17 / Parmigiani Fleurier

Parmigiani Fleurier, Watchmaking Expertise Parmigiani Fleurier is an internationally renowned Swiss watch manufacturer, founded in 1996 by Michel Parmigiani (born in 1950) in Fleurier, Val-de-Travers (canton of Neuchâtel), Switzerland. The brand is renowned for its fine watchmaking watches, which combine tradition, innovation, and exceptional craftsmanship. In 1976, as a young watchmaker-restorer, Michel Parmigiani founded his own horological restoration workshop in Fleurier. His passion for antique horology combined with his technical expertise allows him to quickly stand out. He begins to work on personal watch design and development projects. Over the years, Michel Parmigiani acquired a solid reputation as an expert in horological restoration. Thanks to an in-depth knowledge of ancient watchmaking techniques, he restores precious historical watches and museum pieces, bringing them back to life while preserving their authenticity and value. Owner of a very large collection of watches, automata and old clocks, the Sandoz Foundation entrusted him with the maintenance of this collection in 1978. Later, with her encouragement and support, he decided to create his own brand. In 1996, “Parmigiani Fleurier” was officially launched on May 29. The objective is to produce fine watches combining tradition, innovation, and exceptional craftsmanship. In 1998, Parmigiani developed its first manually wound shaped mechanical movement entirely manufactured in-house, the “Calibre 110”. Two years later, the Sandoz Foundation acquired several manufacturing and packaging units (Bruno Affolter S.A., which manufactures cases, Atokalpa S.A., specializing in bar turning, Elwin S.A., for bar turning and machine equipment) to strengthen the independence of the manufacture. This was followed by the creation of three mechanical movements: the “Calibre 331” in 2001, the “Calibre 333” in 2002 and the “Calibre 500” in 2004, the first 30-second tourbillon with a centre-seconds hand endowed with an autonomy of seven days. Also, in 2004, the famous “Bugatti Type 370” watch, the very first transverse mechanical movement in the history of the wristwatch, was developed. On the strength of its success, Parmigiani Fleurier inaugurated the “Fleurier quality” certification the same year. This is the first qualitative and independent watchmaking certification of finished watches. Indeed, each of them follows a battery of tests (chronometry, durability, technical and aesthetic components, precision when worn) guaranteeing its high-quality. The following year, the company had its “AK 215” oscillator produced by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and, in 2006, it launched the “Tonda” collection, its first line for women. Since 2005, Parmigiani Fleurier has sponsored aerostatic sports events. In 2006, the company became “presenting sponsor” of the Château-d’Oex International Hot Air Balloon Week and acquired a hot air balloon. At the same time, it begins to sponsor the Swiss navigator Bernard Stamm on the occasion of the Velux 5 Oceans. Resulting from a new interest in the sports world, the first “Kalpagraph” sports collection was marketed in 2007 and included the “Calibre 334” then a second, the “Pershing” collection, launched in 2008. The same year, a new partnership with a Neuchâtel multihull crew is signed. The sailboat in the colours of the company is called “Team Parmigiani”. In addition to the world of sport, Parmigiani Fleurier supports culture by participating every year since 2007 in the Montreux Jazz Festival. Michel Parmigiani is recognized for his talents and his contribution to Swiss watchmaking. He has received numerous distinctions, including the title of “Maître d’art” awarded by the French Ministry of Culture in 2014. He remains involved in the development of new creations and the preservation of watchmaking heritage. More recently, the “Tonda Hijri Perpetual Calendar” received the innovation prize at the 2020 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). Today the house has found its place and its audience: knowledgeable collectors who know its watches and appreciate belonging to a discreet community. The brand embodies Swiss excellence in the field of luxury watchmaking and perpetuates the legacy of its founder, Michel Parmigiani, as a visionary and master craftsman. Today, Parmigiani Fleurier continues to produce exceptional watches while remaining faithful to its values of quality, innovation and exclusivity in the world of luxury watchmaking. The arrival of Guido Terrini as CEO in 2021 promises great things for the future of the Fleurier factory. -- Key Dates • 1976: Michel Parmigiani founds his horological restoration workshop in Fleurier, Switzerland. • 1996: founding of the Parmigiani Fleurier watchmaking manufacture and launch of the “Toric QP Retrograde”, the brand’s first wristwatch, then the “Kalpa” collection, which would become one of the emblematic models. The restoration workshop continues its work. • 1999: the company evolves to become a real factory. • 2001: integration of Atokalpa, a specialist manufacturer of cogs, pinions and micro-gears, and Elwin, a leader in precision bar turning, thus supplying all the micro-components needed to manufacture mechanical movements. Introducing the “Toric” watch, a collection that was inspired by vintage pocket watches and would also become an icon of the brand. • 2003: creation of the company Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier whose mission is to develop high-end movements for Parmigiani Fleurier watches. • 2004: introduction of the “Bugatti Type 370” model, the fruit of the partnership with the Italian car manufacturer Bugatti. • 2005: creation of Quadrance et Habillage, specialist in watch dials with unequalled know-how in engine-turning, sparing, electroplating, transfers and engraving. • 2007: launch of the “Tonda Hémisphères”, with its dual-time zone function. • 2008: presentation of the “Tonda 42 Tourbillon”, equipped with a 30-second tourbillon which improves its precision. The “Kalparisma Nova”, a rectangular ladies’ watch with refined feminine touches, inaugurates the “Parmigiani Fleurier Collection for Women”. • 2010: launch of the “Tonda 1950” collection, a range of watches with a sleek and elegant design to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Michel Parmigiani, its name evoking the year of birth of the founder and its design embodying his most fundamentals. • 2011: inspired by a pocket watch by William Anthony, made in London around 1800, the “Ovale Pantographe” is the brand’s first watch with telescopic hands. • 2015: presentation of the “Tonda 1950 Tourbillon”, which reinterprets the elegance of the “Tonda 1950” calibre by adding the thinnest flying tourbillon in the world. • 2016: the house unveils “Hippologia”, a table clock and automaton representing a mare and her foal galloping through the desert. This unique piece combines the craftsmanship of horology, the creation of automata, crystal work and many decorative arts. • 2020: launch of the “Tonda GT”. The house won the innovation prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) with the “Tonda Hijri Perpetual Calendar”, the first wristwatch based on the Islamic lunar calendar. • 2021: on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the house, launch of the “Tonda PF”, a collection offering details, patterns and shapes of great finesse. -- Iconic models and current collections • “Kalpa”: this collection is distinguished by its “tonneau”-shaped cases and elegant design. It offers a variety of horological complications (tourbillon, chronograph, moon phases, etc.). • “Tonda”: this collection is characterized by its round cases and balanced dials. It offers models ranging from classic three-hand watches to watches with horological complications (perpetual calendar, chronograph, etc.). • “Toric”: this collection is inspired by the aesthetics of vintage watches. It is distinguished by its case whose knurling and gadroons are inspired by Greek columns and its refined dial. The models offer various horological complications (tourbillon, retrograde date, etc.). • “Bugatti”: this collection was born out of a collaboration with the Italian car manufacturer Bugatti. It embodies the spirit of the prestige automobile, with technical and daring watches. • “Pershing”: this collection is dedicated to luxury sports watches. It combines top-of-the-range materials, horological precision and functions adapted to navigation. • “Exceptional pieces”: these artisanal pieces also offer the opportunity to present traditional crafts and historical trades such as enamelling, engraving, and rare stone jewellery by transposing them into the contemporary world.