where Parmigiani Fleurier is based, there is virtually no light polluting the night sky, and nothing obstructing the millions of stars it contains. The brightest stars from this small Swiss town are now immortalized by the master dial-makers from the Manufacture. At their benches filled with “secret potions”, they are continuously experimenting, testing and inventing, ensuring that every dial that passes through their hands is a masterpiece of depth and intensity.
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métropolitaine Galaxy
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métropolitaine Collection presents a new stunning feminine timepiece with a spectacular aventurine dial. The golden fragments in this exclusive material shine like stars, which explains why it is called the “Galaxy” model. The Tonda Métropolitaine Galaxy is all poetic, majestic, and feminine.
In 18th-century Murano, a glass blower made a fortuitous discovery when he dropped a sliver of copper into melted glass. He christened this new material “aventurine” (per aventura meaning “by chance” in Italian). Small inclusions of metal give aventurine its characteristic textured appearance. Taking advantage of the natural composition of this material, the dial-makers who have conceived the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métropolitaine Galaxy has presented a midnight-blue aventurine dial whose surface has been mottled with fine golden fragments that looks astonishingly like stars sparkling in the night sky from any angle on the wrist.
Furthermore, the hands are skeletonised so as not to obscure the beauty of the dial and the appliques are made from white gold. The precious metal is a distinctive feature of the indices on aventurine dials. The steel bezel is set with 72 brilliant-cut diamonds, totalling ~0.51 carat, which adds to the brilliance of the aventurine all the way to the case. At 6 o’clock, the small seconds stands out on a midnight blue background, revealing the date on a matching date disc, which is half a shade darker.
The PF310: the movement in the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métropolitaine collection
In 2014, Parmigiani Fleurier launched the Métro collection and, in particular, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Métropolitaine’s PF310 movement. This new range of movements, entirely manufactured by the Parmigiani Fleurier Watchmaking Centre, represented an industrial feat for the manufacture, which developed optimised production processes specifically to create it.
Linear transfer machines, coupled with the use of die stamps, ensure uniformity of production — resulting in a calibre which is uncompromisingly reliable. The rationalised manufacturing processes are therefore repeatable in terms of quality and accuracy. Additionally, the manufacturers have created “one-piece” designs to enable multifunction components to be produced, where possible, thereby decreasing the adjustments required. Finally, all the Watchmaking Centre’s combined expertise has been focussed on perfecting the precision of the movement. This is the case, for example, for the variable-inertia balance, which now eliminates the need for the standard index-assembly. This innovation makes it possible to adjust the moment of inertia by rotating the inertia blocks rather than adjusting the active length of the balance-spring as required with a standard adjustment. It also functions stably over the long term, makes the watch shock-resistant and, as the counting-point is maintained, guarantees outstanding isochronism. This consistency is reinforced by the double barrel which enables a more stable, linear distribution of power than a single barrel in the calibre.
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 Galaxy
The master dial-makers have also worked their magic on the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 Galaxy, imbuing its dial with the same blue that seems to have been cut straight from the night sky. The sombre midnight shade is one of the most complicated to reproduce accurately, but it has been brought to life by the use of aventurine glass.
Crushed then recomposed, aventurine glass contains copper inclusions which give it an unmistakable sparkle, like infinite particles of gold. The gaze is drawn to this starlit sky, showcased by the diamond-set bezel, forming a halo of light around its periphery. On the crown, a milky white opal, like a precious miniature nebula stone, provides the finishing touch.
The case and the appliques are made from rose gold and in addition, this special edition of the Tonda 1950 is now available with a solid gold bracelet.
The Tonda 1950 Galaxy is driven by the PF702 proprietary movement, decorated with Côtes de Genève and bevelled bridges. This self-winding mechanical movement and its beautiful finishes can be admired through the watch’s sapphire case-back.
Technical Specifications
Tonda Métropolitaine Galaxy
Reference: PFC273-0060601
MOVEMENT
PF310
Winding: Self-winding
Power reserve: 50 hours
Frequency: 4 Hz – 28,800 Vib/h
Dimensions: 10 ½”’ – Ø 23.9 mm
Thickness: 3.9 mm
Components: 189
Jewels: 28
CASE
Shape: Round, in 3 sections
Dimensions: Ø 33.1 mm
Thickness: 8.65 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Number of diamonds: 72
Carats: 0.4965
Water resistance: 30 m
Case-back: Sapphire
Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire
DIAL
Material: Blue aventurine
Indices: 18 ct white gold appliques
Finish: Polished
Hands: Skeleton Delta-shaped
Recommended Retail Price: SGD 19,800
Tonda 1950 Galaxy
Reference: PFC288-1062500-B10002
MOVEMENT
PF702
Winding: Self-winding
Power reserve: 48 hours
Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 Vib/h
Dimensions: 13 ¼”’ – Ø 30.0 mm
Thickness: 2.6 mm
Components: 160
Jewels: 29
Barrel(s): 1
Decoration: “Côtes de Genève” decoration, bevelled bridges
CASE
Shape: Round, in 3 sections
Dimensions: Ø 39 mm
Thickness: 8.4 mm
Material: 18 ct rose gold
Diamonds: 84
Carats: 0.6460
Finish: Polished
Water resistance: 30 m
Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire
Crown: Ø 4.3 mm
Case-back: Sapphire
Engraving on case-back: Individual number and “EDITION SPECIALE”
DIAL
Colour: Blue aventurine
Indices: 18 ct rose gold appliques
Finish: Polished
Hands: Delta-shaped with luminescent coating
Recommended Retail Price: SGD 64,300
