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SIHH 2008 Report: Parmigiani

By: amanico (registered) Saturday, April 26th, 2008

SIHH 2008 Report: Parmigiani
Text: Nicolas Fondaneche
Photos: Nicolas Fondaneche & Anthony Tsai

This year I went to the Parmigiani Stand, at the SIHH...Without confirmed appointment, without anything...
We, Jerome and I, were perfectly and warmly welcomed by the Parmigiani Team, specifically Liliane FRETTE, and Jacques REY, the French Team.

So they took the time to present us some new pieces, and some very nice recent ones. For those who don't know, 50% of Parmigiani's business has a high average price ticket of over $100k!

1st, a new watch, the PERSHING

You have the choice between the LE, which are only in Rose Gold or Palladium (115 pieces each version, as it is called Chronograph one one five). The Pershing is a true water sports watch because the chronograph pushers can be safely operated under water, and the tachymetre is adjusted for swimming speed & diving of 3 meters instead of the usual 1000m.

And the non limited edition, which is only available in SS, with 4 different colors for the dial - graphite, white, blue silver, and red. The Pershing name is only on the caseback and not on the dial because Pershing didn't want to be selling a Pershing watch.

Parmigiani initiated a partnership with Pershing, the famous boat manufacturer which manufactures luxury yachts in the price range of $2M to $25M, hence the name of this watch. They both saw each other as perfect partners because both Parmigiani and Pershing are true manufacturers.
I estimate the diameter of this watch to be 46mm.
It is really big, thick, and very impressive.
The oval rubber chronograph push pieces are beautiful.
The design is interesting, well made, the dials are gorgeous, but you'd better have the wrist to go with this watch...
The movement is a cal 334, fully crafted (even if I suspect that Parmigiani used a DD module for the chronograph complication, but not sure of that) with a water resistance of 200 meters.

Then, another new watch, something very appealing and reasonably sized...The Kalpa Hemispheres.

Here is Rose Gold

And in SS:

Now that's a watch that speaks a lot to me...Aesthetically, and mechanically.
You have the rare possibility to set, independently, both the home time and the local time, AT THE PRECISION OF ONE MINUTE! Both time zones can be synchronized as well.
Each hour has its own crown.
You also have two night days indicators, one for the home time, the other for the local time.
As for the Pershing, you can choose one of the 4 colors available in the catalogue.
The movement is a Cal PF 337 (based on the PF 331 calibre), automatic, entirely manufactured, with a Power Reserve of 50 hours. Development took 2 years, and there are 300 components in this off-centered movement.
I'm seriously considering to put it in my wish list!

I also had the pleasure to see some magnificient pieces, like the Famous Bugatti.
I have to confess that I totally underrated this piece, thinking, 2 or 3 years ago that this watch was way too freaky.
This is just a gorgeous time keeper, and I was wrong.
I tried to take some pics, but without a light box, this is just impossible as you have reflections everywhere.

Here's my poor try...

A watch which deserves more than 3 or 4 words and a bad pic...Maybe I will come back to it, and I'll ask Parmigiani to send me more informations about it...

Now, this one is one of my 2 or now (with the Kalpa Hemispheres...) 3 Parmigiani Favorite watches...The Kalpagraph!

The movement here is the same than the one used for the Pershing (Cal PF 334), the shape of the case is simply beautiful, and creme de la creme, you can choose your combo (color of the dial / Material o the case: SS, Gold, or Palladium)