Unveiled in 2016, the Tonda Métropolitaine is a feminine piece designed to represent the lunar phases. It enriched the modern, elegant design of the Métro collection with the 33rd proprietary movement, entirely created in the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacture. This year, the Tonda Métropolitaine Sélène is making a reappearance as a special edition revealing the moon in all its cosmic glory, at the centre of an aventurine dial representing the galaxy.

A GALAXY IN AVENTURINE

Small inclusions of metal give aventurine its characteristic textured appearance. Exploiting the natural texture of this material, in 2017 Parmigiani Fleurier unveiled a new, particularly poetic Special Edition. The Tonda Métropolitaine Sélène Galaxy features a midnight blue aventurine dial whose surface, mottled with fine golden fragments, beautifully replicates the twinkling of stars in the night sky. At the heart of this constellation sits the moon phase complication in all its glory; the name Galaxy virtually chose itself...

The hands are skeletonised so as not to obscure the beauty of the aventurine. Their iconic delta shape - part of the Parmigiani Fleurier visual identity - is outlined and gilt with pink gold, underscoring the time with an elegant brilliance in perfect harmony with the pink gold of the indices. The bezel of the steel case is set with 72 brilliant cut diamonds, totalling 0.51 carats, which draw the sparkle of the aventurine along the case to emphasise the allure of this material. At 6 o'clock, the small second stands out on a black background, revealing the date on a matching date disc.

THE LUNAR DANCE ACROSS THE DIAL

The russet moon of the Tonda Métropolitaine Sélène Galaxy radiates the magical glow of exceptional nights. It is magnified thanks to its surface made up of craters — known as lunar seas — obtained by applying successive layers of transfers, a complex process which involves great skill. Much more than a simple representation, this is a genuine embodiment of the moon on the wrist that disappears and emerges from wisps of cloud amidst its starry constellation. The colour of the moon is matched exactly to the tone of the pink gold on the hands and the dial indices.

The richness of the Tonda Métropolitaine Sélène Galaxy resides in each of its individual details and its overall integrity. Decorative operations carried out by hand give it a perceptible and unique value.

THE MOON PHASE COMPLICATION

The PF318 movement and its moon phase module were entirely created in the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacture. The moon phase operating principle is based on a gear moved by the hour wheel, which rotates at half the speed of the gear. This means that the gear drives the moon disc every 24 hours via a flexible blade integrated in the centre of its wheel.

A corrector at 9 o'clock enables the wearer to independently index the moon in relation to the day and date in order to match its phase to the geographic reference location. This moon correction device features a safety system thanks to the blade, which is flexible to prevent irreparable damage to the gear in the event of incorrect operation.

The PF318 self-winding movement has a power reserve of 50 hours and excellent isochronism thanks to its two series-mounted barrels that regulate the rate. Visible through the watch's sapphire case back, this calibre is entirely circular-grained, decorated with Côtes de Genève and bevelled to the finest haute horlogerie standards customarily applied in the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacture.