Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph

An absolute immersion in rose gold that conceals a world class masterpiece caliber, but in a resolutely Haute Horlogerie iteration. Dedicated to short-time measurement, manual winding TONDA PF Chronograph Rattrapante, with its two column-wheels belongs in the category of exceptional watchmaking instruments and is powered

by a movement beating at a rate of 5 Hz or 36,000 Vph. This reinterpretation comes with an entirely 18ct rose gold case and bracelet, delivered with an additional alligator leather strap secured by a pin buckle. This model allows the wearer to admire the 18ct rose gold movement with a barrel featuring the signature of Michel Parmigiani, who created it to mark his brand’s 20th anniversary.

Split-seconds chronographs represent the best of this complication category. Designed to measure intermediate (split) times, they are equipped with two superimposed chronograph hands. Activating the 1 o’clock pusher makes the two hands turn together. Pressing the 4 o'clock pusher stops the upper hand while the lower hand continues running. Another press at 4 o'clock brings the upper hand back to the second one in a move that has led to the French term “rattrapante” (“catch-up”) for this function. The split time is measured at the first stop. This highly sophisticated function is one of the most difficult complications to create, on a par with a tourbillon or a minute repeater.

The TONDA PF Chronograph Rattrapante is all about performance. Its integrated Manufacture movement includes all the indispensable attributes of a sophisticated mechanism. A high 5 Hz frequency, along with two column-wheels each playing different roles: one dedicated to the chronograph and the other to operating the split-seconds function via the crown-integrated pusher. The Calibre PF361 naturally incorporates a vertical clutch and the balance is held in place by a cross-through bridge in 18ct rose gold–a material featured on the entire structure (baseplate and bridges) holding the moving parts.