BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Michel Parmigiani established his own Haute Horlogerie brand Parmigiani Fleurier in the year 1996. As the renowned watchmaker now turns 70, what better way to celebrate the occasion than by introducing a special timepiece. The new Parmigiani Toric Heritage is a limited-edition timepiece that features a beautiful blue guilloche dial and a stainless case.
The Toric name bears high significance in Michel Parmigiani’s career as it was the first watch that he designed, and the Toric Heritage can be considered as a modern avatar of that watch. Like its inspiration, the Toric Heritage is intriguing, elegant, and beautiful. Based on the Toric Chronometre that was refreshed in 2017, this watch features a curvaceous and polished round case which has been crafted from stainless steel, an uncommon sight in the Parmigiani catalog. While the shape of the case might look a bit conventional, the fluted stepped bezel does give it a ton of personality. The case measures 42.8mm in diameter, which is on the larger side for a dressy piece like this. However, the 10mm thickness means that it would have no issues sliding under those cuffs.
The true calling card of the Toric Heritage is its slate blue dial. Done entirely by hand, the distinctive guilloche work is visually striking. The intricate pattern is hard to describe in words but adds both depth and dimension to the dial. Placed on top of the dial are applied Arabic numerals that provide a nice contrast to the blue background. One peculiar detail is the large date window above the 6 o’clock position that displays 3 dates at the same instance, with the current date being indicated by the triangular marker below. Running on the outer periphery is a white minute track, and time can be read using the brand’s signature Javelin style hands that have been coated with luminous paint for low light visibility. Also displayed on the dial is the limited-edition number that sits above the date window.
Flipping the watch over reveals the in-house PF441 calibre. A COSC certified movement, the PF441 operates at 4 Hz and uses twin barrels to offer a power reserve of around 55 hours. The movement, as expected, showcases a high level of finishing that includes circular graining, hand beveling, and Geneva stripes. The movement is equipped with a stunning 22k rose gold rotor with a guilloche pattern similar to the one found on the dial.
The new Parmigiani Toric Heritage comes attached to a Hermes black genuine alligator strap and, as I said above, is limited to just 70 pieces. The watch retails for USD 17,700.
