Up Close with the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda GT Chronograph Granata

Coco Chanel once said, “Elegance is refusal.”
 

But contrary to what many believe, this doesn’t mean rejecting new ideas like Grampa Simpson shaking his fist at a cloud.
 

Rather, Coco means it’s better to tone down the flash in favor of simple styles made from the most luxurious materials. You know, things that will last forever.

Case in point: the Tonda GT Chronograph from Parmigiani Fleurier. We first saw this timepiece at Watches & Wonders 2022 in March, and many months later, we are still impressed.

Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda collection has undergone an amazing evolution since CEO Guido Terreni took over the reins in 2021. And while beautiful from the beginning, almost every detail on the Tonda timepieces has become more refined as the collection has developed; at the same time, Tonda models have become more modern in their expression.

And in our minds, there is no better example of this than one of the brand’s new GT Chronographs: the stainless steel Granata.

In short, we’re enamored with the stainless steel Granata, so we are going to tell you why it might just be the most elegant take on the panda dial in a while.

Parmigiani fans value the good things in life: A good cigar, a comfortable and well-tailored linen shirt, and understated accessories. Things that seem simple from afar but up close bring a sense of luxury. And as Terreni writes on the company’s website, customers “appreciate sartorial craft on their timepieces, and have a strong sense of style and refinement.”

Of course, as many of you know, Founder Michel Parmigiani got his start restoring historically important clockworks, so enthusiasts are aware of the maison’s mechanical expertise. But Terreni is also a believer in the golden ratio, a design philosophy built on systems of harmony and proportion that date back to ancient Greece.
 

The love language of the Tonda GT marries many elements of Parmigiani’s past. For example, teardrop-shaped pushers and fluid lugs reference the 2016 Tonda Chronor, the brand’s first integrated chronograph movement that also won the 2017 GPHG prize for Best Chronograph. Plus, the knurled bezel is a signature feature of 1996’s Toric. And the openworked, delta-shaped hand and big date window are all beloved hallmarks of the Tonda GT family.

While the Tonda GT Chronograph Granata stands on the shoulders of the Tondas that preceded it, it does not feel like an archival piece. Sportier than its predecessors, this model’s use of its striking color scheme stands apart.
 

The brand calls this palette Granata – a mix of a silvered “triangular hobnail” guilloche dial and deep red counters – and it comes on an integrated rubber strap option with a deployant buckle (a first for the collection). It also has black date numbers and a shiny 42mm stainless steel case (the rose gold version has an unexpected glow).

It sounds like a lot, but somehow, it achieves a pleasing chromatic and material equilibrium.

The stainless steel Tonda GT Chronograph Granata is available now and priced at $21,400. For more information, visit the Parmigiani Fleurier website.

(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)