To a certain extent, Parmigiani Fleurier's expertise in the measurement of time is rooted in the restoration of two pair-cased pocket watches created by James Cox, pieces dating from the 18th century which are held by the Edouard and Maurice Sandoz Foundation collection. Each of these twin timepieces has a jumping seconds mechanism, formed of a hand which makes one revolution per second.
 

Parmigiani Fleurier's history began when Michel Parmigiani opened a restoration workshop in 1976. This marked the start of his in-depth study of the mechanical masterpieces of the past. It led to the creation of the Parmigiani Fleurier brand, and the company has continued to house a restoration workshop capable of working on any horological piece. This has been a source of inspiration for everything the brand has created.
 

In 2017, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Chronor Anniversaire won the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in the "Chronograph" category. This exceptional timepiece boasts many accomplishments, from its 5 Hertz movement to its two column wheels (one of which drives the split-seconds function), its vertical clutch, a balance held in place by a cross-through bridge, and the movement material: 18 ct rose gold.
 

In 2019, Parmigiani Fleurier is delighted to unveil the Tonda Chronor Slate, a watch with a dial in rich slate grey. This timepiece is uniquely symbolic of the expertise of the Watchmaking Centre. All of its components, excluding the strap and sapphire crystal, have been produced by the different manufactures (Atokalpa, Elwin, Les Artisans Boîtiers, Quadrance & Habillage, and Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier). As is the norm at Parmigiani Fleurier, this watch is 100% Swiss Made.
 

With a main plate and bridges made from gold, the heart which drives this masculine jewel of Haute Horlogerie is an exclusive hand-wound calibre PF361 which beats at 36,000 oscillations per hour. It comprises two column wheels. The Tonda Chronor Slate is actually an integrated chronograph with split-seconds. What is more, this function is actuated via a vertical clutch. To guarantee legibility, the counters are placed off-centre.
 

The dial of this timepiece also features many fine attributes, such as the pulsometer and tachymeter scales, the seconds and split-seconds hands (which are different colours for improved legibility) and the counters which are set slightly above the axis of the crown.

The conception and development of this watch required great skill and expertise, both in terms of its functions, all carefully designed to ensure a coherent whole – a rare feat – and also in terms of the aesthetic which runs through the interior and exterior. The accuracy to 1/10th of a second and the challenge posed by shaping the extremely malleable gold are accomplishments that lovers of fine watchmaking are sure to fully appreciate. Equally impressive is the design, which ensures that the movement is extremely durable and resistant to impacts, and the fine decoration on the drive components. A knurled bezel encloses the arc of the hands around the dial, and an alligator Hermès strap completes this precious timepiece.