parmigiani

Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Watch Hands-On

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

The pleasure I get from wearing a finely made, elegant dress watch is hard to describe. Probably because they are typically "not my kind of watches." I am a big sports watch guy. Not just that I am just really in to sport watches, but also because I like large size sport watches. So it may not be obvious why I would like a nicely made, understated formal watch that crouches low on my wrist. I think it has to do with elegance and graceful purpose. Dress watches are easy on the eye, have very delicate and attractive lines, are dead easy to read, and are other in precious metals with well-made movements.

Not that this Parmigiani Tonda 1950 watch is alone in what it is, but it is a fine example of the genre. I previously wrote about the Tonda 1950 here. At the time I appreciated the timepiece's good looking design, and loved the in-house made ultra-thin automatic movement with a micro-rotor. Now, as I wear the watch feeling its slim case wrap around my wrist, I smile and am happy to be wearing a suit. The 39mm 18k pink or gold watch begs to be dressed up. It is not a watch for casual wear - it just isn't. Wear it with jeans and the watch will frown at you. With a black tie Mr. Tonda wags an invisible tail.

Gallery: Parmigiani Tonda 1950 watches

Tags: parmigiani, timepiece, watch

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$44 Million Yacht Tops Robb Report's 'Ultimate Gifts'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Holiday Guides, Wealth

It seems that Robb Report, the glossy chronicle of the filthy rich, has come back down to Earth a bit after last year's offering of the world's most expensive Christmas present, a matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million. Each year the profligate publication features an Ultimate Gift Guide, a seasonal offering of over-the-top exclusives. This year's sybaritic selections top out at a measly $44 million, which gets the recipient Aquos Yachts' 164-ft. expedition superyacht Star Fish to be delivered in 2012 and a luxurious three-week, 10-person charter trip aboard her sister ship, the 148-ft. Big Fish, while you're waiting. Among the other big ticket items for the price-is-no-object set:

Tags: Bahamas, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron, diamonds, fighter jet, gifts, Holiday 2010, magazines, Parmigiani, private jet, Robb Report, safari, submersible, supercar, superyacht, theme park, wealth, yacht

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Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Hemispheres Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The new Tonda watch from Parmigiani is the Tonda Hemispheres - which provides two timezones that can be independently set to the minute. Many two time zone watches force you to change the time for the second time zone in one hour increments only. Because there are lot of time zones that differ by 30 minutes, rather than one hour. Plus, each time zone has a 24 hour indicator that is used as an AM/PM indicator. Nifty.

Inside the watch is a Parmigiani calibre PF337.01 automatic movement that features the two times and the date. The beautiful open dial is still legible, and nicely decorated. Case is 42mm wide and in steel with Parmigiani's standard, good looking lugs and high polish. Still, it has looks that you either love or hate. At least reading it and operating it are going to be easy enough. Parmigiani pairs the Tonda Hemisphere with an Hermes blue alligator strap. Look out for it soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: hemispheres, hermes, Parmigiani, time zone watch, Tonda, two time zone, watches

Parmigiani Pershing Astéria Watch Wins Public Prize Of Watch Of The Year 2009 In Switzerland

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I recently mentioned how the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 1921 won the jury prize in Swiss Montres Passion's 2009 Watch of the Year Award. Well this Parmigiani Pershing Asteria watch won the Prix du Public (publicly voted award) for 2009, in the same magazine. I find it so interesting that the editors at the magazine itself would choose such a quirky classic watch, while the public would vote for a thoroughly modern in appearance sport watch - a women's version at that. Of course the Parmigiani Pershing comes in male variants as well.

This is one serious sport women's watch. The 42mm wide case is in white gold with a mother-of-pearl dial - and has all the hallmark features of a diving watch. Inside is a Parmigiani manufacture made 002 Chronograph automatic movement. On the dial there are two charming little features that compliment the easy to read chronograph subdials. At the end of the chronograph seconds hand is (not able to be seen in this image) a small octopus as the counterweight, while the seconds hand/dial for the time itself is a stylized, spinning sea star (starfish).

The luxury watch is also available with various levels of precious jewel decoration. I believe it is a winning watch because the public appreciates its sporty exterior, charming design accents, manufacture made movement, luxurious construction, and modern looks. Quite a departure from what the editors of the Montres Passion magazine took into consideration when giving their award.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2009, asteria, award, montres passion, MontresPassion, parmigiani, pershing, watch

The Last of the Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370s

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Watch collectors know Parmigiani Fleurier as the purveyor of some of the most coveted and intricate timepieces in existence. Exotic automobile enthusiasts know it as the company deemed prestigious enough to craft a timepiece to accompany the legendary Bugatti Veyron.

Now that Bugatti is moving on from the Veyron and towards the new Galibier, Parmigiani has fine-crafted an intricate tourbillon timepiece to accompany the new super-saloon. But before Veyron production ends and along with it the production of the Type 370, Parmigiani Fleurier is paying tribute to the Alsatian automaker's centenary with a two unique examples of its sideways-mounted manual timepiece.

One made of 18-karat rose gold and another of platinum 950, the two final examples of the highly intricate Bugatti Type 370 wristwatch were crafted and handed over to master engraver Philippe Bodenmann, who put 300 manhours into each, hand etching complex designs into the watches' cases. They're fastened to the wrist by a calfskin strap provided by Hermes, and are sure to be as priceless as a Bugatti supercar.

Gallery: Parmigniani Fleurier Bugatti Type 370 Centenaire

Tags: bugatti, bugatti 370, bugatti Centenaire, Bugatti370, BugattiCentenaire, parmigiani, parmigiani fleurier, parmigiani fleurier type 370, ParmigianiFleurier, ParmigianiFleurierType370, Parmigniani Fleurier Bugatti Type 370 Centenaire, ParmignianiFleurierBugattiType370Centenaire

Parmigiani Bugatti Tourbillon Watch With Galibier Car

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Luxist recently covered the new Bugatti 16C Galibier ultra luxury sedan that the car world is so very excited about. An interesting element of the new auto was a partnership with luxury watch maker Parmigiani to include a watch with the car. I should say that Bugatti and Parmigiani have been working together since 2004, when Parmigiani released its Type 370 Bugatti watch that was avant garde to say the least.

Parmigiani has recently released real images of the Bugatti Tourbillon watch in action. The flex-use mechanical timepiece is made to: mount in Galibier's dashboard, attach to a wrist strap, function as a pocket watch, and also be docked in a desk clock unit. Little else is know about the timepiece, except that it is handsome to behold and just about simple enough to be a car clock. The watch has a tourbillon complication as well as a power reserve indicator. My understanding is that the idea is to include the Parmigiani Bugatti Tourbillon watch with the Galibier 16C car. For the over $1 million that the 16C is likely to go for, this included watch is no major practical surprise. When driving a car like this, you want to be sure that even the clock in your car is worth more than most other vehicles on the road around you.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Parmigiani Bugatti Tourbillon Watch With Galibier Car

Tags: 16c, bugatti, clock, galibier, parmigiani, tourbillon, watch

Parmigiani Kalpa XL and Grande Watches For The Montreaux Jazz Festival

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Each year there is a special music festival in Switzerland known as the Montreaux Jazz Festival. While the music is mostly jazz, it is brimming with contemporary artists in what is most always an impressive event - we just don't ever get to hear about it in the US. Watch company Parmigiani Fleurier is one of the sponsors and also creates limited edition timepieces for the festival - that this year took place in July. The festival has literally hundreds of artists that perform most of them being free to watch - while tickets are required for the bigger names. This year top performers where lucky to received one of these Parmigiani limited edition watches based on the Kalpa XL or Kalpa Grande watches. Notable recipients were such names as Alice Cooper, the Black Eyed Peas, Wyclef Jean, and B.B. King.

Two versions of the limited edition watch are available - for either men or women. The dial has been modeled after the event poster with the whimsical winding piano keys. In blue with a watching blue alligator strap is the men's model in the Kalpa XL, while a pink dialed model with a while python strap for the ladies comes in the Kalpa Grande watch case. Both versions come with a steel case and automatic Swiss movements. A nice collector's item for the musically inclined or jazz music enthusiast.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: festival, jazz, limited edition, LimitedEdition, montreaux, parmigiani, watch

Parmigiani Fleurier Kalparisma Watch Models For 2009

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Parmigiani Fleurier presents this new line of women's Kalparisma watches, including the Kalparisma Ouranos with the diamond constellation motif. The watches each share the same signature Parmigiani case which looks particularly flattering on one's wrist. The "Small Star" models use just that, a small spinning star as a subsidiary seconds display. Other models have a traditional second's hand, and each model has its only unique character. The watch line features a 37.5mm wide tonneau case in 18k gold (either rose or white) with a bracelet or well matched strap. Various levels of brilliant cut diamonds decorate the cases and dials, with handsome guilloche engraving on the watch faces themselves. Inside the watches are PF331.02 automatic mechanical movements.

I find the gold metal bracelets particularly fine looking, being technical and functional, but still attractive. The Kalparisma watch line has always been conservatively 'nice," but never wild looking. This helps maintain Parmigiani is a maker of consistently attractive, though sober looking luxury timepieces. Designs have been known to get more experimental for the men's pieces though, but predictability has been the mainstay for Parmigiani Fleurier. Expect the new Kalparisma line to be available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Parmigiani Fleurier Kalparisma watches

Tags: fleurier, kalaparisma, ouranos, parmigiani, timepiece, watch

Luxury Gifts For Non-Celebs

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

After seeing what celebrities receive in gift bags, I am liking this trend of seeing non-celebrities receiving extravagant gifts. A few days ago, Nicole brought you the story of a monk who received a luxury car. Now check out Dr. Ho Ching Lin and her new $50,000 watch. Although pretty enough to be an actress, the Singaporean doctor is a pediatrician and an eye surgeon who received the Women of Exception award from watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier for her work in the medical field.

Source

Tags: parmigiani, singapore, watch, wristwatch

Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire Squelette

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The latest version of the Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa XL line is an anniversary version, the Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire Squelette which comes in a limited edition of 30 pieces. The skeletonized watch is done in palladium with front and back sapphire crystals and a Hermes leather strap. The watch uses the Fleurier caliber 118 movement which has double barrels, hand-bevelled and engraved briges, and beats at 21,600 bph.

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Tags: parmigiani, timepiece, wristwatch

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