There always has to be a date window.Īgain, we’re talking about a 40mm case here, so the dial isn’t that big, but it feels massive duo to the execution. Oh, except for the date aperture at 6 o’clock. Just Guilloché Grain d’orge as far as the eye can see. The pattern is tight, really pulling you in to discern its detail, while at the same time, it feels like it stretches on for miles thanks to the almost vestigial hour markers pushed to the very edge of the dial, the singular “PF” marking at 12 o’clock, and nothing else. The finishing is “Guilloché Grain d’orge” and it’s rendered in a warm grey, nearing toupe. Still, the dial is the clear focal point here, and for good reason. Details like the lug to case integration, coin edge bezel, and especially that dial, really call for a closer inspection and break the at-a-glance uniformity of the design. The case itself measures 40mm in diameter, and a mere 7.8mm in thickness, making for a rather compelling presence on the wrist. In use, this is a watch that starts to make a lot of sense. The bracelet is trim and comfortable, and the case is far smaller than the expansive dial would suggest. In hand, though, it doesn’t read that way. The resulting shape of the whole package is almost egg-like, or perhaps something that came from the Oakley sunglasses design team, and this effect is exaggerated in images. The Tonda PF features an integrated bracelet that flares at the lug to create a seamless curvature, broken only by the teardrop lug architecture that’s something of a hallmark for Parmigiani. Further, while it hits many of the same notes, no one will be mistaking this for a Royal Oak or Nautilus. It is not cheap, at $22,900, but it’s a watch that offers a clear contrast to the establishment selections in this genre. The Tonda PF Micro-Rotor is the entry point to the collection, offered in steel, with just time and date complications present. In hand and on wrist is a different matter, however. Sadly, these are qualities that don’t translate all that well in photography. Lines are smooth and unbroken, textures are tighter, and contrast is kept to a minimum. The PF watches are subtle and uniform in appearance, with a softness that begs a closer look. The Tonda PF collection is a curious one, taking the Tonda in a monotone direction compared to the GT collection that first broke ground in the “high end sport watch” genre for the brand. I’ve long championed Parmigiani, though admittedly, have never felt entirely in sync with their design language. And with demand surging for exactly this type of watch, buyers and enthusiasts are finally coming around to brands like Parmigiani Fleurier as, perhaps, the next big thing. The Tonda collection has existed for many years, but with the introduction of the Tonda PF collection last year, it got people talking. When they ventured into the steel sport watch space recently, they did so in their own way as well. The brand has remained in their own, rather conservative lane when it comes to styling, evolving slowly into new areas, and in their own way. Parmigiani Fleurier is a high end manufacture with pedigree that just hasn’t been able to crack into the mainstream zeitgeist of ‘hot watches’ over the years.
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